Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) is the only professional organization in the state for Family Practice Physicians and the only entity that provides Ohio pediatrician professionals with the ability to obtain enduring credit for completion of the childhood lead training.
The Ohio Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OHHLPPP) addresses the needs of lead-poisoned children from birth through 6 years (72 months) of age. The program assists family members, medical care providers and other community members to reduce and prevent lead poisoning. OHHLPPP recognizes that children under the age of 3 years (36 months) are at greatest risk for lead poisoning.
Even small amounts of lead can cause learning and behavior problems in children. Lead replaces iron and calcium and affects many parts of the body, especially the nervous system. Lead is most harmful to children under the age of six, because a child's growing body takes up lead easily.
It has been identified that trainings for physicians coming from their professional organization have the greatest impact. The Ohio Department of Health is contracting with OAFP to provide education to medical providers in Ohio on topics related to childhood lead poisoning. This project is to ensure that providers are receiving the most up-to-date information regarding lead and actively communicate with providers about childhood lead poisoning.
The objectives and goals of this contract directly align with the goals of the Ohio Healthy Homes and the Lead Poisoning Prevention program to increase blood lead testing.