Table 1.

Recommendations for Screening and Management for Childhood Lead Poisoning Among Children Living in Foster Care.

Prospective foster care families whose housing were built prior to 1978 should have their homes screened for lead hazards and, if necessary, remediated prior to placement of foster children less than 6 years of age.

Prospective foster care families should qualify for local grants and loans necessary to bring their housing into compliance with state regulations regarding lead hazard abatement.

All preschool children in foster care should be screened with blood lead level at ages 12 and 24 months.

Should one preschool child living in a foster care residence be found to have an elevated BLL ≥5 μg/dL then all other foster care children <6 years old who are living in the same home should also be promptly tested.

Children with eBLL should have their foster care home environments assessed for sources of lead contamination and the children should be subsequently monitored as per current AAP and CDC guidelines.11,17

Foster care children identified with eBLL should have access to timely neurodevelopmental and behavioral assessment services in order to determine their educational, developmental, and psychosocial needs.

Foster care children with eBLL should receive timely and effective special educational and behavioral interventions to meet their needs.

Abbreviations: BLL, blood lead level; eBLL, elevated blood lead level; AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.