MINUTES OF MEETING
Southern Regional Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition
Meeting Site: Healthtrax Sewell, NJ
Date : Tuesday, April 2, 2010
10-12 noon
Attendees: Debi Asselta, SNJPC Lead Coalition Coordinator; Elizabeth Cubbage, Vineland City Healthy Dept; Nancy Gerrity, Director
of Public Health Nursing, Camden County; Elizabeth Grant, Gloucester County Health Department; Mary Grinovics, Magnolia School
District; Crystal Motlasz, Dept Health Senior Services, Trenton; Linda Nell, Atlantic County Department of Health; Harnel Paraison,
DH/PerfilLatino TV, Inc,; Hilda Mitchell, Office of the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disibilities; Frances Magnan,
Vineland City Helath Department; Sara Malone Ditzel, SNJPC Lead Educator; Joan Maloney, Cumberland County Helath Department;
Marth aSt Jean, Quality Care Resource Services, Salem County; Nina Smith, SNJPC Bilingual Health Educator Lead Program; Merle
Weitz, Director of Lead Initiatives , SNJPC; Deana Wood, Salem County Health Department; Michael Lancetta, Thomas Jefferson
Student/intern with Gloucester County Health Department; Denise McCracken, Salem County Health Department; Jill Chell, Gloucester
County Health Department New Coalition Members: Michael Lancetta, Denise McCracken and Jill Chell
Agenda Items Discussion Action Follow Up
Welcome/Introductions Refreshments were available Debi welcomed none
everyone. Introductions
were done. New
members welcomed.
Approval of minutes Minutes approved with one correction Minutes were approved Deana Wood ,
from February 2 by Betsy; Joan Maloney Salem County
meeting seconded with tone Health Dept was
correction. added to the
attendance sheet.
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On-line reporting Almost all members are now utilizing the on-line Anyone not using the
format for recording and reporting their lead activities on-line format will be
and events; all find it easier contacted with a follow
training by phone
Survey Results A Needs Assessment –Lead Education and Outreach The top 3 training To be discussed
Housing Resource Guide was completed recently to educaiton needs will be further at June
identify the new year’s training/education needs and incorporated into the meeting; resource
what resources would be identified in the resource 2010-2011 objectives guide to be
guide for southern New Jerseyy. for DCA & DHSS incorporated with
Members were given a synopsis on the top 3 training objectives for
needs by county upcoming year.
Display Board The very large house quiz board now comes with Much positive feedback It was recommended
handouts Spanish handouts to engage children and adults to was received on the that additional
find the 10 home locations where lead danger couldb usefulness of this board boards be created
e lurking. Answers on the rear of the handout. ―Can and the handouts at fairs with handouts but a
You Spot the 10 Lead Dangers? where childrenand smaller version ; to
parents can’t help but be decided in the
come over to the table. new year
School Distribution One suggestion was to create a house hazard list Handouts can be Coalition members
(flier) and distribute it to all schools in New Jersey to ordered for distribution reminded to request
make parents aware of all house dangers to schools and child these eduational and
care centers to educate promotional tems to
parents and entice them enhance their
to call the toll free education endeavors
number for more
information
Guest Speaker- Crystal Motlasz, of the NJ Dept of Health and Senior The workshop was well- Crystal gave several
Member Education Services presented to our coalition, ―Health Literacy: received; it’s so examples of
More than Just Words‖ important to brochures changes
communicate to our where just bullits
audience who the piece and colors and
was intended for layout makes a
difference –we want
to get the audience
to read the material
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Healthy Homes Bag Soon a limited supply of ―Healthy Homes Bags‖ Members were asked to Bags can be ordered
complete with green cleaning solution recipes to give their own agency by email to
make ―green‖ all-purpose spray, oven and window protocols that would debia@snjpc.org
cleaner, smoke alarm, spray bottles, sponges and warrant a clients’ Bags must be
gloves will be available to coalition members— receiving a bag; inventoried with
suggestions on how to disperse were give to those name and address of
who make home visits to clients for lead client— or number
education/assessments; small group education for requested signed out
high-risk clientele (live in pre-1978 housing, BLL by coalitin member
>10 mg/dl, etc.); Head Start—Launch for parent to and reported how
get child lead screened; Students in IEP meeting at dispersed in
Magnolia School; monthly on-line
report
Wrap Up County 1) Atlantic County-Linda Nell, no lead problems
updates finishing H1N1;
2) Jill Chill new member at Gloucester County
HD is learning about lead; directed her to our
website www.southjerseylead.org for county
statistics and slide show on lead;
3) Michasel Lancetta-Thomas Jefferson Univ
student interning with Gloucester Cty HD;
he’s compiling a lead training for nurses and
will come back to show us when he’s
finished;
4) Martha St. Jean, Salem Quality Child Care
All NJ positions will end June 2010; she and
all other childcare health consultants are
welcomed to remain members of our
coalition;
5) Sarah Malone-Ditzel-conducted 5 parent-child
(<6 yrs) lead and handwashing sing alongs at
public library story hours—some, parents just
drop their kids off and come back later—this
makes it difficult to educate a parent if not
present;
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6) Nina Smith accompanies Healthy Families
program workers in Atlantic City and
provides one-on-one lead education with
Spanish families to encourage house test and
child screening. Good nutrtion and cleaning
tips are given during 3 visits.
7) DH PerfilLatino TV Harnel Paraison writing
skits for special TV mini novella which
depicts Juan and Maria a couple at home
surrounded with lead problems/solutions
because they live in a pre-1978 home with a
small child
8) Elizabeth Grant Gloucester Cty is training
new staff member about lead and lead case
management;
9) Mary Grinovics actively engaging teachers in
Magnolia Pre-school system about lead
poisoning prevention teachers were resistent
at first but she is perservering;
10) Hilda Mitchel had the Lead Van
exploratorium for children in Camden County
recently-- requested her to complete on-line
report for southern region when traiing occurs
here;
11) 11) Merle Weitz talked about coalition
funding for one more year and demise of the
Sweabs. Members may continue to use their
WOL dust wipe kits and call us if they are not
being utilized we will pick up the unused kits;
12) Nancy Gerrity stated that Lillian Hassman is
the lead educator in Camden County and is
very busy educating;
13) Joan Maloney regrets losing her Spainsh
educator Filemon Matis to another employer,
SJFMC-- we will miss him; Millville Child
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preschool registrationis coming up and she
plans to use house board and handouts;
14) Fran Magnan Vineland YMCAwill bring lead
house board to Healthy Kids day; plans to go
to Lead and Beyond conference in edison;
15) Betsy Cubbage utilized houseboard and
handouts recently and states ―it is very
engaging for parents to come over to the table
and learn about lead dangers in the house; she
gives the parent a lead promo item for asking
questions about lead—Excellent Example of
education! Also, her nurses did a pediatric
lead assessment of children screened in a
Vineland pediatric office-- many kids not
going to lab for blood test—they are working
on getting a lab to go to the doctor’s office
one day a month to boost screening rates and
make it more convenient for parents;
16) Deana Wood Salem Health Dept. H1N1
finishing up now health fairs wil take over
she will promote lead poisoning prevention;
has a new staff member they will alternate
attending coalition meetings
17) Denise McCraken new nurse with Salem HD
learning all about lead, encouraged to check
our website www.southjerseylead.org for stats
on salem county and general lead education
slide show.
18) Deb Asselta talked about the Atlantic City
Task Force goal to improve screening rates
had our first meeting to generate barriers,
assets and recommendationMaria Emma
Escobar on this task force. Impressive turn
out for first meeting.
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Next meeting Tuesday, June 1 Healthtrax, Inc 405 Hurffville- Please plan to attend
Crosskeys Road, Sewell NJ 08080
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