Oregon

Enhancing Blood Lead Testing Through WIC Program Collaboration in Oregon

The Oregon Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program integrated referrals for blood lead testing into its health assessments for children. WIC coordinators from several regions raised concerns about potential resistance from healthcare providers regarding the new referral process due to their lack of awareness about testing requirements and limited testing availability. To tackle these challenges, the Oregon Health Authority's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) collaborated with WIC coordinators to create a bilingual referral card to educate both providers and families about the importance of blood lead testing in young children.

Designed in 2024, the bilingual referral card features lead risk assessment questions, guidance for families, and direct contact information for the Oregon CLPPP. This card instructs medical providers to perform blood lead tests on referred children while referencing state regulations for children enrolled in Medicaid. Over 90% of children on WIC are enrolled in Medicaid. The initiative coincided with a statewide outreach campaign to increase provider awareness about these testing requirements.

Local WIC agencies received both referral cards and guidance on how to use them during WIC enrollment appointments. The impact has been promising. Feedback from follow-up meetings between state and local WIC staff helped refine the rollout. Discussions with major health systems indicate a commitment to enhancing lead testing practices for children enrolled in Medicaid. With lead screening set to become a mandatory WIC referral in 2026, CLPPP and WIC program staff will have a valuable opportunity to evaluate the outcomes of this collaboration and implement enhancements where needed. This initiative improves access to vital screenings and represents a proactive approach to safeguarding children's health across Oregon.