Using community-based participatory research to shape policy and prevent lead exposure among Native American children.
OBJECTIVE
In the mid 1990s, the Indian Health Service (IHS) observed that the percent of Native American children in northeast Oklahoma with elevated blood lead levels was higher than in other comparable areas. Tribal Efforts Against Lead (TEAL) was designed and implemented to study and address this problem using a lay health advisor model.


OBJECTIVE
Using a case study approach, we studied the impacts of this community-based participatory research (CBPR) project on health-promoting public policy. We present TEAL's advocacy and policy steps, activities, and accomplishments in the policy arena, and recommendations for others interested in using CBPR to promote healthy public policy.


CONCLUSIONS
Using a CBPR approach that incorporates Native American social networks can be effective in helping to achieve policy changes to address lead poisoning in a rural community.


CONCLUSIONS
Using a CBPR approach that incorporated Native American social networks, TEAL played a major role in placing and maintaining lead poisoning on the policy agenda and in encouraging the local County Health Department and IHS to fully implement blood lead screening and parental notification for young children.
Petersen
Dana M
DM
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Minkler
Meredith
M
Vásquez
Victoria Breckwich
VB
Kegler
Michelle C
MC
Malcoe
Lorraine H
LH
Whitecrow
Sally
S
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009825:Oklahoma; D014481:United States; D016549:United States Indian Health Service
D007220:Industrial Waste