West Virginia

Growing Together: West Virginia's Journey to Increase Lead Awareness and Testing in the State

The West Virginia Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Project (WVCLPPP) identified expanding partnerships with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a key strategy to increase childhood lead testing statewide. Building on a successful pilot in Harrison County, WVCLPPP recognized that reaching families through WIC clinics—where many young children already receive services—could help close testing gaps, particularly in communities with older housing and historically low screening rates.

In 2024, WVCLPPP expanded its collaboration to additional WIC sites using CDC grant funding and data-driven decision-making. Counties were selected based on testing rates, population size, and the presence of pre-1978 housing. Working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the program secured and distributed additional lead analyzers to targeted clinics in Marion, Monongalia, and Ohio Counties, while continuing support in Harrison County. By leveraging surveillance data and strong interagency partnerships, WVCLPPP embedded testing capacity directly into trusted community settings.

The impact has been measurable. Comparing one year before and after expansion, testing rates increased by 12% in Marion County, 8% in Monongalia County, and 9% in Ohio County. In some areas, WIC accounted for a substantial share of all tests conducted — up to 61% in Ohio County — demonstrating the effectiveness of meeting families where they are. With continued growth and new counties joining the initiative, West Virginia is strengthening early detection efforts, identifying children with higher blood lead levels, and advancing a sustainable, community-centered model for protecting children from lead exposure.