INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has received federal authorization to use up to $3 million annually over the next five years to establish a new health services initiative to provide lead testing, prevention and abatement services to low income Hoosiers.
The initiative will be funded through the CHIP program and provided by the Indiana State Department of Health’s (ISDH) Lead & Healthy Homes Division to primarily support lead testing and abatement efforts in East Chicago, South Bend and other areas throughout the state identified as having a higher risk for lead exposure among children.
FSSA anticipates the funding will cover the cost of testing and abatement for hundreds of homes per year as well as educating families and equipping physicians with information about lead exposure. The funding will also cover retesting of the homes to ensure the effectiveness of the abatement work.