The Grand Traverse County Health Department and Michigan Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission (CLEEC) will host a public forum Wednesday, July 18 to gather input on an action plan "to create a lead-free Michigan."

The forum will take place at 4pm at the Health Department at 2600 LaFranier Road. The CLEEC's five-year action plan places a priority on the prevention of exposure before children are lead poisoned, working to make improvements in the categories of regulations/laws, funding, testing, data, partnerships, and education. Federal, state, and local community leaders, healthcare providers, private sector/academic experts, privacy law experts, local health departments, childcare centers, homeowners, tenants, and any other interested members of the public are invited to attend the forum to provide suggestions and input on the action plan.

"We are hoping to gather feedback from a wide variety of individuals on how to move forward," says Lori Wesolowski, supervisor of maternal and child health programs for the Health Department. "The action plan is the state's guide to a state free of lead exposure."

For more information and to view the CLEEC action plan, click here.