Governor Snyder appointed Paul Haan, Executive Director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, to the newly formed Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission created by Executive Order today. The Commission will advance the work completed by a temporary board appointed in 2016. Haan and Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss served on the former board that issued a set of recommendations in November 2016.

“Eliminating the risk of child lead exposure will require the coordination and expertise of people across all sectors,” Snyder said. “Creating this permanent commission will help advance the strategies recommended to better protect Michigan children from lead exposure.”

The creation of a permanent commission was a recommendation of the Child Lead Poisoning Elimination Board, chaired by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley. The new commission will focus on implementation of the board’s recommendations and monitor the state’s efforts to eliminate lead exposure in children.

“No amount of lead exposure is safe for children, so we need to eliminate lead hazards that pose a danger before exposure occurs,” Calley said. “Making this a permanent priority will help ensure that strategies recommended by the Child Lead Poisoning Elimination Board are implemented to protect Michigan kids.”

The 15-member commission will act in an advisory capacity to the Governor and the Department of Health and Human Services director to coordinate and collaborate with all levels of government and stakeholders regarding programs and policies related to the elimination of child lead exposure.

“It is an honor to be asked to continue serving in this important role,” said Haan. “We have a 15 year history of effectively fighting childhood lead poisoning in west Michigan, and I look forward to leveraging that knowledge in service to all the children of Michigan.”

Ten gubernatorial appointees will serve along with four state department designees. The departments being tapped are the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affair, and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

The gubernatorial appointees are:

• Christine Callahan, Director of the Office of Innovative Projects for the Clinton County Regional Educational Service Agency
• Missy Challiss, Public Health Nurse of the Ingham County Health Department
• Paul Haan, Executive Director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan
• Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Director of the pediatric residency program at Hurley Medical Center in Flint
• Jeffrey Harthun, Teacher at Bear Lake Elementary School, representing the general public
• Rebecca Meuninck, Deputy Director of the Ecology Center
• Tina Reynolds, Health Policy Director for the Michigan Environmental Council
• Bill Ridella, Director and Health Officer for the Macomb County Health Department
• Lyke Thompson, Director of the Center for Urban Studies at Wayne State University
• Al Vanderberg, Ottawa County Administrator

State of Michigan Announcement

A Roadmap to Eliminating Childhood Lead Exposure (November 2016): A Report of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Board