Milwaukee Public Schools will hold lead-screening clinics for its students and other children in the community at MacDowell Montessori School on May 19 and at Riley Dual Language Montessori School on June 2, in a continuing series of such clinics. 

Appointments are not needed for the screenings.

MacDowell Montessori School is at 6415 W. Mount Vernon Ave.; the community clinic will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.  

Riley Dual Language Montessori School is at 2424 S. 4th St.; the community clinic will be from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.  

The schools were selected based on location and convenience to families and not because of any lead risk to children at the schools. 

The free clinics are conducted in partnership with the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) and are funded by a nearly $400,000 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The grant is providing screenings for up to 8,000 children. 

Lead screenings allow healthcare workers to identify elevated levels of lead in blood in children. Early detection is key, since young children can develop health and developmental issues when they have elevated levels of lead. 

Most lead exposure occurs in older housing, according to MHD, but schools are able to conduct large-scale screenings. MPS is coordinating clinic logistics for families at the clinics; the nonprofit Coalition on Lead Emergency (COLE) is providing outreach assistance.  

The Milwaukee Health Department recommends that all elementary-age students be screened for lead. 

For a child to be screened, parents or guardians first must provide their consent. Consent forms will be available at the clinics for the community.

Lead screening is done through a finger prick. A health care provider collects a few drops of blood to be used for the test. Test results will be ready in minutes and shared with families. 

The screening will show whether children have elevated levels of lead in their bloodstream. These tests indicate whether a child’s lead exposure falls within acceptable ranges or whether further monitoring or treatment is needed.