High-Risk Target Area Zip Codes

In June 2006, the Oklahoma Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OCLPPP) was awarded a 5-year project grant “Oklahoma Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Focusing in High Risk Groups".  The program is focused on communities and populations where there is significant evidence of high numbers of children 6-72 months of age who are at high risk for lead poisoning.

In order to more effectively target high-risk areas and populations, the OCLPPP has identified high-risk target area (HRTA) zip codes within 9 counties, referred to as "Focus Areas".    

An analysis of zip codes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA), and the OCLPPP surveillance data has identified 21 zip codes of increased risk within the Focus Areas. These HRTA zip codes are located within Oklahoma, Tulsa, Muskogee, Jackson, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Kay, Garfield, and Hughes counties.

The following criteria were utilized to identify the HRTAs:

• Zip codes having the highest proportion of pre-1950 housing.
• Zip codes having a high proportion of Medicaid-eligible children or families living in poverty.
• Zip codes having an established elevated blood lead level (EBLL) prevalence rate.
• Zip codes having a high proportion of residents from minority populations.

Oklahoma and Tulsa were chosen, as they are the two major urban areas of the state in which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the most children with EBLLs reside. Muskogee, Jackson, Okmulgee, Kay, Garfield, and Hughes counties rank the next highest on these criteria. Ottawa County was added, since the Tar Creek Superfund Site is located within this county and continues to represent a significant health risk to the children in this region.