Public policy can be an effective method of promoting public health and preventing disease in a population. The proposing and passing of a municipal ordinance regulating power-sanding of leaded paint in New Orleans is a policy-level intervention that implements a primary prevention measure to address a community-wide risk. The process of achieving policy change involves defining the problem and the proposed intervention, integrating the resources of the individuals and groups with a stake in the situation, and disseminating information to the general public and to legislators. The implementation of the ordinance regulating power-sanding in New Orleans is a community-level lead poisoning prevention strategy.
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