Creating a Community Resource for Neuropsychological Assessments After a Lead Exposure: Process and Findings

The Flint water crisis was a lead-in-water disaster that occurred in Flint, Michigan. The Center for Children’s Integrated Services Assessment Center (CISAC) was established to provide neuropsychological assessments and recommendations for exposed children. Our objective was to describe the implementation of the CISAC and report the clinical diagnoses of the first cohort of children who received comprehensive assessments. The CISAC’s eligibility criteria were broad and allowed referrals from physicians, schools, community organizations, and parents. A cross-sectional, descriptive analysis was conducted for 376 children who received initial neurodevelopmental assessments. About 60% of assessed children (ages 3-18) were diagnosed with ADHD, and 70% were diagnosed with ≥2 conditions. Most (96.8%) children received recommendations for new or continued educational, medical, and mental health services. Recognizing the implications of lead exposure and community-wide trauma on neuropsychological trajectories, the CISAC provides longitudinal assessments, secondary prevention efforts to mitigate potential sequelae, and trauma-informed treatment.