The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Donates $40,000 to Seattle Children’s Care Network to Increase Lead Screenings for Youth
Media Contact: Rhonda Frazier, Rhonda.Frazier@MolinaHealthCare.com, (562) 980-3849
SEATTLE, Wash., Apr. 9, 2026 – The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Washington (“Molina”), provided a $40,000 grant to Seattle Children’s Care Network to fund the purchase of at least six lead screening machines across clinics in Western Washington to increase access to screenings, early detection, and treatment.
Childhood exposure to lead can have adverse long-term effects on physical health and brain development. Even at low levels, lead exposure can lead to behavioral challenges in children and contribute to lower academic performance. Only about 7% of children in Washington have been screened, making access to the right technology essential.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation and the Seattle Children’s Care Network to expand and facilitate lead testing for young children by using point of care testing,” said Dr. Judy Zerzan-Thul, chief medical officer at Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA). “These efforts align with HCA’s work of elevating prevention and promotion services in primary care and with the CMS requirement that children on Medicaid are screened for lead at 12 and 24 months.”
In Washington State, blood lead screenings are a standard part of well-child checkups covered under Apple Health.
“Given the lifelong impacts of lead exposure, it is critical that we increase access to testing for newborns and children,” said Dr. Kenisha Campbell, chief medical officer at Seattle Children’s Care Network. “By funding screening machines for clinics that currently do not have them, Molina is helping to ensure underserved areas can increase their screening rates, leading to early detection and treatment so children in Washington are given a healthy start.”
The grant will support Seattle Children’s Care Network facilities that currently do not have screening machines, including North Seattle Pediatrics, Pediatric Associates of Whidbey Island, Richmond Pediatrics, South Sound Pediatrics, Valley Children’s Clinic and Woodinville Pediatric Clinic. Additionally, the funding will support an educational awareness effort to increase the number of children screened annually and improve connections to treatment when needed.
“Investments in testing for environmental toxins, like lead exposure, is part of Molina’s commitment to creating a healthier future for Washingtonians,” said Dr. Jay Fathi, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Washington. “Our partnership with the Seattle Children’s Care Network will bring life-saving technology to our local communities so children can be tested early, minimizing the impact that lead exposure has on their overall health and development.”
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About the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation
The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation was created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities.
About Molina Healthcare of Washington
Molina Healthcare of Washington, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace programs in Washington. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Washington, visit MolinaHealthcare.com