The EPA-FDA task group on the effects of pesticide residues on children is a good example. The interagency Task Force on Environmental Heart and Lung Disease and Cancer had a productive working group on risk communication that developed many effective workshops and publications. It provided a mechanism for interagency funding of projects of common interest and could be a model for interaction on risk-assessment issues. Support of Future State and Local Efforts Flexibility is crucial. EPA has adopted more flexibility in negotiating specific objectives with each state.
Block grants provide flexible funding and cut administrative costs.
However, there is a need to guard against consumption of money by routine activities at the expense of innovation. With the special funding came a great deal of interaction with other states and experts from the science community. The CDC programs actually assigned a public-health advisor to the state. Technical support was also provided by such programs as the National High Blood Pressure Education program. Those research and demonstration funds provided funding to define the problems and evaluate the effectiveness of intervention strategies.