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EPA Lead Program Grant Fact Sheet
EPA's National Community-Based Lead Grant Program
EPA grants are helping communities with older housing reduce childhood lead poisoning. The funds enable communities to educate those at risk, provide lead-awareness training and develop local ordinances aimed at lead abatement.
The National Community-Based Lead Outreach and Training Grants are aimed at promoting efforts to prevent or reduce childhood lead poisoning. In 2007 the Agency awarded more than $3.1 million in grants to fund this ambitious program. Grant recipients range from city health departments to universities and colleges, community organizations, religious groups and other non-profit organizations.
EPA's lead program is playing a major role in meeting the federal goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning as a major public health concern by 2010. Projects supported by these grant funds are an important part of this ongoing effort -- and we are seeing their effects. By 2002, the number of U.S. children with elevated blood levels had dropped to 310,000 from 13.5 million in 1978, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers
EPA has selected the Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers in St. Louis, Missouri, for a National Community-Based Lead Outreach and Training Grant.
The GCHD's "Get the Lead Out" program will address community education involving proper lead identification and residential removal of lead contaminants in homes occupied by children.
This project will focus on educating, empowering and activating participants to protect children from lead hazards, especially those arising from lead paint dust, which is the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning in the City of St. Louis. The project activities will include:
- A mobile outreach program on lead poisoning prevention,
- Lead abatement training,
- Lead paint hazard awareness and lead-safe work practices training,
- Lead poisoning prevention awareness and community outreach training, and
- Outreach through various media outlets and other activities.
Grace Hill will provide lead outreach, training and infrastructure development in communities with poorly maintained, older housing containing lead paint, dust and soil, including housing in close proximity to lead-contaminated sites. These activities are expected to reduce the risks of lead poisoning in children by educating parents, homeowners, renters, remodelers, painters and maintenance workers within the community.
For more information about EPA's Lead Program, visit www.epa.gov/lead or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.