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EPA Lead Program Grant Fact Sheet
EPA's Targeted Lead Grants
EPA's Targeted Lead Grant Program funds projects in areas with high incidences of children with elevated blood-lead levels in vulnerable populations. In 2007 the Agency awarded more than $5.2 million in grants under this ambitious program. These targeted grants are intended to address immediate needs of the communities in which they are awarded, and will also highlight lead poison prevention strategies that can be used in similar communities across the country.
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, and the projects supported by these grant funds are an important part of this ongoing effort. According to the Centers for Disease Control in 1978 there were 13.5 million children in the US with elevated blood lead levels. By 2002, that number had dropped to 310,000.
St. Petersburg, FL - Outreach to Vulnerable Populations in Florida
EPA has selected the Health Council of West Central Florida in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a Targeted Lead Grant.
The Council plans to use the grant money to reach different groups in the community through education and outreach.
The three county target area with mixed rural and suburban areas contains several varied risk factors for lead poisoning. There are 43,993 children aged six or under, and 10,088 are living in poverty. Twenty seven percent of the total housing stock was built before 1978 and, of those homes, 27% were built before 1950. Approximately 17% of the population is foreign-born. Three major hurricanes in the last three years have left many older homes in the community needing renovation and repair.
The educational and outreach project will:
- Establish a community partnership to assess local resources and target outreach to specific segments of the community,
- Develop press releases, feature stories and paid advertisements, through local radio and newspapers, highlighting resources available for increased lead screening and avoiding lead hazards, and
- Provide two training sessions to physicians on lead awareness and testing and two training sessions to construction and maintenance workers on lead safe work practices.
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.