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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.
Kearney, Nebraska - Lead Poisoning Prevention and Outreach
EPA has selected the Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska in Kearney, Nebraska, for a Targeted Lead Grant.
Many Nebraska children are not being tested for lead poisoning. The percentage of children being tested in the 27 rural counties served by Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska is very low, and the age of housing, combined with the percentage of children living in poverty, make these areas of suspected but undocumented elevated blood lead levels.
The $90,520 grant will help Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska to:
- Identify the extent and location of childhood lead poisoning cases in south central Nebraska, and
- Expand their education and outreach services to underserved low-income minority populations with a bilingual cultural liaison.
This project will offer free blood lead testing to children under 6 years old and lead hazard home assessments in 27 counties in rural south central Nebraska. Through a collaborative partnership with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and Well Child public health clinics, an estimated 90% of WIC and Well Child program children will be tested.
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.