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.
Klamath Falls, Oregon - Lead-Free Kids in Klamath County Project
EPA has selected Klamath County in Oregon for a Targeted Lead Grant.
Klamath County plans to use $50,000 in EPA grant money to reduce childhood lead poisoning in the rural area of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Lead poisoning was confirmed as under-reported in Klamath County by the Oregon State Lead Program, due to insufficient screening of at-risk populations. The project will:
- Identify all at-risk one year old infants and siblings in Klamath County. Give these children the opportunity to have a blood lead level screening test at no cost to the family,
- Inform all health care providers in Klamath County of the Lead-Free Kids Project,
- Provide education, follow-up and evaluation to health care providers, nursing and health care students, the public, and infants' mothers related to the blood lead level results,
- Provide the public with information on the continuance and progress of the project,
- Collect data and evaluate findings,
- Develop partnerships and leverage resources,
- Maintain community involvement in the project, and
- Plan for long term sustainability and project replication.
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.