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.
Washington, DC - Healthy Lead Free Homes
EPA has selected George Washington University, in Washington, DC, for a Targeted Lead Grant.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment plans to use the grant money to develop a coordinated healthy home visit approach that will introduce an innovative holistic home visit program to the District using a modified DC-specific Pediatric Environmental Home Assessment Tool (PEHA) which also includes a lead referral protocol.
The goal is to collaborate with community organizations in order to combine existing resources, knowledge and tools to ensure lead-free homes for District residents. EPA's grant funds are earmarked to support George Washington University's efforts by providing a program that will:
- Design an educational outreach package for property owners to help them ensure lead-free housing for DC residents.
- Train workers to educate the property owners on options available to them in maintaining environmentally safe housing.
- Train lead home visit nurses and employees of each identified organization on the use of the PEHA.
The grant will fund outreach to specific venues, such as childcare providers, community organizations and property owners, with the potential to reach high-risk populations.
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.