New Funding Awarded in Nine Localities to Prevent and Respond to Childhood Lead Exposure
Media Contact: Christopher Bloom, cbloom@nchh.org, 443.539.4154
COLUMBIA, MD (June 6, 2019) — In an ongoing effort to prevent and respond to childhood lead exposure, the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) today awarded grants to applicants from nine localities as part of its Equipping Communities for Action initiative.
Under the initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with additional support from The New York Community Trust, the grantees will each receive 18 months of coaching and support including access to national experts, engagement in a peer learning network, a customized analysis calculating the cost of childhood lead exposure and the economic benefits of interventions, and a $25,000 grant. The awarded projects will build local capacity and advance evidence-based lead poisoning prevention efforts through policy and systems change. Specific projects include activities to strengthen local regulations and housing codes, increase enforcement of existing lead-safe work practice laws, implement proactive rental inspection requirements, create a local lead-safe housing directory, and intensify community engagement to activate local officials in supporting the development and implementation of any proposed changes.
Partners supporting the initiative and enhancing guidance related to legal strategies, community leader engagement, cost analysis, and specific point sources of lead include representatives from Altarum, ChangeLab Solutions, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, and the National League of Cities.
The National Center for Healthy Housing 2019 Lead Poisoning Prevention Grantees:
- Central Maine Community Health/Healthy Androscoggin, Lewiston, Maine;
- Childhood Lead Action Project, Providence, Rhode Island;
- City of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York;
- City of Paterson (Division of Health), Paterson, New Jersey;
- Environmental Health Watch, Cleveland, Ohio;
- Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan;
- Legal Services of Central New York, Utica, New York;
- Southern United Neighborhoods, New Orleans, Louisiana; and the
- Virginia Poverty Law Center, Richmond, Virginia.
Learn more about the 2019 Lead Poisoning Prevention Grant recipients.
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About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
For more than 45 years, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are working alongside others to build a national Culture of Health that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook
About the National Center for Healthy Housing
The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) is the preeminent national nonprofit dedicated to securing healthy homes for all. Since 1992, NCHH has served as a highly regarded and credible change agent, successfully integrating healthy housing advocacy, research, and capacity building under one roof to reduce health disparities nationwide. Follow NCHH on Twitter (@nchh) or LinkedIn or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthyHousing.