FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Partners for a Healthier Community
Sarita Hudson
413-320-2827
NEW SERVICES ANNOUNCED FOR LEAD POISONING
PREVENTION WEEK
Partners for a Healthier Community and Square One join
together to prevent childhood lead poisoning
SPRINGFIELD, MA
– In response to the high risk for lead poisoning in Springfield,
Partners for a Healthier Community
and
Square One
are teaming up to address childhood lead poisoning prevention. The home visiting initiative will provide education and resources for families with children who have elevated blood lead levels. The
Department of Public Health
recently announced the award for $60,000 for the two organizations to support this effort.
Springfield has the highest risk for childhood lead poisoning in Massachusetts, with a score of 21.5 compared to 9.8 for high risk communities and 2.8 for Massachusetts as a whole. This is due to the older housing stock that has lead paint and is in poor condition.
Lead poisoning prevention week is held each October to remind families to 1) make sure their children are tested for lead starting at 9 months old 2) get their homes inspected for lead if the home is built before 1978 and 3) get the facts and resources for safe lead removal and renovation.
In September 2017, the Massachusetts Public Health Council approved amendments to the Commonwealth’s lead regulations lowering blood lead levels which would indicate a dangerous amount of lead or poisoning. These new regulations will make it easier to identify blood lead levels early before children are seriously harmed. In addition, the changes in deleading regulations are designed to help and encourage more homeowners to address lead paint which is in 84% of the homes in Springfield.
Square One will provide assistance to families through home education and support for health needs as well as navigating available services for lead abatement.
The
Springfield Healthy Homes
website includes information and resources for addressing lead and other health problems that are related to housing.
Partners for a Healthier Community, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, convenes the Springfield Healthy Homes Collaborative, in partnership with the City of Springfield Office of Housing and over 20 local housing and health providers to address health concerns related to housing, including lead poisoning and asthma. Partners for a Healthier Community leads the communications and referral efforts related to lead poisoning prevention and other housing concerns that impact health.
The City of Springfield has received $5 million in funding for the Healthy Homes program from the HUD Disaster Resilience grant. The
Healthy Housing Rehab program
will serve homes with 1-4 units in the urban watershed districts of Memorial Square and Six Corners.
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