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Gov.
Blagojevich announces a $3 million grant to help eliminate the risk
of lead poisoning in children 
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[October 02, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- On Sunday, Gov.
Rod R. Blagojevich announced a $3 million grant for the Illinois Get
the Lead Out Program -- Phase V to help protect children and
families from dangerous lead-based paint hazards in the home. The
funding will be used to reduce or remove lead-based paint in more
than 200 low-income homes in seven target areas across Illinois.
This latest round of funding brings the total number of homes made
lead-safe by this program to 1,200.
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 "As parents, we do everything we can to make sure our children are
safe, especially at home. But often in older houses and apartments,
children may still be exposed to lead-based materials. This grant
will allow us to help reduce the number of children exposed to lead
in their homes and the number of childhood lead poisoning cases in
the state," said Blagojevich.Children with elevated lead levels
may suffer from learning disabilities, mental retardation,
behavioral problems, lowered IQ, stunted growth and hearing
impairment. Convulsions, coma and death can occur at higher lead
levels. Some recent studies claim that childhood lead poisoning can
contribute to problems later in life, such as academic failure,
juvenile delinquency and high blood pressure.
"Lead is a known toxin that can lead to a number of serious
health problems. Illinois is the number one state in the nation for
identifying new cases of lead-poisoned children. Last year, almost
6,500 children were identified with lead poisoning. What this means
is that identifying these children sooner can get them the
assistance they need," said Gary P. Flentge, chief of the Division
of Environmental Health with the Illinois Department of Public
Health.
The Department of Public Health will immediately implement the
36-month, federally funded $3 million Lead Based Paint Hazard
Control Grant Program grant awarded by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. The federal grant will be matched by
$431,120 in local funds and in-kind services to reduce or remove
lead-based paint hazards in 237 low-income homes in seven target
areas and four homes outside the target areas, for a total of 241
homes. The Get the Lead Out Program -- Phase V is designed to
provide lead-based paint services to property owned by those at or
below 80 percent of the local median income, adjusted for family
size, in each target area.
The seven targeted areas and the agencies that will be providing
services are as follows:
Rockford
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Rockford Human
Services Department
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Rockford Community
Development Department
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Winnebago County
Department of Public Health
Cook County
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Community and
Economic Development Association of Cook County
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Cook County
Department of Planning and Development
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Cook County
Department of Public Health
Freeport
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Decatur
Urbana
Kane County
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Kane County Community
Development
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Kane County Riverboat
Funds
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Kane County Health
Department
Adams and Pike counties
Local health departments, Community Action agencies and community
development agencies solicit applicants from Office of Energy
Assistance Weatherization Program clients and families with children
with elevated blood levels. When an applicant qualifies for the
program, the local health department will conduct a lead-based paint
risk assessment; the Community Action agency will develop a work
order to address the lead-based paint hazards; and the health
department will review the work order to assure that all the
lead-based paint hazards identified will be addressed. The Community
Action agency will put the job out for bid, and a licensed abatement
contractor will conduct the lead-based paint hazard work. The family
will be relocated by the Community Action agency if deemed necessary
by the local health department. When work is complete, the risk
assessor from the local health department will conduct the clearance
testing, and Department of Public Health staff will conduct a final
inspection to assure that the mitigation work and the documentation
adhere to program policies and procedures.
The Department of Public Health, with support from the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture Building
Research Council and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, will
provide direct and administrative services for the program.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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