THE CHALLENGE
Every year the promise of thousands of young children in Pennsylvania is diminished due to lead paint poisoning. Nearly 7,000 PA children are poisoned every year, yet these are only the children we know about as only 18% of children are tested.
What’s worse is this is an entirely preventable fate. The time is now to fulfill countless political promises to finally end lead paint poisoning in PA.
The federal government banned lead in paint for use in our homes 40+ years ago, so we think the problem is solved, but tragically it is not.
PA is an old state with 70% of houses built more than 40 years ago, so our windows and walls and railings and baseboards were coated with lead-based paint, and when it chips and flakes and dusts, it can irreversibly injure our children.
Lead poisoning can rob children of their intellect causing brain damage and behavioral and learning problems – problems that follow babies into school and through young adulthood - that can lead to doing poorly in school and increased risk for dropping out of school and involvement in criminal activity.
The majority of the children who are harmed in PA are White. Children of color are disproportionately impacted, however, because they are more likely to live in older properties with deteriorated lead-based paint. Black children are harmed 4 times more and Hispanic children 2 times more than White children.
OUR COALITION
We invite Pennsylvania's health care, health insurance, housing, social service, education, business, civic and community organizations to publicly endorse the Lead-Free Promise Project.
Your organization’s unique voice adds momentum to this movement. As a supportive member, you will be encouraged to participate in project meetings, to support the project’s outreach efforts and you will be invited to special forums. You will also receive updates on progress and opportunities to stay involved. By joining, your organization agrees to be listed as an endorser of the project’s goals, to mention the project in your appropriate communications and provide feedback to the project as needed. To participate or learn more, contact us at LFPP@childrenfirstpa.org or (215) 563-5848.
OUR GOAL
Childhood lead poisoning is 100% preventable - primarily by removing lead paint-based hazards in older homes. Our two main goals are:
Get lead out of homes.
Guarantee all children get tested twice for lead at ages one and two.
Ensure all poisoned children are referred to Early Intervention services.
NEWS
05-06-2024
PA LEAD-FREE PROMISE PROJECT URGES PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 514
Over 7,000 Pennsylvania children still get lead paint poisoned every year with less than 20% of children under the age of 5 tested
The Lead-Free Promise Project, a growing coalition of nearly 70 organizations across the state dedicated to ending childhood lead paint poisoning in Pennsylvania, urged the Pennsylvania Senate to pass SB514, the ‘Childhood Blood Lead Test Act,’ and described the need to prioritize lead poisoning education, prevention and childhood testing at a Capitol Rotunda press conference on Monday, May 6th, 2024. Read the full statement HERE.
02-06-2024
PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET PROPOSAL MISSES OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE LEAD PAINT POISONING
A Reinvestment of State Surplus Should Include Lead Paint Remediation
The Shapiro Administration's 2024–25 PA Budget proposal fails to respond to the ongoing lead paint poisoning crisis in Pennsylvania and misses an important opportunity to help low-income homeowners and landlords with the resources they need to remove lead paint-based hazards in older properties. Read the full statement HERE.
07-06-2023
LEGISLATURE ALLOCATES FUNDS FOR LEAD PAINT REMEDIATION
Funding Will Reduce Lead Paint Poisoning in Pennsylvania Children
The Lead-Free Promise Project issues the following statement in response to the final 2023-24 Pennsylvania budget passed on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Read the full statement HERE.
05-12-2023
SPEAKER MCCLINTON PRESENTS HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN DELAWARE COUNTY LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION PROGRAM
Advances the fight to end lead paint poisoning and supports the Lead-Free Promise Project’s goals
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Joanna McClinton, in partnership with the Lead-Free Promise Project, the Delaware County Lead Prevention Coalition, and Delaware County Council announced today the allocation of $150,000 dollars — dispersed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health — to the Office of Housing and Community Development Lead Hazard Reduction Program. This investment will go directly toward the continuation of vital lead remediation efforts. READ MORE
04-27-2023
CHESTER CITY COUNCIL PASSES NEW LEAD CERTIFICATION ORDINANCE
The Lead-Free Promise Project, a statewide coalition of more than 60 organizations across the state, in partnership with the Delaware County Lead Prevention Coalition and the city of Chester hosted a press conference today announcing a new lead ordinance in a continued effort to end lead paint poisoning in Pennsylvania. READ MORE
03-07-2023
GOVERNOR SHAPIRO BUDGET PROPOSAL RAISES AWARENESS OF LEAD PAINT POISONING
Proposes $500 Million Lead Remediation in Schools
Almost two years after the Lead-Free Promise Project launched, the risk of lead paint poisoning is being amplified across Pennsylvania and among policymakers. Governor Shapiro proposed a $500 million lead remediation fund for schools over the course of five years as part of the 2023–24 Executive Budget. READ OUR FULL STATEMENT HERE
02-03-2023
THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN LEAD PIPE AND PAINT REMOVAL
The Lead-Free Promise Project Applauds the Administration’s Efforts to Make PA Lead Free
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are in Philadelphia today at the Belmont Water Treatment Plant announcing $500 million funding for water upgrades and lead service removal as part of a 10-year effort to replace lead pipe service across the country. READ MORE
12-13-2022
EAST LANSDOWNE COUNCIL PASSES NEW LEAD CERTIFICATION ORDINANCE
Lead Free Promise Project releases new document for municipalities to advance the fight to end lead paint poisoning
The Lead-Free Promise Project, a statewide coalition of more than 60 organizations across the state, and the Borough of East Lansdowne hosted a press conference today announcing a new lead certification ordinance in a continued effort to end lead paint poisoning in Pennsylvania. READ MORE
10-28-2022
CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING LEGISLATION PASSES GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Last-minute revisions dilute its probable impact
The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Senate Bill 522, the “Childhood Blood Lead Test Act,” on October 26, 2022. The bill passed the Senate after it concurred with amendments, previously adopted by the full House of Representatives, which weakened the bill intended to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of children who are exposed to poisonous lead. The legislation now moves to Governor Wolf’s desk for his signature. READ MORE
09-20-2022
PA LEAD FREE PROMISE PROJECT ENDORSES SENATE BILL 522, URGES PASSING
Nearly 8,000 Pennsylvania children still lead paint poisoned every year
The Lead-Free Promise Project, a coalition of nearly 60 organizations across the state all dedicated to ending lead paint poisoning in Pennsylvania, endorsed Senate Bill 522 — ‘Childhood Blood Lead Test Act’ — about the need to prioritize lead screening and remediation at a Capitol Rotunda press conference on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. READ MORE
05-25-22
PA LEAD FREE PROMISE PROJECT LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN IN STATE CAPITOL
Unveils #PALeadFreeHouse – a Statewide Legislative Promise to Advance the Fight to End Lead Paint Poisoning
The Lead-Free Promise Project, a coalition of more than 53 organizations across the state, launched the #PALeadFreeHouse Legislative Promise Initiative at a Capitol Rotunda press conference on Wednesday, May 25th. READ MORE
04-22-22
PA LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ANNOUNCE $10 MILLION INVESTMENT IN LEAD REMEDIATION Advances Fight to End Lead Paint Poisoning
The Pennsylvania Legislative Democratic Caucus announced a $10 million investment of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to create a lead remediation fund for low-income homeowners and landlords to remove lead paint-based hazards from homes at press conference at Temple Health today. READ MORE
03-02-22
The PA Department of Health Releases Two New Lead Reports
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) recently released two new lead poisoning reports for the state of Pennsylvania: the Birth Cohort Report and the Childhood Lead Surveillance Report. The findings include data and statistics from 2017 to 2020. READ MORE
02-21-22
LEAD FREE PROMISE PROJECT LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE PARENT RESOURCE TOOLKIT FOR CHILDREN POISONED BY LEAD PAINT
The Lead Free Promise Project (LFPP) released the state’s first Lead Poisoning Parent Resource Toolkit, a county-by-county interactive guide to care for a child who has been poisoned by lead based paint. READ MORE
02-01-2022
The PA Department of Health Adopts the New CDC Guidelines on Elevated Blood Lead Levels
The Lead Free Promise Project Applauds the State’s Efforts
On January 1, 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Health adopted the new CDC blood lead reference value of 3.5 mcg/dL down from 5mcg/dL following the CDC’s decision upon recommendation from the Lead Exposure and Prevention Advisory Committee (LEPAC). READ MORE
06-17-2021
ACTING SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES, REP. STRUZZI HELP LAUNCH LEAD FREE PROMISE PROJECT, NON-PARTISAN COALITION TO END LEAD PAINT POISONING IN PA
The Lead Free Promise Project (LFPP) launched a nonpartisan coalition advocacy campaign to end lead paint poisoning across Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of the Department of Humans Services Meg Snead and State Representative Jim Struzzi joined the 38 organizations leading the effort to combat lead paint poisoning to announce its goals to create a state fund for low-income homeowners and landlords to remove lead paint-based hazards in properties, and by the passage of legislation requiring all children under two-years-old to be screened for lead poisoning.
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