Building Community Capacity for Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalitions in New York State (Jan - Dec 2008)
About the Project
This project leveraged the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning's experience in local lead poisoning prevention to foster lead coalitions in three other Upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Chemung and Oneida. Although these counties differ in many ways, each has a significant amount of older housing in poor condition, resulting in high lead poisoning rates. The CEC partnered with community groups in each of these three counties to draft a local Lead Poisoning Prevention Needs Assessment.
The local partners convened diverse stakeholders in their communities to form or augment a lead coalition, and planned a Direct Action project to take concrete steps to provide lead education, outreach, and capacity-building. Throughout the project, CEC staff and the Rochester-based CPLP provided technical assistance to each local coalition based on experiences in Rochester.
The overall goal of the project was to build a model for supporting the development of local coalitions throughout the state.
Cayuga County
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County partnered with the Cayuga County Health Department to provide education and outreach related to primary prevention of and blood screening for childhood lead poisoning prevention. Activities included developing a display for educational events, hosting a free Lead Safe Work Practices course, and initiating public education through the local press. These efforts culminated in a door to door hazard identification and outreach effort on Orchard Street, a high risk neighborhood in the City of Auburn.
Chemung County
Catholic Charities of Chemung County provided education and outreach related to primary prevention of and blood screening for childhood lead poisoning. Catholic Charities convened a new lead coalition, distributed lead information through coalition partners and at community events, conducted door-to-door outreach in target areas, reached out to landlords, and supported improved statewide lead poisoning prevention policies.
Oneida County
The Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA) focused its efforts in rural areas outside of Utica, NY, reaching parents of high risk children in these areas by producing plays on lead poisoning at Head Start centers. MVCAA partnered with the County Health Department to provide education at these venues. In addition, MVCAA expanded its participation in the County's existing Safe Housing Coalition, bringing several speakers from Rochester to focus on lead poisoning prevention efforts.