GRAND RAPIDS – A coalition of 24 community organizations presented a position paper to the Grand Rapids City Commission on September 27 calling for cooperation to address growing housing concerns as a result of the recent changes in the real estate market.
A new report prepared by the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health, of which the Healthy Homes Coalition is a member, reports estimates the annual environmentally attributable costs of lead poisoning at $3.2 - $4.85 billion for Michigan residents.
Beginning April 22, all renovators, remodelers and painters working in pre-1978 housing are now required to be an EPA-certified renovator trained in lead safe work practices. This requirement applies to all renovation projects, not just lead abatement. Effected trades include remodelers, renovators, window replacement workers, painters, electricians, plumbers, and any other trades that disturb painted surfaces during the course of their work. Landlords who make repairs themselves are also required to have this certification.
The Healthy Homes Coalition will be hosting their Annual Meeting 4:30pm Thursday, August 5.
Get the Lead Out! and Healthy Homes are the cover story for the MiBiz Sustainability Report for this quarter.
National and Local Experts Urge Lead Poisoning Testing For Children.
50% of children in Grand Rapids are not being tested for lead poisoning at the critical ages of 1 and 2.
GRAND RAPIDS – The Grand Rapids Get The Lead Out! campaign has been successful on many fronts. The number of homes having lead based paint abated is increasing. Yet an alarming number of children are not being tested for lead poisoning at the critical ages of 1 and 2.
“In children, lead can cause nervous system and kidney damage, learning disabilities, speech, language problems, decreased muscle and bone growth and hearing damage,” said Joan Dyer-Zykowski, Kent County Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Manager. "The majority of children lead poisoned in Grand Rapids are between one and two years old."
The City of Grand Rapids Get the Lead Out! program is offering free lead training for professionals seeking to enter the lead hazard control, abatement and assessment fields. This is an opportunity for small business owners from the affected communities to receive free training to make them eligible for lead hazard control work funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Healthy Homes Coalition is partnering with Home Repair Services to provide a Lead Safe Painting and Home Repair workshop for do-it-yourself home owners interested in making home repairs in a lead-safe fashion.
The Detroit Free Press published an indepth article on Sunday, May 16 that looks at the link between lead and learning. The article features a look at children's blood lead levels relative to their performance on MEAP scores later in life.
The US-EPA has launched a portal on its website where homeowners can find contractors who have been trained and certified in how to safely make repairs so that children are not exposed to lead hazards. The searchable database can be accessed by clicking here.
Friday, March 12, 2010
8:00am - 4:00pm
Calvin College
3201 Burton Street, SE
Grand Rapids
Join us for a high-impact training that will equip you with practical strategies for protecting the children under your care.
Learning objectives for the training include:
- Understand strategies and key messages for partnership with parents and caregivers to improve the quality of life for children with asthma and to prevent childhood lead poisoning.
- Become familiar with the incidence of childhood lead poisoning in west Michigan, and the sources of exposure. Learn about environmental triggers that harm children with asthma.
- Understand the physiology of both asthma and childhood lead poisoning and the effects upon children.
- Understand how to screen and test for childhood lead poisoning, including risk factors, current tools and Michigan Department of Community Health recommended protocol.
- Learn what and "Asthma Action Plan" is and learn how to use it to help children breathe easier at home and at school.
- Become familiar with community resources for parents and children.
- Hear first-hand from Dr. Susan Wakefield about how she and her staff have put best-practices into play, making Forest Hills Pediatrics a leader in treating children with asthma and preventing childhood lead poisoning.
- 6.5 contact hours for nurses pending with the Wisconsin Nurses Association.
- Access to local and state experts.
- Updated childhood lead poisoning prevention resource guide, CD and materials with the latest, up-to-date information.
- Hosted at Calvin College's Prince Conference Center, a world-class facility with chef-prepared lunch sponsored by the Health Plan of Michigan.
Training cost of $50.00 includes all materials, meals, refreshments.
Registration will be received until March 8 or until all seats are full, whichever comes first. There is limited seating and this will be the only training this year so early registration is encouraged.
Click here for a registration form.
For more information, call (616) 241-3300 or email info@HealthyHomesCoalition.org.
Making sure children grow up in homes that are healthy and safe is everyone’s job! The Healthy Homes Coalition is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more about specific ways you can help protect children. Connect with us today!
742 Franklin St. SE // Grand Rapids, MI 49507 // 616.241.3300 p // 616.241.3327 f // info@healthyhomescoalition.org
Special thanks to the Dyer-Ives Foundation for their generous support of this website. © 2006-2010 Healthy Homes Coalition.
