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.
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.
The Healthy Homes Coalition was recently awarded $26,248 in FEMA funding to make sure families with children have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in their homes. This award will allow Healthy Homes to serve 400 families!
Renovate Right Training
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.
Four training providers are providing classes in west Michigan.
QUAT, Inc., the Rental Property Owners Association (RPOA), and Success Enterprise & Environmental Services are offering both the Renovate Right Initial training for those new to lead-safe work practices and the Renovate Right Refresher course for those who already have a training certificate for Lead Safe Work Practices. The refresher course allows those with previous training to get the Renovate Right certification with only four hours of training. All others will need to take the full Renovate Right class, which is a minimum of 8 hours in length, and is also being offered by Environmental Testing Consultants (ETC).
West Michigan RRP Training Opportunities
Initial Training- August 4 - Grand Rapids (Success)
- August 5 - Niles (Success)
- August 6 - Coldwater (Success)
- August 9 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- August 9 - Muskegon (Success)
- August 9 - Midland (Success)
- August 10 - Lansing (Success)
- August 10 - Flint (Success)
- August 11 - Pontiac (Success)
- August 11 - Port Huron (Success)
- August 13 - Ionia (QUAT)
- August 17 - Grand Rapids (RPOA)
- August 24 - Grand Rapids (RPOA)
- August 25 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- August 27 - Ionia (QUAT)
- August 30 - Big Rapids (Success)
- August 31 - Traverse City (Success)
- August 31 - Sault Ste Marie (Success)
- September 10 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- September 10 - Ionia (QUAT)
- September 20 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- September 21 - Grand Rapids (RPOA)
- September 22 - Grand Rapids (RPOA)
- September 24 - Ionia (QUAT)
- September 28 - Grand Rapids (RPOA)
- September 29 - Grand Rapids (RPOA)
- October 6 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- October 25 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- November 12 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- November 19 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- December 6 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- December 13 - Grand Rapids (ETC)
- May 10 - Grand Rapids (RPOA)
- August 12 - Ionia (QUAT)
- August 26 - Ionia (QUAT)
- September 9 - Ionia (QUAT)
- September 23 - Ionia (QUAT)
The Details
QUAT is offering both the Renovate Right Initial training and the Renovate Right Refresher training in Grand Rapids. For pricing, more information and to register, call toll-free at (866) 203-1992 or (989) 785-4556. For classes in Ionia, call Jason Ellsworth at (616) 761-2116.
RPOA is also offering both the Renovate Right Initial training and the Renovate Right Refresher training in Grand Rapids. RPOA Refresher classes are held from 8:30am until 12:30pm at Corrossion Controls Consultants and Laboratory, 4403 Donker Ct SE in Kentwood, and cost is $140 for RPOA members and $160 for non-members. RPOA Initial classes are held from 8:30am until 4:30pm at the same location and cost is $155 for RPOA members and $175 non-members. There are discounts for landlords with properties in the City of Grand Rapids Lead Hazard Control program. For more information or to register, call (616) 454-3385 x226 or email Richard TenHoor.
Success is offering both the Renovate Right Initial training and the Renovate Right Refresher training. Training is being offered in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland. They have limited space in their classes, so payment must be received seven days prior to course date to gaurantee space. All Initial class times are 8:00am-5:00pm,a nd cost is $150. Refresher class times are 8:00am-12:00 pm. For more information or to register, call (231) 777-3538, email success2722@aol.com or visit the Success website.
ETC, in cooperation with the Home Builder's Association of Greater Grand Rapids (HBAGGR) is offering the Renovate Right Initial training in Grand Rapids. HBAGGR classes are held from 8:00am until 5:00pm at the Progressive Affiliated Lumbermen Coop, located at 5465 Executive Parkway SE in Grand Rapids, and cost is $135 for HBAGGR members and $185 for non-members. For more information or to register, call (616) 281-2021 or visit the HBAGGR website at www.hbaggr.com.
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.
