October 1-2, 2019 -- Hunt Valley, MD
Hosted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 with support from the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center, the Mid-Atlantic Lead Forum convened federal, state, local, academic, and nonprofit partners from across the region to discuss strategies to reduce children’s exposure to lead. Held in Hunt Valley, Maryland on the first two days of National Children’s Health Month, the event was intended to advance the goals of the Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts and to equip mid-Atlantic communities to address local lead-related challenges.
The event shared information and allowed for peer learning about state and local efforts to reduce childhood lead exposure, the role of community advocacy in tackling environmental health risks, and federal and state resources available to support lead reduction efforts. Presentations by EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler as well as Regional Administrators Cosmo Servidio (EPA), Joseph DeFelice (HUD), and Dalton Paxman (HHS) highlighted federal and regional initiatives related to children’s environmental health.
A central theme throughout the event’s presentations and conversations was the importance of collaboration between all levels of government as well as non-governmental partners in meeting the call to reduce childhood exposure to lead. The forum was intended to be an initial step, and EPA Region 3 welcomes the opportunity to continue the conversation and to continue working with invited cities to help reduce childhood lead exposure.
Presentation slides, resource links, and other event materials are available below. For more information about the event or about requesting follow-up assistance, please contact Noelle Watanabe, US EPA Region 3 (watanabe.noelle@epa.gov) or Kristel Sheesley, UMD EFC (sheesley@umd.edu).
Sponsor
US Environmental Protection Agency Region 3
Resources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resources
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development resources
Toolkit to Fund Lead Poisoning Prevention. Green and Health Homes Initiative.
10 Policies to Prevent and Respond to Childhood Lead Exposure. Pew Charitable Trusts.
Preventing Childhood Lead Exposure: Costs and Benefits. Altarum.
Code Comparison Toolkit. National Center for Healthy Housing.
President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children.
Key Federal Programs to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Eliminate Associated Health Impacts (2016).
Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts (2018).
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Information
Information on finding and applying for federal grants: https://www.grants.gov/
More Information and Assistance
For more information about the event or about requesting follow-up assistance, please contact Noelle Watanabe, US EPA Region 3 (watanabe.noelle@epa.gov) or Kristel Sheesley, UMD EFC (sheesley@umd.edu).
