Greater Cleveland’s Plan to Eliminate Childhood Lead Poisoning 

It will take a comprehensive plan of action to accomplish this goal. In comparison to national figures, the children of Greater Cleveland are disproportionately affected by childhood lead poisoning.  The St. Luke’s Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio awarded a $1.373 million grant to the Cleveland Department of Public Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, Environmental Health Watch, and Cleveland Tenants Organization to embark on an ambitious plan to eliminate the occurrence of childhood lead poisoning by the year 2010.  The vehicle utilized to implement the Lead Elimination Plan is the Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council (GCLAC). 

The GCLAC is a community collaborative with representation from over sixty agencies representing diverse sectors of the community such as parents of lead poisoned children, medical providers, contractors, local, state, and federal government officials and environmental and child health advocates.   The Lead Safe Living Campaign is the campaign of the GCLAC. 

The work of the GCLAC is directed by the Lead Elimination Plan.  The Lead Elimination Plan has specific objectives and activities that serve as a roadmap for the approach. Realizing the total eradication of childhood lead poisoning will require the efforts of an entire community. The plan is divided into activities by subcommittees, identifies key players and outlines their responsibilities to ensure the completion of the ultimate goal of this project.

 The five major areas of the plan and objectives are: 

Infrastructure & Sustainability: Develop an oversight entity that will identify resources, prioritize needs and establish points of accountability of the community

• Outreach & Advocacy: Increase community awareness and concern about lead poisoning
• Environment & Housing: Encourage effective and lawful action by property owners in relation to Lead Safe Standards and Practices
• Workforce Development: Extend efficiency and maximize the potential of the Lead Workforce
• Medical: Test all at risk children for Lead Poisoning and provide necessary treatment for children who are lead poisoned

The Lead Safe Living Campaign launched a community awareness media campaign to promote the message of Lead Safe Living in the summer of 2006.  Billboards, kiosks, and bus signs all carried the message of Learn the Risks. Get Kids Tested. Reduce Lead Hazards.

To view promotional materials of the Lead Safe Living Campaign, Click Here. 

To view Greater Cleveland’s Plan to Eliminate Childhood Lead Poisoning by 2010, Click Here!

To view the State of Ohio Lead Elimination Plan, Click Here! 

For more information about the Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council or the Lead Safe Living Campaign, please e-mail Kimalon Meriweather, Project Director, Lead Safe Living Campaign or call (216) 664-4189.