Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

About the program

The City of Philadelphia received $437,645 through cooperative agreement EH21-2102 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the third funding year. The funds address childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance programmatic activities being conducted from September 30, 2023, to September 29, 2024.

The strategies focus on community-based approaches for lead hazard elimination and emphasize population-based policy intervention. To learn more about these efforts in Philadelphia, contact the program below.

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Environmental Health Services

Lead and Healthy Homes Program

2100 West Girard Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19130

Phone: 215-685-2788

Success story: funding year 3

Building a lead-safe future: Philadelphia's comprehensive approach to childcare education and prevention

Challenge

Considering the historical architecture of Philadelphia, many childcare facilities operate out of buildings that were constructed before the 1978 lead paint ban. Addressing the risk of lead exposure in family childcare centers throughout Philadelphia is needed.

Intervention

The Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Program focused on educating family childcare providers about lead exposures. Remote presentations were developed in English and Spanish, shedding light on potential lead sources and providing guidance on obtaining childcare certification for a lead-safe environment. The sessions included a childhood lead risk questionnaire; a concise guide covering lead testing, treatment, prevention, and diet; and an informational segment aimed at connecting families that are at risk with the Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes lead remediation program.

During June 2022–April 2024, a diverse audience of 637 people, comprising both family and center-based childcare providers, participated in 246 training sessions. Providers received information during the sessions on how to obtain childcare certification for a lead-safe environment, including guidance on necessary steps, resources, and organizations offering certification programs. The Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Program Team's diversity and bilingual capabilities played a crucial role in meeting the varied needs of Philadelphians. To ensure ongoing support and understanding, members of the Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Team initiated follow-up calls and emails. These communications aimed to address any queries, emphasizing the importance of blood lead testing and advocating for the certification of facilities as lead safe.

Impact

This initiative, driven by the objective to diminish the risk of lead poisoning and its enduring effects, resulted in heightened knowledge and awareness amongst childcare providers. The formulation of new policies and procedures, coupled with education initiatives, is a pivotal intervention that can significantly reduce the incidence of lead exposure in children.

• Equipping educators with the knowledge to identify potential sources of lead, understand the symptoms of lead poisoning, and advocate for lead safe environments, creates a frontline defense against childhood lead poisoning, fostering a brighter and healthier future for the communities involved.

Funding for this work was made possible in part by NUE2EH001442 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of CDC; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Success story: funding year 2

Philadelphia lead and healthy homes program educates communities about lead safety in childcares

Challenge

An estimated 95% of housing units in Philadelphia might contain lead-based paint because they were built before 1978. Of these units, 930 are operated as family-licensed childcares, where an owner uses their primary residence to care for up to six children who are not relatives. Family childcares in Philadelphia are used mainly by families who are from racial and ethnic minority communities. Children that spend time in these units are at higher risk of lead poisoning. Family childcare providers may operate their services from older homes that are more likely to have lead-based paint. If the paint in these properties is in poor condition or has not been properly maintained, it can increase the risk of lead exposure.

Intervention

Beginning in 2022, the Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Program educated family childcare providers about lead exposures. The program developed presentations in English and Spanish that highlighted the possible sources of lead and described how family childcares can get certified as a lead-safe environment. The education session included these items:

• A childhood lead risk questionnaire
• A quick guide for lead testing, treatment, prevention, and diet
• An informational session to connect families who are at-risk with the Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes free lead remediation program.

The Philadelphia Surveillance Dashboard Report highlights the zip codes where higher childhood blood lead levels are most common. Some (30%) of the family childcares that went through the training sessions were located in those zip codes. After the trainings, the Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Program's team members conducted follow-up calls and emails to answer any questions and further emphasize the importance of blood lead level testing and lead-safe certification of the facilities.

Impact

A total of 133 trainings were provided by a multicultural and bilingual team to diverse audiences of family and childcare providers. As a result, the Philadelphia Lead and Healthy Homes Program received a 30% increased volume of inquiries about trainings. These inquiries encompassed various aspects, including lead poisoning, the lead certification process, and best practices for creating lead-safe environments in family childcare settings. As a direct result of the training provided, 318 family childcares in Philadelphia have obtained Lead Safe Certifications.

Funding for this work was made possible in part by NUE2EH001442 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the CDC; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Success story: funding year 1

The lead and healthy homes program of Philadelphia targets poor housing conditions

Challenge

An estimated 95% of owner-occupied and rental housing units in Philadelphia could contain lead-based paint because they were built before 1978. Approximately 70% have an even higher risk of having lead-based paint because they were built before 1950.

The Lead Paint Disclosure Law, passed in 2012, caused homeowners and landlords to send approximately 2,000 lead-free or lead-safe certificates to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH). The Lead Paint Disclosure Law includes provisions for fines or penalties up to $2,000 per day for landlords who fail to comply. Even though the Lead Paint Disclosure Law is in effect, children are still experiencing lead poisoning due to older housing stock.

Intervention

In 2016, PDPH began proactively enforcing the Lead Paint Disclosure Law's requirements by educating landlords through individual letters and issuing violation notices.

While the law applied to all rental properties, several properties were exempt from the lead certification requirement. These included properties built after February 1978, college dormitories, housing designated for college students, Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and Section 8 housing, and housing in which a child aged six and under would not reside. PDPH participates in the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Group, which forms recommendations on primary and secondary prevention actions to reduce lead exposure. The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Group recommended expanding the Lead Paint Disclosure Law to include all rental units built before 1978, which resulted in the Philadelphia City Council passing Bill #180936 to update the Lead Paint Disclosure Law on September 26, 2019.

Impact

Beginning October 1, 2020, landlords operating rental properties in eleven zip codes—regardless of whether children under seven reside at the property—will be required to obtain a lead-free or lead-safe certification to execute a new or renewed lease or to receive a new or renewed rental license. The remaining zip codes in Philadelphia will be phased in over a two-year period. Landlords in those remaining zip codes will continue to be subject to the previous law during those two-years, only requiring a valid lead certification if children under seven will be living on the premises. Also, only college dormitories and properties built after February 1978 will be exempted from the lead certification requirement for rental properties.

Philadelphia hopes this success will contribute to their goal to reduce the number of children with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 5 micrograms per deciliter by 40% from 2,106 children in 2011 to 1,200 children in 2020.

Funding for this work was made possible in part by NUE2EH001400 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.