Our Guiding Policy Principles
Ohio must adopt a primary prevention model to prevent childhood lead poisoning in all pre-1978 residential properties and end the practice of using children as “canaries in the coal mine” to detect hazardous levels of lead in older homes.
Ohio must protect children from lead hazards during renovation, repair, painting, regular maintenance and demolition of pre-1978 homes and child caring facilities.
Ohio families deserve lead-safe housing. Until every family has a lead-safe home, Ohio families, tenants and homebuyers must have access to information on known lead hazards in older homes and lead-safe rental registries.
Ohio must commit public resources and encourage state-local and public-private investments to bring an end to lead poisoning. Dedicated funding is needed for lead testing, lead hazard control and abatement, relocation of households, workforce development for lead professionals, and training in lead-safe work practices for property owners and contractors.
Ohio must ensure that children are adequately and regularly screened for lead, and those children with elevated blood lead levels must have access to appropriate developmental and behavioral supports, including early intervention and special education, to help to mitigate the harmful impacts of lead poisoning.
Ohio must create, adopt and implement a comprehensive statewide strategy for preventing lead poisoning within a clear timeframe and milestones, that engages key state agencies, policymakers and stakeholders, including housing and public health experts, pediatricians, child development professionals, educators, families, researchers, advocates and policy-makers. We cannot rely on any single agency or field to accomplish this effort.