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Photo courtesy John Winters Thanks to The Boren Foundation, and Jack and Karen Kay Leonard for making this website possible. |
Lead-Safe Indiana Awards 2002
Who are the Lead-Safe Leaders in Your Community?
A single person or organization can be the catalyst for change. We have seen it in communities across Indiana. One legislator, one neighborhood leader, one hospital, one concerned parent, one mayor, one health department employee can bring about tremendous change — change that helps children today and well into the future.
The Lead-Safe Indiana Task Force recognizes and cultivates local leadership. At the 2002 Lead-Safe Indiana Conference on Nov. 7, the Task Force will give awards to those leaders who have made a difference. The purpose of these awards is not only to acknowledge leadership but to inspire others.
More than one award may be given in a single category. For some categories, there may not be an award given. We hope this does not happen because we know many leaders out there.
Lead poisoning rates across the country have dropped dramatically during the past thirty years. We owe our thanks to those leaders in the 70’s who advocated the elimination of lead in gasoline, residential paint and many consumer products. Those health advocates and decision-makers raised the potential for generations to come.
Today, most lead poisoning in Indiana is a legacy of deteriorated lead-based paint in our homes or a result of renovations and maintenance work that exposes our children to lead dust. The problem is worse in low income communities with substandard housing. In these areas, deteriorated lead-based paint is most severe and children already face huge obstacles to success.
Remember that lead poisoning — even at lower levels between 10 and 20 ug/dL — results in permanent injury to children, especially children younger than two. As a result, these children can have lower IQ levels, and are more likely to exhibit violent behavior and have attention deficit disorders.
To combat the problem today, it will take local action to craft solutions that are tailored. After years of research, we know where the problem is and how to attack it much more effectively than before. It is not paint chips but lead dust that does most of the damage. It is best to focus on deteriorated paint that makes the lead dust. Making Indiana Lead-Safe, not necessarily lead free, is our goal.
About the Lead-Safe Indiana Conference 2002
About the Lead-Safe Indiana Task Force