Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health receives $2 million federal
grant to enhance its Lead-Free Families community health improvement initiative
Feb.
8, 2022, Lancaster, PA – Lancaster General Hospital, part of Penn Medicine
Lancaster General Health, is pleased to announce that they are the recipients
of a nearly $2 million federal grant to support and enhance the services
provided by LG Health’s Lead-Free Families program. Lead-Free Families works to
significantly reduce childhood lead poisoning in Lancaster County.
The
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in January awarded
nearly $104.7 million to 60 nonprofit organizations and government agencies to
protect children and families from lead and other health hazards in the home.
LG Health is one of three grant recipients in Pennsylvania and one of two
health systems nationally to receive the funding, which will be used to enhance
the services offered through LG Health’s Lead-Free Families program.
Lead-Free
Families, which began in August 2021, identifies and remediates lead hazards in
local homes. HUD’s Healthy Homes
Production Grant Program awarded LG Health $1,999,155.06, which will fund
mitigation of additional health hazards in the homes of 150 low-income families
throughout Lancaster County.
“Penn
Medicine Lancaster General Health is very grateful to receive this significant
federal grant to enhance the critical efforts of our Lead-Free Families
program,” said Alice Yoder, LG Health Executive Director of Community Health.
“This funding will enable us to address additional health and safety hazards
that are found in local homes during lead remediation.”
Lead-Free
Families focuses on increasing awareness and reducing childhood lead poisoning
in Lancaster County, which has the fourth-highest rate of lead poisoning in
Pennsylvania. Lead-Free Families also works to address additional health
hazards found in homes, including mold and radon issues, and risks for falls,
fires and burn injuries.
Lead-Free
Families will identify and remediate lead hazards in at least 2,800 Lancaster
County homes over the next decade. With a $50 million investment by LG Health,
the comprehensive program is the first of its kind in the United States to be
initially funded and led by a health system.
Lead
poisoning – which has no obvious symptoms -- can result in serious, lifelong
health and developmental issues in young children. The program prioritizes
interventions in the homes of families with children under the age of 6 and/or
pregnant women.
In
addition to in-home lead testing and remediation, Lead-Free Families provides
increased blood lead screenings for children and expectant mothers. The program
also offers home visits with health-care and social service support; community
education and outreach; and public policy advocacy and education.
For
more information on Lead-Free Families, or to apply for the program,
visit LeadFreeFamilies.org, or call 717-544-LEAD
(5323).
The
work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding
under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The
substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and
publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and
interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Government.
