BABY B.A.C.K. INC. will be launching a lead poisoning awareness campaign called
‘Get the Lead Out’ with support given by LeadSafeCNY, an initiative of the Central New York Community
Foundation.

This campaign is being developed to educate and provide awareness about the impact lead poisoning is
having on young kids in the city of Syracuse. The campaign features an educational quiz about lead
poisoning that students and people in the community can take. Entrants will be entered into a random
drawing - eight winners will win up to $1000! It will officially launch on Wednesday, September 13 and
will conclude on October 25.

Link to the campaign website for Get the Lead Out: https://gettheleadoutsyr.com/

Onondaga County announced this week that the Central New York Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY initiative would be receiving $500,000 to put toward the cost of replacing exterior doors and windows in rental units resided in by low-income individuals.
 
The renovations will be completed by nonprofit housing and community development organization Home HeadQuarters at no cost to property owners through a deferred loan. Property owners are required to retain ownership for a two-year compliance period, enforced through a lien placed on the property. Since LeadSafeCNY launched in 2018, more than 1,400 windows and 150 doors have been replaced and more than 190 safe and affordable rental units have been either newly constructed or renovated. Home HeadQuarters estimates that an additional 40 affordable rental units will have significant lead hazards removed thanks to this new funding.
 
The EPA reports that chipping lead paint is the leading source of lead poisoning in the United States. Due to friction points from frequent opening and closing, doors and windows are the primary sources of paint chips and dust particles that contain lead. Elevated blood lead levels in young children have been found to cause reduced brain function, impacting the skills needed for academic success, physical activity and social interaction. This can lead to a higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis, absenteeism, criminal behavior, violence and suicide.
The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s high childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, 10 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2021 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels. The total amount invested in the community to date through LeadSafeCNY is $2.3 million.
​
Those interested in learning more about LeadSafeCNY or viewing local lead data can visit leadsafecny.org. Property owners interested in applying for the Windows & Doors program at Home HeadQuarters can visit www.homehq.org. 

​In 2018, the Community Foundation committed to invest $2 million to help put an end to childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. Here is a look at the impact our investments have made so far.

The Central New York Community Foundation recently awarded three LeadSafeCNY grants, totaling $130,000, to help address childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse.  The recipient organizations were runners-up in the foundation’s participatory budgeting project held in May.

United Way of Central New York received $30,000 to increase the number of children tested by removing transportation as a barrier to visiting the pediatrician’s office or the blood lab after tests have been ordered. Free roundtrip Lyft rides will be available to households with children ages 0 to 6, particularly focusing on zip codes in the city of Syracuse with a low volume of testing or those that have high positivity rates.

Syracuse Peacemaking Project received $50,000 to partner with PEACE, Inc. and Families For Lead Freedom Now to more effectively connect families to lead testing and related aftercare services; and empower residents to lead engagement efforts in their communities through an incentive program.

Baby B.A.C.K. received $50,000 to host a city-wide lead poison prevention PSA challenge for youth in partnership with the Syracuse City School District, Onondaga County Health Department and the city of Syracuse. Their goal is to increase awareness and education among Onondaga County families with a focus on high risk zip codes.

In May, the Community Foundation invited all Syracuse residents to take part in a one-day vote to choose which city-wide project would receive $150,000 in grant dollars to help increase lead testing and awareness. The winning project was designed by Village Birth International and Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center. The projects that received votes but did not win were invited to apply for LeadSafeCNY grants.

“While only one project could win the participatory budgeting process, each of the ideas submitted had established plans that could help us increase childhood lead testing in Syracuse,” said Darrell Buckingham, program officer for strategic initiatives at the Community Foundation. “Supporting these programs will help to ensure that no stone is left unturned in our pursuit to get children tested and families aware of the dangers of lead poisoning.”

The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s high childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, 11.2 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2022 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels. The total amount invested in the community to date through LeadSafeCNY is $2,156,014.
​
Those interested in learning more about LeadSafeCNY or viewing local lead data can visit leadsafecny.org.

The LeadSafeCNY Coalition is growing and we need your voice!

Subcommittees are forming to strengthen our community efforts to fight childhood lead poisoning. 

Information collected today will be shared with Coalition leaders to identify subcommittee members to work on priority areas that include:

• Coalition Development & Leadership
• Data
• Education & Community Engagement
• Increasing Testing & Supports to Families
• Workforce Development & Training

​Click here to sign up!

The Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY initiative is hosting a participatory budgeting project to address childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. Participatory budgeting is a type of community engagement in which residents decide how to allocate funding through a process of democratic deliberation and decision-making. This project will run from September 2022 – May 2023.  ​Learn More

​Central New York is home to various features to be proud of – rolling hills and sparkling waters, timeless history, and a blossoming arts scene. However, it is also the epicenter of the country’s childhood lead poisoning epidemic. The truth of the matter is that lead poisoning is uncomfortably close to home – so close it resides within the very walls that surround us.

Lead poisoning predominately affects children but can affect adults as well. The most damaging symptom in children is the irreversible effect lead has on a child’s neurological development, which can range from hyperactivity to brain damage. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, 10.5 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2021 were shown to have levels over 5 mcg/dl.

​Lead poisoning rates look even higher when you zoom in to analyze census tracts that also report high levels of poverty and poor housing conditions.  Within tract 23, which is located just north of Interstate 690 between Pearl and Lodi streets, 18.5 percent of children tested were shown to have elevated lead levels in 2020. Large refugee communities live in this neighborhood, which boasts a 24 percent foreign-born population.

​Census tract 54 is located in the Brighton neighborhood of Syracuse’s Southside and includes the immediate area around the Beauchamp Library. Here, a striking 36 percent of residents live below the poverty line. In this neighborhood, more than 32 percent of children tested had elevated lead levels.

The Black community of Syracuse is disproportionately impacted by lead poisoning, making this not only a health crisis but also a social, economic, and environmental injustice. Across the country, Black and Latino neighborhoods have been found to exhibit extraordinarily high rates of lead toxicity compared to White neighborhoods and our region is no exception. In 2020, more than 10% of Black children in Onondaga County were found to have elevated lead levels compared to 1.8% of White children.

Despite the current crisis surrounding residential lead poisoning, there are various organizations working to remedy the causes. Lead Free Kids New York is on the front lines in this endeavor, by lobbying for support that will assist families affected by lead, and to end the poisoning of children entirely.

“We work statewide to identify and advocate for state level policy solutions to childhood lead exposure in housing and other settings within the community,” Lead Free Kids New York said. “Our goal is to create a tipping point, prioritizing disproportionately impacted communities of low-income and color, where the public and private sectors fully integrate lead exposure prevention into all facets of climate change, housing, health, labor and environmental policy.”

Lead Free Kids New York has made great strides in regards to its campaign work, supporting families and providing communication work to increase awareness. In addition to its advocacy in communities, the organization has created waves within the legislative system by lobbying for change. The Central New York Community Foundation partnered with other foundations to support Lead Free Kids New York with a $25,000 grant that assisted with grassroots lobbying expenditures.

Today, Lead Free Kids New York plans to increase its presence in the local and political spheres, aiming to address childhood lead poisoning where change is possible. The Central New York Community Foundation commends the organization for its work, and is proud to support its vision.

The Central New York Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY initiative received a second grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to put toward the cost of replacing exterior doors and windows in rental units resided in by low-income individuals. The $150,000 grant will allow the initiative to expand its reach city-wide.

The renovations are paid for by nonprofit housing and community development organization Home HeadQuarters at no cost to property owners through a deferred loan. Property owners are required to retain ownership for a two-year compliance period, enforced through a lien placed on the property.

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation initially funded this effort in 2021 with a $300,000 grant that resulted in the replacement of 299 windows and 48 doors in 43 affordable rental units. Home HeadQuarters estimates that an additional 78 affordable rental units will have significant lead hazards removed with the new funding.

The EPA reports that chipping lead paint is the leading source of lead poisoning in the United States. Due to friction points from frequent opening and closing, doors and windows are the primary sources of paint chips and dust particles that contain lead.

“Home HeadQuarters is pleased to again work with both the CNY Community Foundation and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to address some of our community’s most significant lead hazards,” said Home HeadQuarters CEO Kerry Quaqlia. “We all remain steadfast in our determination to ensure safe and healthy housing for our most vulnerable families and this funding and focus will play a large role in reaching those goals.”

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, which awards grants to meet the unmet healthcare needs of individuals, families and communities throughout New York State, chose to support LeadSafeCNY for its potential to significantly improve the health and safety of children in Syracuse.

“This program promises to prevent lifelong negative health ramifications of early lead exposure,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, CEO of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “We are pleased to help address such a vital need in the Syracuse community.”

The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s high childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, 9 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2020 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels.

Prior to the geographical expansion the new grant will allow for, the Community Foundation’s efforts have been primarily focused on Syracuse census tracts that were found in 2018 to have the highest blood lead levels in children. Among them is Census Tract 54, where a striking 43 percent of residents live below the poverty line. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, nearly 27 percent of that neighborhood’s children were found to have elevated lead levels in 2018. Surrounding communities show similar data with rates ranging from 20 to 22 percent.

LeadSafeCNY grants distributed in the community to date total nearly $1.2 million. Outcomes so far have included the replacement of 736 windows and 101 doors and the development of 112 new, safe and affordable rental units. In addition, 135 individuals have been trained on the appropriate removal of lead paint and thousands of individual contacts have been made to educate residents on the dangers of lead paint exposure. The Community Foundation also committed an additional $500,000 to form a loan loss reserve that will help Home HeadQuarters develop new lead-free homes in Syracuse neighborhoods.

In an   Action Statement  published on its website, the Community Foundation states that it is taking action because “lead poisoning is entirely preventable,” yet it currently hinders children’s ability to enter the classroom ready to learn.

Elevated blood lead levels in young children have been found to cause reduced brain function, impacting the skills needed for academic success, physical activity and social interaction. This can lead to a higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis, absenteeism, criminal behavior, violence and suicide.

Lead is a toxin that affects the brain, nervous system and multiple organs in the human body. Children under the age of six and pregnant women living in homes that have chipping, flaking and peeling paint are most susceptible. A common source of ingestion is the inhalation of dust particles in the air from the friction of painted surfaces when windows, doors and cabinets are opened and closed.

Syracuse’s aging housing stock is much to blame for the high rates of elevated lead levels in resident children. More than 90 percent of the city’s occupied units were built before lead paint was federally banned from use in 1978.
​
Those interested in learning more about LeadSafeCNY or viewing local lead data can visit  leadsafecny.org. Property owners interested in applying for the Windows & Doors program at Home HeadQuarters can visit www.homehq.org.

June 18, 2021 - The Central New York Community Foundation distributed $20,000 in grants through its LeadSafeCNY initiative to support efforts to end childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. 

Hopeprint received $10,000 to remodel vacant Syracuse Landbank properties to create lead-safe, affordable homes for local residents of the Northside of Syracuse.  The project will improve properties while  offering community members an opportunity at homeownership. 

WCNY received $10,000 to continue its public awareness campaign  on the dangers of lead poisoning.  The PSAs will encourage parents to get their children tested for lead poisoning and explain how to find resources to remove lead paint from their homes.

The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s high childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, more than 10 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2019 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels. That rate is improved by nearly one percent from 2017.

LeadSafeCNY grants distributed in the community to date total nearly $1.2 million. Outcomes so far have included the replacement of 736 windows and 79 doors and the construction or renovation of 112 safe and affordable rental units. In addition, 135 individuals have ben trained on the appropriate removal of lead paint and thousands of individual contacts have been made to educate residents on the dangers of lead paint exposure. The Community Foundation also committed an additional $500,000 last year to form a loan loss reserve that will help Home HeadQuarters develop new lead-free homes in Syracuse neighborhoods.

About Central New York Community Foundation
The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that receives contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of more than $366 million and has invested more than $230 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time.  For more information, visit http://www.cnycf.org. 

March 9, 2021 – The Central New York Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY initiative has received a $300,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to replace exterior doors and windows in rental units resided in by low-income individuals.

The EPA reports that chipping lead paint is the leading source of lead poisoning in the United States. Due to friction points from frequent opening and closing, doors and windows are the primary sources of paint chips and dust particles that contain lead.

The renovations will be paid for by nonprofit housing and community development organization Home HeadQuarters at no cost to property owners through a deferred loan. Property owners will be required to retain ownership for a two-year compliance period, enforced through a lien placed on the property. Home HeadQuarters estimates that nearly 60 affordable rental units will have significant lead hazards removed through this effort.

“Home HeadQuarters is pleased to again work with both the CNY Community Foundation and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to address some of our community’s most significant lead hazards,” said Home HeadQuarters CEO Kerry Quaqlia. “We all remain steadfast in our determination to ensure safe and healthy housing for our most vulnerable families and this funding and focus will play a large role in reaching those goals.”

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, which awards grants to meet the unmet healthcare needs of individuals, families and communities throughout New York State, chose to support LeadSafeCNY for its potential to significantly improve the health and safety of children in Syracuse.

“This program promises to prevent lifelong negative health ramifications of early lead exposure,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, CEO of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “We are pleased to help address such a vital need in the Syracuse community.”

The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s high childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, more than 10 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2019 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels. That rate is improved by nearly one percent from 2017.

The Community Foundation’s efforts are primarily focused on Syracuse census tracts that were found in 2018 to have the highest blood lead levels in children. Among them is Census Tract 54, where a striking 43 percent of residents live below the poverty line. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, nearly 27 percent of that neighborhood’s children were found to have elevated lead levels in 2018. Surrounding communities show similar data with rates ranging from 20 to 22 percent.

LeadSafeCNY grants distributed in the community to date total nearly $1 million. Outcomes so far have included the replacement of 600 windows and 79 doors and the development of 60 new, safe and affordable rental units. In addition, 41 trainings on the appropriate removal of lead paint have been conducted and thousands of individual contacts have been made to educate residents on the dangers of lead paint exposure. The Community Foundation also committed an additional $500,000 last year to form a loan loss reserve that will help Home HeadQuarters develop new lead-free homes in Syracuse neighborhoods.

In an Action Statement published on its website, the Community Foundation states that it is taking action because “lead poisoning is entirely preventable,” yet it currently hinders children’s ability to enter the classroom ready to learn.

Elevated blood lead levels in young children have been found to cause reduced brain function, impacting the skills needed for academic success, physical activity and social interaction. This can lead to a higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis, absenteeism, criminal behavior, violence and suicide.

Lead is a toxin that affects the brain, nervous system and multiple organs in the human body. Children under the age of six and pregnant women living in homes that have chipping, flaking and peeling paint are most susceptible. A common source of ingestion is the inhalation of dust particles in the air from the friction of painted surfaces when windows, doors and cabinets are opened and closed.

Syracuse’s aging housing stock is much to blame for the high rates of elevated lead levels in resident children. More than 90 percent of the city’s occupied units were built before lead paint was federally banned from use in 1978.

Those interested in learning more about LeadSafeCNY or viewing local lead data can visit leadsafecny.org. Property owners interested in applying for the Windows & Doors program at Home HeadQuarters can visit www.homehq.org.

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About Central New York Community Foundation
The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that collects contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of nearly $260 million and has invested more than $200 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time. For more information, visit https://www.cnycf.org/

About Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of targeted communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. The Foundation – which is named in memory of a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor – provides flexible support for new and innovative approaches that enhance health and wellness across New York State. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/
​
About Home HeadQuarters
Home HeadQuarters is a non-profit neighborhood and housing development organization and certified Community Development Financial Institution that, since 1996, has helped almost 4,000 families become first-time homebuyers; provided nearly 10,000 homeowners with $105 million in home improvement loans and grants, and developed more than 800 formerly vacant and abandoned properties. This past year, Home HeadQuarters was named the number one home improvement lender in the NeighborWorks America network of more than 244 member organizations across the United States and for the past decade, has ranked as the leading lender to families of color living in Syracuse, out lending all other financial institutions combined. The organization is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, the country’s first designated Community Based Development Organization and is recognized nationally for its innovative loan products for homebuyers, homeowners, local minority contractors and “mom and pop” landlords who are unable to borrow from traditional lenders. Learn more at https://www.homehq.org/.