CHF works with numerous community-based organizations across the United States to address the needs of underserved children. CHF has greatly impacted the efforts of these groups by providing access to funding and model programs focused on prevention.

CHF Partners with Pacoima Beautiful:

CHF partnered with Pacoima Beautiful, a Los Angeles-based organization working in the Pacoima community that is dedicated to the creation of a healthy, environmentally safe, prosperous, and sustainable community. CHF joined Pacoima Beautiful in an innovative program to educate mothers enrolled in publicly funded prenatal programs on the health risks associated with lead, asthma triggers, and other environmentally related illnesses, in order to have healthier babies. Many participating women are enrolled in programs offered through Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Pacoima guides these women through at-home testing. This program is a resource for families whose homes contain hazards to receive education, screening, and remediation, eliminating health risks before children are born. In 2005 and 2006, CHF awarded Pacoima Beautiful $20,000 in funding for this program.

• Find out more about Pacoima Beautiful

Wipe Out Lead New Jersey!:

In 2006, CHF awarded $15,000 to assist Wipe Out Lead NJ!, a successful statewide initiative established by the New Jersey Governor’s office and launched in 2005 to distribute lead dust wipe test kits to pregnant women through their prenatal providers in eighteen high risk cities throughout New Jersey. CHF played an integral role in the introduction of this program, first piloted in Baltimore, and has worked hard to help increase awareness of and funding for the program since 2004.

The project delivers do-it-yourself home lead dust kits to pregnant women through prenatal care providers and has educated thousands of pregnant women on the dangers lead poses to children. Women swipe potential hazard areas at home and mail the dust samples to a lab to be checked for lead. To date, more than 4,500 kits has been distributed to families and the program has a 30% return rate. Of those tested, 28% have yielded a positive result for lead. CHF’s funding was used for a bilingual outreach worker for the Cumberland County region, an area identified as having the highest number of lead poisoned children in the state. Since the inception of the program, the state of New Jersey has reported a continued annual increase of lead testing and associated decrease in incidences of childhood lead poisoning.

• Find out more about Wipe Out Lead New Jersey!
• 03/10/05: Governor Codey Announces the “Wipe Out Lead New Jersey” Initiative Program Aimed at Primary Prevention of Childhood Exposure to Lead Hazards

CLEARCorps/LEAP Detroit:

In 2007 CHF partnered with CLEARCorps/LEAP Detroit to conduct a lead hazard educational campaign in hardware stores across the Detroit area. CLEARCorps/LEAP Detroit, a city-wide program operated locally by the Greater Detroit Area Health Council, used $15,000 of funding provided by CHF to distribute posters, brochures, paint sticks, and other materials to educate store employees and customers about lead safe work practices. The program, which reached more than 70 stores in Wayne and Oakland Counties, also conducted in-store training to hardware store employees.

This campaign was very successful and CHF has again funded the program in 2008 and is working with CLEARCorps/LEAP Detroit to replicate it in other parts of the country.

Childhood Lead Action Project:

In 2005, CHF awarded a $15,000 grant to the Childhood Lead Action Project (CLAP), a Rhode Island organization devoted to the elimination of childhood lead poisoning. The grant was used to fund lead-safety training courses which provided property owners and realtors with information on how to mitigate lead hazards in rental units. Over 11,000 individuals participated in the classes over a period of one year. CHF Founder and Chairman Dr. Benjamin Hooks spoke at one of the classes.

The grant also helped fund radio public service announcements aimed at educating landlords and other property owners about lead safety, and the availability of lead-safety trainings to help them comply with Rhode Island's Lead Hazard Mitigation Act. The Lead Hazard Mitigation Act, passed in 2002, requires landlords to attend lead-hazard awareness classes to learn to identify and repair lead hazards.

Founded in 1992, CLAP works to eliminate childhood lead poisoning through education, parent support and advocacy. CLAP is the only organization in Rhode Island devoted exclusively to this critical issue. The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Children's Health Protection recently recognized CLAP as one of 15 organizations receiving a 2005 Children's Environmental Health Excellence Award for outstanding commitment to protecting children from environmental health risks.

Currently, the Childhood Lead Action Project is an active partner with the Healthy Kids Collaborative, continuing their work to increase awareness on lead hazard issues.

• Find Out More About the Childhood Lead Action Project
• 05/26/05: Providence American: Benjamin Hooks, Pres. Of the Children’s Health Forum Visits Rhode Island
• 05/27/05: CHF Awards $15,000 Grant to Rhode Island Childhood Lead Action Project
• 05/29/05: Providence Journal: Lead Paint Group Gets Money for Ads

Home-based Child Care Lead Safety Program:

CHF worked with the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) to remediate 25 home-based childcare facilities in the Syracuse and Rochester, NY areas. The repairs included window replacement, paint stabilization, and specialized cleaning. A relocation house enabled low-income families to preserve their childcare businesses during construction. This targeted program helped protect more than 100 children under the age of six from the dangers of lead exposure, and will ensure that these providers now offer lead safe childcare for all future children.

American Lung Association: CLEARCorps:

Working with CLEARCorps and the American Lung Association, CHF funded two AmeriCorps volunteers to conduct community outreach and education programs in Seattle focused on lead poisoning and asthma. The corps members provide family-centered education, training, and lead hazard control services. They also provide follow-up support to help families meet the ongoing challenge of keeping their children safe from lead exposure and asthma risks.

Lead-safe Trainings:

In partnership with the National Paint and Coating Association (NPCA), CHF undertook a multi-state project to increase awareness of and attendance at lead-safe trainings. CHF used tactics including radio, print media, direct outreach to local organizations, city departments, and hardware stores, and strategic distribution of flyers to publicize lead-safe trainings in 17 communities in seven states. These trainings were conducted by NPCA and Masimax, and served to educate communities about the dangers of lead hazards and safe remediation.

Operation Assist:

CHF supported a program conducted by the Children's Health Fund called "Operation Assist," which targets communities directly hit by Hurricane Katrina as well as surrounding areas. Operation Assist set up clinics in and around Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi to provide critical health care services to underserved children.

• Find out more about the Children's Health Fund