By Ellen H. King
July 14, 2003

Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran and DuPont Public Affairs Manager Mary Kate Campbell on July 8 joined Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street to formally present him with the top national award and grant of $250,000 for the city's lead-safety efforts. Philadelphia was selected from a total of 85 cities that had applied for the second year of USCM/DuPont Cities United for Science Progress (CUSP) Lead-Safe...For Kids' Sake Grant Program.

The grant will be used to expand the "Lead Safe Babies" (LSB) program, a preventive initiative created to educate pregnant women on the risks of lead exposure to their babies. LSB clients will receive home visits to provide mothers with educational materials, cleaning supplies, demonstrations of proper cleaning to remove lead dust, and pre-tests of homes to determine lead status. Clients will also receive follow-up visits eight months after a child is born to conduct a second test of the home and encourage continual testing of the child. Additionally, grant funds will be used to fund lead hazard control crews, Pennsylvania-certified lead abatement workers and supervisors, who will be conducting the home visits.

"I am very grateful to The U.S. Conference of Mayors and DuPont for their recognition and support of my administration's lead program," said Street. "Lead poisoning is a silent, deadly threat to our children that is hidden within the safety of their own homes. From our work to educate parents to enforcing the law against recalcitrant landlords, we have made a commitment to keep the children of our neighborhoods safe and healthy. This award will help support the work that makes each and every year of my administration the -Year of the Child.-"

Street accepted the award on behalf of the City during a morning press conference to discuss the dramatic impact this funding will have on reducing childhood lead poisoning in Philadelphia.

"Mayor Street's leadership in Philadelphia has made a significant difference in improving the health of city residents," said Tom Cochran. "We are confident that this competitive award will be put to good use by Mayor Street as he tackles the pressing issue of lead-safety in his community."

Campbell believes the grant will serve as a catalyst to encourage other cities in launching lead-safety initiatives. "Philadelphia's innovative ideas will lead to national change in the areas of lead-safety prevention," said Campbell. "With the assistance of this grant, Philadelphia will not only continue to grow its lead-safety programs, but will also serve as a model for mayors nationwide."

Through the CUSP 2003 Lead-Safe...For Kids' Sake Grant Program Manchester (NH), Durham (NC), Dayton and Kettering (OH) jointly, New Orleans, and Lynwood (CA) were each awarded $100,000 grants for their lead-safety efforts.

The Lead-Safe...For Kids' Sake Grant Program is an initiative of the CUSP partnership created to assist mayors in creating healthier and safer cities by funding the implementation of critically needed lead'safe practices. To learn more about the CUSP partnership, please contact CUSP Managing Director Ellen H. King by phone at 202-861-6798 or by e-mail at eking@usmayors.org.