A pilot program in Cleveland aims to give funds to child care providers to help get rid of lead hazards. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Cleveland Clinic, Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition and Starting Point announced Monday the launch of the Lead Safe Child Care Pilot Program, which will award 30 selected Cleveland-area child care providers with funds 

  • The program is an extension of the coalition's Lead Safe Home Fund, which provides resources to families and owners to keep structures lead safe

  • According to the guidelines, eligible providers can be based in an owned or rented site that was built in 1978 or earlier and they must be licensed to operate a child care facility
  • Applications can be found here

The Cleveland Clinic, Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition and Starting Point announced Monday the launch of the Lead Safe Child Care Pilot Program, which will award 30 selected Cleveland-area child care providers with funds. 

The program is an extension of the coalition's Lead Safe Home Fund, which provides resources to families and owners to keep structures lead safe.

Cleveland Clinic said the program is the first-of-its-kind in the nation and has the goal of eliminating lead poisoning in children, who the clinic said are four-times more likely to have elevated blood levels that the national average. 

“Cleveland Clinic is proud to support this very important and innovative effort to ensure that Cleveland child care centers are made lead safe,” said Dr. Roopa Thakur, pediatrician and medical director of Cleveland Clinic Children’s School-Based Health Care program, in a press release. “This pilot aligns with the preventive and comprehensive approach that we and our many partners in the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition have advanced to keep our children safe from lead, no matter where they spend time.”

Starting Point's data shows there are 12,604 children who receive care at 509 child care sites in Cleveland, and 273 of the sites are in facilities built before 1978.

“Every child deserves to learn and grow in a lead safe environment, whether that’s at home or in a child care center. The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition is proud to partner with Starting Point and Cleveland Clinic to expand our lead poisoning prevention work through the new Lead Safe Child Care Pilot,” said Ayonna Blue Donald, vice president of the Ohio market for Enterprise Community Partners, which manages the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, in a  press release. “We’re committed to ensuring a healthier future for children in Cleveland and hope this program can also be a model for cities across the country.”

According to the guidelines, eligible providers can be based in an owned or rented site that was built in 1978 or earlier. Those who are selected will receive around $12,000 in grants and free services, which will be EPA-certified and vetted, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Applications must also be licensed to operate a family child care center at a facility. 

Applications can be found here.

“Child care providers are often small business owners who care deeply about the children in their care and can’t afford disruptions to their business. Starting Point is proud to lead a program that gives owners the resources to find and remove lead hazards and keep doors open at the same time. It’s an innovative way to tackle the lead poisoning crisis, support small business owners, and maintain the child care capacity in our city,” said Nancy Mendez, president and CEO of Starting Point.

The pilot phase of the program will go until 2025. Cleveland Clinic said there are plans to launch additional phases to help a total of 120 facilities.