1. BABY B.A.C.K. INC.'s Block to Block Project: An initiative to increase lead testing for children

Project Description: The Block To Block Lead testing pilot program aims to address the problem of low lead testing among children in vulnerable communities. The objective is to use various outreach approaches such as canvassing, electronic billboard, social media and other messaging campaigns, to screen children for testing, educate and raise awareness around lead prevention, as well as coordinate street-to-street lead testing events in partnership with the Onondaga County Health Department for the 7,800 households in the 13205 zip code. Project Objectives: (1)Education, outreach and advocacy - Improve understanding for disproportionately affected populations by leveraging partnerships with local community based organizations to improve access to screening and lead testing, expand messaging and education and strengthen affected families coordinated care with OCHD and the Syracuse City School District. (2) Hire a Lead Outreach Worker Supervisor and two Lead Outreach Coordinators to undertake the Block to Block lead poisoning and prevention pilot program using COVID prevention model, hosting a series of workshops and door to door canvassing (3) Incentivizing families to get tested (gift cards and family gift bags) Read more...

Estimated Cost: $150,000

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2. Lead the Way: Mobilizing resident leaders to increase lead testing in Syracuse

The Syracuse Peacemaking Project will collaborate with PEACE Inc, Families for Lead Freedom Now (FLFN), and other community partners to 1) provide trainings to staff and community leaders on lead poisoning, barriers to accessing testing and care, and advocacy; 2) screen Syracuse families’ risk for lead poisoning; 3) connect families to lead testing and related aftercare services; and 4) empower residents to lead engagement efforts. Staff will use data from the Life Needs Assessment (LNA), Kitchen Table Talks, and the Onondaga County Department of Health to target high-needs neighborhoods for priority outreach. Staff and partners will also coordinate with Take Back the Streets, Black Health, and the Lead Safe CNY Coalition to organize lead screening and testing sites at community events throughout the year. Staff will conduct outreach leading up to the events to increase registration and incentivize follow-through with testing. The four pillars of Lead the Way will be incorporated into the Peacemaking Project’s existing housing work and PEACE Inc.’s services for families, especially those with children in their Head Start program. Project Objectives: (1) Training Staff & Partners - Under the direction of Families For Lead Freedom Now staff from the Peacemaking project and PEACE, Inc. will undergo intensive training on lead poisoning prevention, advocacy and intervention (2) Screening and Testing - Trained staff from Peacemaking and PEACE Inc. will screen and direct families to the appropriate testing site. (3) Aftercare for Families - The lead health ambassadors will connect 25 families with an elevated blood lead level diagnosis to Families for Lead Freedom Now and other service agencies as needed (4) Leadership development - Screenings will gauge community members’ interest in participating in engagement and leadership opportunities to accelerate outreach efforts through incentives such as gift cards, t-shirts, toys Read more...

Estimated Cost: $150,000

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3. Get Your Child Tested for Lead, Lyft 4 Free

United Way CNY's proposal will 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. We will resolve the barrier that transportation poses by providing free roundtrip Lyft rides to approximately 1,533 households (approximately 2300 children) with children ages 0 to 6, particularly focusing on zip codes in the city of Syracuse with a low volume of testing for children or those that have high positivity rates. Families will be able to access free rides for two distinct purposes. First, transit to their child’s primary care physician or a medical office; second, transit to a blood testing lab, county facility (if the doctor’s office cannot administer a test on site), or Health Department-sponsored testing event. Additionally, we will be able to provide families with a ‘Cleaning and Information Kit’ focused on empowering participants with information about their rights, local resources, materials that promote the importance of testing children, and utilizing specific kinds of cleaning supplies. Each kit will contain Lead Safe tip cards, which provide recipients tips about lead prevention inside the home; lead advocacy information, and cleaning supplies recommended by Onondaga County’s health officials. When a family utilizes the rideshare program, they will also receive the Kit, delivered to their front door. Project Objectives: (1) Remove the transportation barrier for families living in zip codes with the lowest testing rates by providing roundtrip Lyft service to medical provider’s offices (2) Identify families in low testing zip codes who need transportation for lead testing (3) Establish a “rent a free car seat” program for families who are in need of a car seat (4) Free delivery of Cleaning and Information kits to affected families and families Read more...
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Estimated Cost: $150,000

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4. Sankofa Community-Based Doula Care and Lead Awareness Expansion Project

Village Birth International & Sankofa Reproductive Health & Healing Center in partnership with Doula 4 a Queen, zenG Wellness, Cafe Sankofa seeks to use community-based doula care as an avenue of engagement and peer to peer community-led wellness. Our Community- based doulas and Perinatal Safe Spot model of care offers cultural reflective support that includes access, informed decision making, self-determination and knowledge sharing as a solution to health disparities. This model ensures families have the tools they need to make optimal healthcare choices and advocate for their children. Expanding this model of care will serve as a framework to increase lead awareness, prevention, testing and resource connection for mothers and children. Project Objectives (1) Lead Prevention & Awareness: Pregnancy and Postpartum Education - funding will support Doula-led education to incorporate lead awareness and prevention into prenatal education classes and postpartum support groups (2) Sankofa postpartum services expanded to at least the first year of life for lead awareness, testing and follow up of all children/siblings in individual families ages 1-5. (3) Doula training for Lead Awareness to train 3 - 4 additional community-based doulas from communities most affected by lead poisoning and exposure. (4) Lead testing to be coordinated with the Onondaga County Health Department once per month at Wellness Wednesdays program. (5) Sankofa Perinatal Health Specialist, along with doulas, will offer ongoing education and follow up support or referral to medical or community services for affected families. Read more...
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Estimated Cost: $150,000

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