Join us in recognizing National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 23 – 29, 2022) to prevent childhood lead poisoning, identify and reduce exposures to environmental toxics, and equitably improve health outcomes. At Best Starts, we want babies, children and families to be healthy and safe, whether that’s at home, child care, school, in the community, or wherever children are cared for.
Learn more about our Lead and Toxics strategy by reading our one-pager.
We’re excited to announce the 10 awardees for our Lead and Toxics request for applications (RFA)!
Cultivate South Park
Horn of Africa Services (HOAS)
Immigrant Women’s Community Center (IWCC)
Indian American Community Services (IACS)
King County Medical Society (KCMS)
Mother Africa
Muslimahs Against Abuse Center (MAAC)
First Five Years and Beyond (FFYB)
Somali Health Board (SHB)
Teniel Sabin Consulting
A look at the work ahead
To better identify sources of lead exposure in King County and educate community members about lead in products, these 10 community-based organizations organized and hosted community-based Product Testing Events in partnership with Best Starts.
At the Product Testing Events, community members were invited to bring products, such as spices, cosmetics, jewelry, toys and cookware, for lead testing. Once items are tested, staff from the community-based organizations and Public Health – Seattle & King County explain results and share recommended actions. These events provided an opportunity for the community to learn more about lead sources, lead’s effect on health, and strategies for preventing lead poisoning.
The results from the Product Testing Events will be made publicly available for the community in 2023 and are being shared with other organizations to inform local, state, and national policies and efforts to prevent lead exposure.
Read about the 10 awarded organizations and the work they’re doing in their own words: