Released: February 18, 2025
New family-facing lead awareness campaign uses engaging "Lead Monsters" to illustrate the risks of lead
Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor was excited to join Delaware County Health Department Director Lora Werner and the DCHD team on Tuesday for the launch of "Lead-Free in 1-2-3," a comprehensive awareness campaign aimed at reducing lead poisoning in the area.
Centered on the theme "Is Lead Lurking in Your Home?," the campaign, launched at Widener University’s Child Development Center in Chester with a special children's book reading of Happy, Healthy, Lead-Free Me! by Council Chair Taylor, seeks to educate Delaware County children and parents about the dangers of lead exposure, promote testing, and share prevention strategies.
The campaign takes a friendly yet informative approach, using engaging "Lead Monsters" to illustrate the risks while reassuring families that lead poisoning is preventable with the right precautions.
Lead poisoning is particularly concerning for young children and pregnant women, as exposure can lead to serious health issues such as slowed brain development, lower IQ, and speech and hearing problems.
"Many families may not realize that lead hazards still exist, especially in older homes built before 1978," said Delaware County Health Department Director Lora Siegmann Werner. "Data from 2022 in Delaware County shows that 307 children out of 9,438 tested were found to have elevated blood lead levels. Our goal is for this campaign to help families, landlords, municipalities, health professionals, and other partners understand this is still a concern in Delaware County and there are steps we can take together to protect our children.”
Key components of the campaign include:
"I’m incredibly excited about this initiative because it brings a fresh, dynamic perspective to lead poisoning prevention," said Dr. Taylor. "Director Werner and our DCHD team have embraced an innovative and engaging strategy that not only educates but inspires. By reaching out to children and parents alike, we are taking significant steps to safeguard our community’s health and move the needle on public well-being in Delaware County."
"Widener University is proud to support the launch of this campaign by welcoming county officials to our Child Development Center," said Robin Dole, dean of the College of Health and Human Services. "Lead poisoning prevention is critically important for the health of our community's children. We are happy to partner with Delaware County in their efforts to raise awareness."
Residents can find essential information about lead poisoning, prevention tips, data, and local testing resources at LeadFree123.org.or on the Delaware County Health Department website at DelcoPA.Gov/Lead.
The campaign, funded by a $188,819 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reflects Delaware County’s continued commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that all children have the opportunity to grow up in a lead-free environment.