About the Coalition

Starting with the belief that the only truly effective approach to reducing lead poisoning is a community-based, multi-faced one, the St. Louis Lead Prevention Coalition formed in the summer of 1999. A 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, the coalition is a diverse group of individual and public and private organizations working together to reduce and eliminate lead exposure in the St. Louis metro area, especially among children.

A regional, bi-state coalition, we serve St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson, Franklin and St. Charles counties in Missouri and St. Clair County, Illinois. Our strength lies in our ability to develop regional initiatives that can be delivered at a neighborhood level.

The Coalition is committed to fostering environmental and social justice so that all children have opportunities to live and learn in healthy environments. This commitment has earned us both a FOCUS St. Louis award and a U.S. EPA Children’s Environmental Health award.

Our focus is on outreach, education, advocacy and environmental interventions. We work to create sustainable public/private partnerships to address lead hazards and create healthy home environments.

The Coalition has made a significant impact in the lives of children and families and in the overall health of our community by developing and connecting resources and engaging communities as active participants, through education initiatives and home remediation demonstration projects. As a result of the Coalition’s work, Missouri law now mandates lead screening/testing in children under the age of six.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has identified lead poisoning as the number one environmental health risk factor facing our children today. The effects of lead poisoning-many of which are irreversible, include lowered I.Q., learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, hyperactivity and anemia. Lead poisoning has serious consequences, creating multiple barriers to a child’s ability to develop and learn. Without reducing the risk of lead poisoning to children, many other programs and education efforts will prove inadequate in helping them become successful adults.

The St. Louis Lead Prevention Coalition is working to end childhood lead poisoning and reclaim our children’s’ future.

Lead Poisoning is 100% Preventable – It’s Effects on Children Last A Lifetime.

Participation in the coalition is open to all, and the coalition encourages all interests to participate. The general membership consists of approximately 200 individual and organizations from the bi-state metropolitan area. General membership meetings are held quarterly.