Mahoning County is one of nine counties and cities in Ohio to share in a $44 million federal grant for the elimination of hazardous lead paint in homes.
Mahoning County's share of the federal grant is $4.6 million. The director of the county's lead hazard control says that is a sizeable increase over previous grants.
"The last two grants we got were $2.5 million and $2.9 million," said program director Phillip Puryear.
The added funding will mean making a lot more homes safe for children. "It will allow us to do 170 homes for hazard control and make those houses safe for kids under six," Puryear said.
Youngstown and Mahoning County have older housing stock, and Puryear says parents need to consider all the places their child visits, such as grandparents, babysitters, or in-home daycares.
"All those spots. Any home that was built before 1978 has the potential to have lead-based paint," he said.
There is no safe level of lead in the body, and its effects are irreversible. "If the child has a high lead level they can have learning disabilities, speech problems, behavioral problems, and delayed development," said Mary Ann Turschak, a Mercy Health LPN who conducts blood screenings for lead.
Blood is the only test for lead and screenings are recommended for children age six and under, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms.
The lead hazard control program is available for low-income households with a child under the age of six living in or visiting the home.