Lead Services & Resources
New Illinois Lead Testing Law Effective July 1, 2026
Illinois law now requires all children to receive blood lead tests at 12 and 24 months, regardless of where they live. Children ages 6 and younger must also receive a lead exposure risk assessment using a questionnaire from a healthcare provider. Public health home inspections are required when a child’s confirmed venous blood lead level reaches 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL).
Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Cook County Department of Public Health’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program assesses homes for lead, removes lead from homes and offers case management for young children with elevated blood levels. More details about the program are below.
Lead Risk Assessment
Cook County Department of Public Health provides lead risk assessments in the homes of children identified as having an elevated blood-lead level.
Lead risk assessors perform the following duties:
- identify both lead-based paint and non lead-based paint hazards in the home;
- issue orders to correct lead-based paint hazards;
- monitor and provide guidance to property owners and contractors as they work to correct lead-based paint hazards;
- conduct testing to confirm that a home has been made ‘lead safe’; and
- respond to complaints of improper removal of lead-based paint.
Public Health Nursing Services
Through our Public Health Nursing department, we provide case management for young children with elevated blood-lead levels. Case management can include the following:
- home visits from public health nurses
- medical follow-ups
- nutritional evaluations
- developmental screenings
Lead Removal Services
CCDPH runs the Lead Prevention Program, which provides funds to property owners to fix lead paint hazards. Applications are accepted year-round. This is a no cost program that is supported by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Additional Lead Resources
For more information about lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes, click on the links below or contact CCDPH staff at 312-515-0366.
Find Licensed Lead Professionals
Resources for Families
- National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH)
- Healthy Housing in Illinois (NCHH)
- (Video) A Healthy Homes Assessment (NCHH)
- EPA National Lead Poisoning Prevention
- National Lead Hotline (EPA)
- EPA Lead Poisoning Home Checklist (PDF)
- Lead-Safe Renovations for DIYers (EPA)
- CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (CDC)
- HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes
- Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Policies, Plans & Reports
Forms & Downloads
Resources for Providers
- Childhood Lead Risk Questionnaire (IDPH)
- Childhood Blood Lead Evaluation and Testing Recommendations (IDPH)
- Form: IDPH Report of Blood Lead Test Result
- Lead-program-case-management-manual.pdf
- CCDPH Lead Fact Sheet [English | Spanish]
- IDPH Lead Fact Sheet [English | Spanish | French]
- IDPH Poster: Did you know items imported from outside the U.S. could contain lead?
Resources for Parents
- CCDPH Lead Fact Sheet [English | Spanish]
- How to Reduce Lead Dust in Your Home
- Nutrition and Lead Exposure
- Protecting Children and Pregnant Persons from Lead Exposure ,
- Intervention for Parents (IDPH) [English]
Pregnancy & Lead
- Prenatal Lead Risk Questionnaire (IDPH)
- IDPH Lead & Pregnancy Fact Sheet [English | Spanish]
- IDPH: Lead Poisoning Prevention – Pregnancy and Lead (Website)
Updated October 27, 2026, 12:09 PM