Lead Services & Resources
CCDPH Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is a collaborative effort between the following units: Environmental Health Services, Public Health Nursing, and Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes.
Environmental Health Services Unit
This department 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
This department provides 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; and
- developmental screenings.
Lead Poisoning Prevention & Healthy Homes
This department does the following:
- works with the state to ensure accurate reporting of children with elevated blood-lead levels;
- provides education and outreach to parents, schools, healthcare, childcare providers, and community-based organizations;
- works to advance policies that support healthy homes; and
- administers the Lead Prevention Program grant, which provides funds to property owners to remediate identified lead hazards. Cook County has a Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Reduction Grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that runs through May 2025.
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
Federal, State, and Local Agencies
- 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
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Ordinance of Cook County 2019
- Illinois General Assembly Lead Poisoning Prevention Act
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Code
- Report: A City and Countywide Summit to Advance Healthy Homes & Healthy Communities , 2014, Loyola University Chicago
- 10 Policies to Prevent and Respond to Childhood Lead Exposure , 2017, The Health Impact Project
- State of Illinois Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Childhood Lead Poisoning , 2004, IDPH
Forms & Downloads
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
- Childhood Lead Risk Questionnaire (IDPH)
- Childhood Blood Lead Evaluation and Testing Recommendations (IDPH)
- Illinois Childhood Lead Exposure High Risk ZIP Codes – Revised (2024)
- Form: IDPH Report of Blood Lead Test Result
- Lead Testing and Case Follow-up Guidelines for Local Health Departments (IDPH, 2015)
- 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?
- Intervention for Parents (IDPH) (English )
- Why Should You Have Your Child Tested (IDPH) (English )
Pregnancy & Lead
- Prenatal Lead Risk Questionnaire (IDPH)
- IDPH Lead & Pregnancy Fact Sheet (English | Spanish )
- Lead Poisoning and Pregnancy: Understanding Risks and Preventing Harm Presentation (CCDPH)
- IDPH: Lead Poisoning Prevention – Pregnancy and Lead (Website)
Updated January 30, 2025, 7:43 PM