Partnering with Purpose: Addressing Lead and Asbestos with the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids Program

Exposure to lead and asbestos can have lifelong health impacts, especially for children. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids is a once-in-a-generation program that works with North Carolina schools and child care centers to identify and eliminate exposure to lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos hazards. The presentation will focus on four 15-minute sections: 1) Partnerships, legislation, and funding for program development, 2) An online portal for participation and public data sharing, and 3) embedding risk communication into all facets of the program, and 4) results to-date. Attendees will learn to identify and mitigate lead and asbestos hazards in child-occupied facilities, rally multi-sectoral support for statewide program development, and communicate effectively with communities about environmental health initiatives. We will conclude the session with a 30-minute panel for participants to inquire about questions, barriers, and solutioning needed to craft large scale statewide programs, communicate with diverse audiences, and digitize participation and documentation efforts to improve learning environments for children and streamline program administration. This 90-Minute Session is intended for professionals at all career stages who are dedicated to identifying and eliminating exposure to lead and asbestos hazards.