Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Lead Free Louisville - METRO UNITED WAY PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY In Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, two-thirds of the county's population live in housing built in or before 1978. This older housing stock is most densely present and poorly kept in neighborhoods historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by a failure to address systemic injustices such as segregation. Metro United Way occupies a unique position in our community and is the organization that others – government, businesses, nonprofits, and foundations – turn to because our knowledge and network connections are wide and deep. For over eight years, Metro United Way has served as the backbone organization for the Ready for K Alliance, a collective-impact partnership of leaders from local education, business, philanthropy, social and health sectors, and government entities working together to effect dramatic improvement in the kindergarten readiness for area children ages 0-5. Within the Alliance, more than 100 local community organizations work together through the Alliance to align strategies and resources to boost improved early educational attainment for all children in Jefferson County. The Ready for K Alliance formed a Lead work group in 2021. Through this project, we will capitalize on those partnerships and existing momentum in lead prevention and education to improve coordination, awareness, and knowledge of lead poisoning, treatment, and abatement for Louisville/Jefferson County kids ages birth to five. Our strategies will include: • Strategy A: Activate Community To spur collaboration and comprehensive planning, we will engage the Ready for K Alliance and its previously established Lead Work Group to mobilize and convene local lead specialists and lived-experience experts working on the full spectrum of lead-free initiatives. This Coalition will conduct a landscape analysis and develop a strategic plan for a community-wide coordinated response. Conduct community engagement events for community partners as well as families. • Strategy B: Improve Access to Service Strengthen existing resources for care coordination, including Metro United Way’s resource and referral hotline (211) and shared data platform that connects 400+ organizations/entities to expedite referrals to community services (United Community). • Strategy C: Educate the Community With the collective strength and direction of the mobilized Alliance and in coordination with existing referral systems, we will use all insights to inform a strategy to meet community members where they are and educate them on the causes and consequences of lead presence. This may include offering data, testimony, and research to public conversations and meetings; building an awareness campaign using influential and trusted neighborhood voices; producing a quick reference of lead-related services; leveraging earned media to spread awareness of lead hazards and resources; or other community-guided strategies. There is no question that thousands of children across Jefferson County are exposed to lead hazards daily. Systemic inequities and racism have left its youngest and poorest vulnerable. This project will support an innovative approach and a collective vision rooted in the community to create a lead-free community for all of Louisville’s children.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).