Capacity

The Coalition has systematically altered the landscape of lead poisoning in Maryland, transforming an once-intractable disease into a problem that can be overcome. One of the Coalition’s strengths is its ability to identify resources and create policies to overcome barriers to affordable, lead safe housing. Below are examples of the Coalition’s policy work in Maryland:

• Major legislation:
• Lead Risk Reduction in Housing Law passed in 1994
• Passed legislation
• Requiring all children attending pre-school have proof they are screened for lead
• Requiring universal testing of 1 and 2 year olds in Baltimore and other at risk areas
• Requiring paint retailers to post information on lead safe work practices
• Allowing judges to require lead hazard control in response to rent escrow action
• Prohibiting the collection of rent by landlords not in compliance with state law (“Clean Hands Bill”)
• Closing dangerous loopholes in legislation regarding lead dust testing
• Doubling fines for failure to comply with lead safe standards
• Created Interagency agreements that require all Section 8 units to comply with Maryland Lead Risk Reduction in Housing Law
• Chaired Baltimore City enforcement task force for health department lead violations
• Authored Windows of Opportunity strategic plan resulting in $50 million towards lead poisoning prevention statewide
• Encouraged State to name Lead Poisoning Prevention one of top priorities for Departments of Environment and Health
• Assisted with the development of lead-safe deconstruction and demolition standards for East Baltimore Development, Inc.

In addition to its policy work, the Coalition provides a broad range of client services, including family advocacy, case management, public awareness & training, compliance assistance, and lead hazard reduction. The Coalition has established a track record of innovation by creating and implementing successful programs, many of which have been replicated nationally. The Coalition is a national leader in the effort to eliminate childhood lead poisoning, a Standards for Excellence-certified organization and a recipient of the 2006 EPA Children’s Environmental Health Recognition Award. The Coalition recently received a Lead Elimination Action Project (LEAP) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build private sector leverage for lead elimination in Maryland that will be used as a national model.

Highlights of our Technical Assistance work include providing advice to HUD, CDC and US Conference of Mayors, authoring St. Louis Lead Safe Action Plan, and working with the state of Delaware to create De-Lead Delaware Hazard Control Program.

Standards for Excellence

The Coalition is proud to display the Standards for Excellence seal. For us, it means we can take pride not only in our mission, but in the professional conduct of our business.

The Coalition received certification as a Standards for Excellence organization by the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations in October 2005. This certification requires a rigorous application and peer review process, examining elements including our organization’s mission, programs, policies, governance, financial accountability, ethics, human resources, and public affairs.

For more information about the Standards for Excellence certification please visit www.nonprofitsyoucantrust.org