Local Training and Outreach

In the fall of 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a new training and outreach initiative focused on reducing childhood lead exposure in environmentally overburdened and underserved communities throughout the United States. Para ver la información en español sobre esta inciativa, visite: https://espanol.epa.gov/plomo/capacitacion-y-alcance-publico-local.

This initiative was designed to serve local communities and advance environmental justice by encouraging renovation, repair and painting (RRP) firms and contractors to become certified under EPA’s RRP rule. This rule requires that firms RRP projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools built before 1978 be certified by EPA (or an EPA-authorized state), use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers and follow lead-safe work practices.

In addition, the initiative focused on reaching community leaders and the general public to increase consumer awareness of the importance of the RRP program and lead-safe work practices in pre-1978 homes. This two-pronged approach was designed to increase consumer demand for lead-safe work practices and make certified contractors more readily available in underserved communities across the country.

The training and outreach initiative was focused on 11 communities:

Albuquerque, NM;
the Bismarck-Mandan, ND area;
Greater Hartford, CT;
Los Angeles County, CA (specifically, south central neighborhoods);
Miami, FL;
Peoria, IL;
Reading, PA;
San Juan, PR;
San Diego County, CA;
Treasure Valley Metro Area, ID; and
Trenton, NJ.

These communities were selected because they reflect the diversity of the United States, have known lead exposure issues, and demonstrated a need for RRP certified contractors. EPA also offered free virtual lead awareness webinars related to the Lead Awareness in Indian Country: Keeping our Children Healthy! Curriculum (Lead Awareness Curriculum) to community leaders and the general public.

RRP Training for Contractors

As a contractor, you play a critical role in helping to prevent lead exposure. Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create toxic lead dust that can harm your customers, children, workers, and even yourself. By following lead-safe work practices, you can prevent lead hazards and reduce childhood lead exposure.

In general, anyone who is paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified. If you are a renovation firm or contractor we recommend you read more about EPA’s RRP Program to understand how to fulfill your legal requirements to protect yourself, your employees, and your clients from the dangers of lead exposure.

In fall 2021, EPA provided free RRP trainings, in both English and Spanish depending on the community’s needs, for over 280 contractors in communities across America.

Virtual Lead Awareness Curriculum Webinars

Cover of Lead Awareness in Indian Country: Keeping our Children Healthy! Guidebook

Along with the RRP trainings, EPA offered free virtual webinars, in English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation, to community leaders and the general public. EPA offered webinars on two topics: a "Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer" for community leaders and, for the first time, a general "Understanding Lead" session for anyone interested in learning about lead.

"Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer" Webinars

In the "Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer" webinars, 245 community leaders learned how to educate their communities about lead, lead exposure and actions that can be taken to reduce and prevent childhood lead exposure, including the importance of hiring RRP certified contractors, by using and modifying the Lead Awareness in Indian Country: Keeping our Children Healthy! Curriculum.

Watch a recording of the “Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer” webinar here. You can also download a PDF of the slides in English or Spanish.

"Understanding Lead" Webinars for Community Members

Circle infographic with 8 images of actions to reduce lead exposure

In the "Understanding Lead" webinars, 170 attendees learned about lead, its impacts, and simple actions to reduce lead exposure. The 90-minute webinar, based on Module 1: Understanding Lead of the Lead Awareness Curriculum was designed to teach participants to:

Recognize potential sources of lead exposure;
Understand impacts and effects of lead exposure;
Learn simple actions to reduce lead exposure; and
Know the importance of testing children’s blood lead levels.

To learn more about lead, watch a recording of the "Understanding Lead" webinar here. You can also download a PDF of the slides in English or Spanish.