Parent Group Set to Develop Legislative Initiative

On Tuesday, February 8, 2011, Imagine Englewood if kicks off a six-week series of free Lead Awareness and Prevention workshops for families of lead-poisoned children.  “Self, Family and Team” is the theme, and marks the first phase of a parent-driven initiative to increase screenings and treatment for children of the Greater Englewood community.  The workshops, made possible through the Woods Fund of Chicago, will be presented by Idida Perez, community organizer and Executive Director of West Town Leadership United in Humboldt Park.

Latest figures from Chicago’s Department of Public Health indicate that with less than half of Englewood’s children, ages 0-6, screened for lead-poisoning in 2008, 12.7% recording elevated blood levels.  Since then, budget cuts have resulted in even fewer screenings.  The primary objective of the workshops is to empower parents to advocate on behalf of the children in the Greater Englewood community through changes in public policy.  “Parents need to know their rights, the remedies available to them, and what they can do to strengthen and improve current lead-prevention laws,” stated Jean-Carter-Hill, co-founder and Executive Director of Imagine Englewood if. . . !