NJ Public Advocate, City of Newark, Newark Bears host game to "Strike Out Lead Poisoning In Newark"

 Dozens of children tested for lead at Lead Awareness event

NEWARK - Fifty-Three children from Newark and surrounding cities were tested for lead poisoning during a Newark Bears game hosted Sunday, September 13 by the City of Newark, the New Jersey Public Advocate and other community partners as part of the city's Model Lead-Safe City Lead Education and Awareness Day.

Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen joined state Senator Ronald Rice, Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, Deputy Mayor Margarita Muñiz, Department of Child and Family Well-Being Director Maria E. Vizcarrondo, Essex County Freeholder and Newark City Council Member-At-Large Donald M. Payne, Jr. and other dignitaries in throwing out the first pitch during the game, which drew hundreds of children and families from the city.

Prior to the game between the Newark Bears and the Camden Riversharks, the Seton Hall College of Nursing, and members of the local healthcare community teamed with the City's Department of Child and Family Well-Being and the Newark Partnership for Lead Safe Children to provide free testing for children accompanied by an adult. The results of the lead screens were shared with the parents within minutes.

"The City of Newark is energetically and effectively tackling the problem of childhood lead poisoning head-on. They are a model for the entire state," said Chen, who signed a Model Lead-Safe City agreement with the city last fall.

The lead tests were administered using the LeadCare® I and II analyzers, from Magellan Biosciences, which provides results in three minutes.  This marks the first time that the City of Newark has utilized both analyzers at the same lead screening event.  Parents were provided a report on their child's blood lead levels, and were given instructions on how to treat any level detected and were also registered to receive a free kit to test for lead dust in their homes.  All blood lead levels will be reported to the State Department of Health and Senior Services for follow-up action as needed.  In addition, several families from New York and Pennsylvania were referred to testing centers in their home states but were provided educational materials and consult on-site. 

"The destruction caused to families and children by lead poisoning in the City of Newark has been devastating over the years. We have united as a City, State, and community to address this health hazard, but we cannot succeed without the engagement of our entire caring community in this effort," Mayor Booker said in a statement. "I congratulate our many partners, including the Public Advocate's Office and the Newark Bears, in teaming up to ‘strike out lead poisoning.' I urge our families to learn about these dangers and take action by getting their homes and children tested for lead hazards."

According to Vizcarrondo, Newark is one of a few municipalities nationwide that provides uninsured City residents access to affordable, quality healthcare. Extensive services include but are not limited to pediatric care, an adult medical practice, communicable disease control and prevention, a dental clinic, a LEAD prevention program that provides a continuum of care including inspections, abatements, case management and interim housing, health care for the homeless, and a WIC program. These services are largely supported by local, state and federal funding including philanthropic organizations, such as the world-renowned Kresge Foundation, which has contributed $1.5 million in funding to support the City of Newark's ‘Getting the Lead Out' initiative.'

"Lead poisoning is a tragedy that destroys children and families," Vizcarrondo said. "Working in partnership with the Department of the Public Advocate's and The Kresge Foundation, we are working to make our city safer by removing lead from homes and providing free screenings for our children. I thank the Newark Bears for their support and urge Newark residents to learn how they can protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers of lead poisoning."

Director Vizcarrondo noted that the City has received and used federal and state monies to address lead. "Last year we received $4 million from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to abate 200 homes by 2010, and we expect to meet that deadline. We also received funding from the state Department of Health and Senior Services for $743, 143. Additionally, the City received $219,101 in a Community Development Block Grant for Childhood Poisoning Control programs, while another $168, 804 in CDGB grant supports Lead-Safe Houses. We are also getting $100,000 from the state Department of Community Affairs for Lead Education and Outreach," she said.

The event was co-sponsored by the Newark Bears, the Newark Partnership for Lead Safe Children, the Kresge Foundation, LeadCare, A Magellan Biosciences Business, the Seton Hall College of Nursing, community and faith based organizations and local healthcare providers.

The City of Newark Public Schools also distributed letters to parents with information about lead poisoning and about the event. 

In April 2008, Chen unveiled a report that showed that thousands of children in New Jersey are poisoned in their homes every year due to exposure to deteriorating lead-based paint.

Soon after the release of that report, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed an executive order requiring state departments to tighten up their lead poisoning prevention activities and the City of Newark signed an agreement in October of 2008 with the Public Advocate to become a Model Lead-Safe City. To date, 13 cities have signed agreements to become part of the Model Lead-Safe City program.

The City of Newark and the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate partnered with the Newark Bears and other public and privateorganizations to host "Strike Out Lead Poisoning in Newark" Day at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. From Left: Mark Skeels, Newark Bears General Manager; Michael Campisi, LeadCare; Jose R. Acevedo, Community Liaison - CLPPP; Shonda Bryant, Program Coordinator - CLPPP; Newark Director of Dept. of Child and Family Well-Being Maria E. Vizcarrondo and grandson Alex Castillo; Essex County Freeholder & Councilman-at-Large Donald M. Payne, Jr.; Assemblyman Ruppert, Newark Bears Mascot; Dwight "Doc" Gooden, Newark Bears Senior Vice-President; City of Newark's First Family Tested, Nicole Payne, Luis Rodriguez, Jaqueline Payne, Natalia Payne, and Luis Rodriguez, Jr.; Peter J. Dillon, Jr., Director - Div. of Environmental Health; Newark Bears Owner Tom Cetnar and daughter Brett Cetnar; Ronald K. Chen, NJ Public Advocate; Newark Deputy Mayor Margarita Muñiz; Albert Coutinho - 29th Legislative District; Senator Ronald L. Rice, 28th Legislative District; Joseph D. Pargola, NJ Department of the Public Advocate.

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