Schedule and Session Descriptions
Monday, August 4, 2025
On Site Registration
Three Concurrent Pre-Conference Workshops
Choose one workshop to attend
Lead and Healthy Homes' Myths, Mysteries and Mistakes
Century Ballroom Section A
Whether new to healthy homes or an old-timer, it is important to sort out myths and mistakes from the facts and the law. For instance, if it is not lead-based paint, then it is lead-free (Myth). How black mold and mushrooms are going to save the world (Mysteries). You also figure out what to do when "best practices" conflict (Mistakes).
This interactive audience experience will help give you the information and the tools you need.
Presenter: Mike Sharp of Janus Corporation (LEHA Board) – PDF
Lead Detection and EPA's New Dust-Lead Standard
Century Ballroom Section B
On Tuesday at 3:30 in the Lead Track, the presenter will explain the impact of EPA's October changes to its dust-lead standards and standards for labs that reframe what dust-lead hazards mean and shift the focus to action levels. This workshop is for those who want to dig deeper into the hazard standards (including soil and deteriorated paint), how they are measured, what they mean, how they are implemented, and what is on the horizon.
The presenters will also talk through the strengths and limitations of colorimetric kits to detect lead.
Presenters:
- Tom Neltner of Unleaded Kids (LEHA Board)
- Howard Varner of EHS Labs (LEHA Board)
- Greg Krueger of LEW Environmental Services (LEHA Board)
Beyond HGGMS, Benchmarks and eLOCCS: Strategies for HUD Grant Success
Century Ballroom Section C
This interactive presentation guides grantees through the key components of running a successful HUD-funded Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes program. It covers essential topics including financial compliance, community outreach, workforce development, and long-term sustainability. The goal is to help both new and experienced grantees strengthen performance, avoid pitfalls, and maximize your program's impact.
Presenters:
- Kate Kirkwood of Lead-Edu and Program Manager for HUD Grantee (LEHA Board)
- Michelle Miller Medeiros, formerly of Department of Housing and Urban Development
Opening General Session
Century Ballroom Section C
Welcoming Remarks
Moderator: Kathy Harris of EHS Labs (LEHA Board)
Welcome: Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri
New Landscapes and Horizons on Healthy Housing / Importance of Whole Home Approach
The changing federal landscape means it is increasingly important for state and local governments and communities to grapple with new ways to fund and support programs. Through case studies and community stories, Ms. Norton will illuminate the value of a whole-house approach to comprehensively improve housing quality and resident health outcomes, increase energy efficiency, and ensure that communities with the highest needs are able to fully access programs and services to improve health, opportunity and affordability. She will also show how the upstream approach of an align, braid, and coordinate model, and new use of technology will meet the moment to help leverage local dollars to attract philanthropic, climate and health care funds from the private sector to ensure programmatic success. Most importantly, she will provide a call to action to ensure that the mission continues, programs strengthen in this moment, and no one is left behind.
Keynote Speaker: Ruth Ann Norton, President/CEO, of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
Latest on Federal Changes and Implications for States
The new Administration has undertaken a dramatic restructuring and tremendous downsizing effort of the federal government that is likely to fundamentally alter lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes efforts across the country. Congress will be weighing in as it considers FY2026 appropriations bills in July. Panelists will share their insights on the federal situation and their perspectives on the potential impacts on state lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes efforts.
Moderator: Tom Neltner of Unleaded Kids (LEHA Board)
Panelists:
- Amanda Reddy of National Center for Healthy Housing
- Michael McKnight of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
- LaTricea Adams of Young, Gifted and Green
- John Belt of Ohio Department of Health
- Teresa Wortmann of Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
- Michelle Miller Medeiros, formerly of Department of Housing and Urban Development
Break – Exhibit Hall Open
Local Program Perspectives on Federal Changes
Having gotten the latest information on federal changes and hearing about the potential implications for states, panelists will discuss the potential implications for local programs whether government or NGO.
Moderator: Kate Kirkwood of Lead-Edu (LEHA Board)
Panelists:
- Amy Roberts of City of Kansas City, Missouri Health Department
- Larry Brooks, formerly of Alameda County Healthy Homes Department (LEHA Board)
- Laura Brion of Childhood Lead Action Project in Rhode Island
- Rebecca Jim of L.E.A.D. Agency
- Robin Brown of Collective Citizens Organized Against Lead (CCOAL)
Private Sector Perspectives on Federal Changes
Having gotten the latest information on federal changes and hearing about the potential implications for states and local programs, panelists will discuss the potential implications for the private sector.
Moderator: Howard Varner of EHS Labs (LEHA Board)
Panelists:
- Pete Roque of 4Leaf
- Greg Krueger of LEW Environmental Services (LEHA Board)
- Mike Sharp of Janus Corporation (LEHA Board)
Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Lead and Environmental Hazards Association (LEHA) will present lifetime achievement awards to people who have worked for decades to make homes healthier and protect children from lead poisoning.
Presenter: Kate Kirkwood of Lead-Edu and Chair of LEHA Board
Adjourn
Networking Reception and Exhibit Viewing
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Coffee, Compliance & Capacity: Bring your challenges!
Century Ballroom Section B
This Session provides an opportunity to talk with colleagues about smart spending and compelling outcomes. Get tips from successful grantees and share some of your own.
Facilitator: Kate Kirkwood of Lead-Edu and Program Manager for HUD Grantee (LEHA Board)
- Michelle Miller Medeiros, formerly of Department of Housing and Urban Development
Healthy Housing Track
Century Ballroom Section B
Track Moderator: Mike Sharp of Janus Corp (LEHA Board)
Welcome and Introductions
State Coalitions – Models for Action in NJ, OH, PA, and RI
State coalitions with diverse membership and organizational support can be critical vehicles to advance policies, draw attention to issues, and lift-up successes.
Leaders of coalitions in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Rhode Island will briefly share their stories and provide models for action in your state.
- Laura Brion of Childhood Lead Action Project in Rhode Island – PDF
- Heather Sorge of Lead-Free New Jersey – PDF
- Fred Strahorn of Ohio Healthy Homes Network – PDF
- Janet Panning of Lead-Free Promise Project in Pennsylvania – PDF
Translating Housing Data into Health Data
Effective community programs must efficiently identify homes with health and safety hazards, fix the problems, and evaluate impact. To help jumpstart new programs, the presenters will explain their exterior housing-based Lead Risk Index (LRI). The LRI is a tool to assess lead hazards in a non-invasive, quick, low-cost manner without entering the house. They will also explain their initiative to develop a similar index focused on reducing pediatric asthma and measuring the effectiveness of lead-safe housing interventions.
- Neal Wilson of Center for Economic Information at University of Missouri at Kansas City – PDF
- Matthew Robinson of Center for Economic Information at University of Missouri at Kansas City
Break – Exhibit Hall Open:
Environmental Measurement for Healthy Home Assessments – What You Need to Know
A site walk-through is fundamental to performing high quality evaluations of housing hazards and risks. Often environmental measurements and samples are useful to interpreting conditions. This session will summarize essential diagnostic tests every healthy homes assessor should be familiar with, review several additional measurement and sampling tests that an assessor might consider, and summarize research associated with some of these measurements.
- Kevin Kennedy of Healthy Indoors Training and Consulting – PDF
Novel Means of Radon Education from North Dakota
North Dakota, the state with the highest residential radon in the US, has historically had no laws requiring radon testing or disclosure. This session describes some novel means to promote radon home testing in North Dakota that should be relevant to many states, including radon tester lending libraries, cell phone apps for radon, and free radon test kits available to callers to the state tobacco quitline.
- Gary G. Schwartz of University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences – PDF
Adjourn
Lead Poisoning Prevention Track (In Century Ballroom Section C)
Moderator: Kate Kirkwood of Lead-Edu (LEHA Board)
Welcome and Introductions
Partnerships, Persistence and Progress in Buffalo
Over 15 years ago, the County Health Department, City government, non-profits and the medical community came together, determined to overcome their silos to reduce childhood lead poisoning. After many meetings, a formal study, and a lawsuit, a new cooperative era for children's health has begun in Buffalo. Combined PDF of presentation.
- Thomas Muscarella of Erie County Health Department
- Cara Matteliano of Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo
- Sarah Wooton of Partnership for the Public Good
Lessons from New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island on Proactive Rental Inspections and Rental Registries
Three states have adopted or expanded their proactive rental inspection requirements for lead hazards in the past several years. Rhode Island expanded its existing requirements and added an interactive map to its registry. New Jersey required inspections with dust wipe clearance in municipalities with more than 3% elevated blood lead levels no later than July 2024. New York's requirements and a state-wide rental registry go into effect in October 2025 for 25 communities of concern. The state is working to finalize rules implementing the law. In this session, experts on the requirements for each of the three states will explain the program and lessons learned.
- DeeAnn Guo of Childhood Lead Action Project (CLAP) in Rhode Island – PDF
- Ben Haygood of Isles in New Jersey – PDF
- Thomas Muscarella of Erie County Health Department in New York – PDF
Break – Exhibit Hall Open:
Using AI to Extract Lead Hazard Data for Public Mapping
For decades, health departments, housing agencies, and others have been conducting environmental investigations and risk assessments for lead-based paint hazards. All too often, that information is on PDFs or hard copy reports that can be technical and difficult to understand. Recognizing the need for transparency and accessibility, the Marion County Public Health Department in Indianapolis, Indiana uses AI tools to extract this information and make it available in online maps as part of its Mission Unleaded website. The presenter will share how they did it and how you can too.
- Kristen Milbrath of Marion County Public Health Department – PDF
Lead Screening Kits and Indiana Pilot
In this era of dwindling resources, health departments and other organizations must make choices about how best to use their lead prevention resources. The University of Notre Dame Lead Innovation Team (ND LIT) has partnered with Women, Infant and Children (WIC) to screen their clients' households for lead hazards. Building on work described in 2020 and 2024 studies, ND LIT developed a low-cost kit to help families screen their homes for lead hazards before a child is exposed or lead poisoned. Dr. Beidinger will summarize prior and ongoing work.
- Heidi Beidinger of Notre Dame – PDF
Buffet Lunch Provided
Two Concurrent Educational Tracks continues
Healthy Homes Track (In Century Ballroom Section B)
Track Moderator: Mike Sharp of Janus Corp (LEHA Board)
Contracting for Healthy Homes Education through Code Enforcement
Enforcing property maintenance codes is key to making homes safe and healthy, especially for renters. Successful code enforcement requires a property owner and resident who both know how important it is and what their responsibilities are to comply. It also needs an inspector who knows the code, how to evaluate housing conditions, and can communicate well. The presenters in this session will explain the role communities have used in contracting for code enforcement complemented by effective consumer education.
- Larry Brooks, formerly of Alameda County Healthy Homes Department (LEHA Board) – PDF
- Pete Roque of 4Leaf – PDF
Comparison of Kitchen and Bath Exhaust Ventilation on Indoor Air Quality
Emissions from gas stoves and other combustion sources are associated with large adverse health effects. This session will summarize research by the National Center for Healthy Homes and the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission showing that continuous exhaust ventilation using kitchen range hoods improved indoor air quality better than continuous exhaust ventilation in bathrooms and that exhaust ventilation compared to no exhaust had an even greater beneficial effect.
- Dave Jacobs of National Center for Healthy Housing (LEHA Board) – PDF
Break – Exhibit Hall Open:
Fall Prevention: Case Studies of Healthy Homes Success
According to the CDC, fourteen million Americans ages 65 and older fall each year, resulting in over 38,000 deaths annually. In this session, the presenter will explain how fall prevention interventions are an important part of the healthy homes program, especially those focused on the older adults. He will cover the risk factors, types of injury hazards, and benefits of fall prevention interventions, and innovative ways in which these programs can be funded, highlighting. case studies of successful fall prevention programs that are currently operating around the country.
- Kevin Chan of Green and Healthy Homes Initiative – PDF
Engaging Parents and Communities
A successful healthy homes program engages parents, and communities that will be served by supporting outreach, and flagging problems before they become serious. While engagement can be challenging, it is essential for creating lasting change. A community-based organization can be an important mechanism to achieve this goal. The presenter will share her experiences running a CBO in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that can help programs move beyond outreach toward shared ownership, ensuring families are not just involved, but empowered to lead solutions rooted in their own communities.
- Jameela Maun of Healthy Homes Coalition of Western Michigan – PDF
Diversifying Funding Streams
Given the current funding environment, with traditional resources shifting, it's important to diversify strategies to ensure the stability and longevity of healthy housing programs and practices. This session will provide an overview of funding available to local governments and their community partners—from municipal bonds to social impact initiatives, blending and braiding federal and state funds, and more. Presenters will also examine asset mapping as a tool for identifying opportunities and gaps and highlight examples from cities and towns across the US. Combined PDF of presentation.
- Moderator: Teresa Wortmann of Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
- Brandon Boccher of National League of Cities
- Becky O'Meara of National League of Cities
Healthcare Funding/Engagement for Healthier Homes
The healthcare sector has emerged as an important partner for healthy housing programs, including providing direct investments to support lead poisoning prevention and healthy housing efforts. The panelists will share lessons learned from active healthcare-healthy homes projects, including how the partnerships began and matured and how other healthy homes programs can develop similar partnerships in their communities. The panel will include representatives from hospitals, health plans, and community health centers.
- Moderator:Michael McKnight of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative – PDF
- Alix Fellman of Trenton Health – PDF
- Celisia Rouson-Smith of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative – PDF
- Michael McKnight of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative – PDF
Adjourn
Lead Poisoning Prevention Track (In Century Ballroom Section C)
Track Moderator: Kate Kirkwood of Lead-Edu (LEHA Board)
Calculating Societal Benefits of Reducing Lead Exposure
Policymakers must pick and choose from an array of important priorities in which to invest their time, energy, and funding. While framing the expected health benefits from reducing lead exposure in terms of dollars can appear crass, it is an important tool to help compare priorities. And it is less abstract than health endpoints such as blood lead level, IQ points lost, or risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, EPA has provided important tools to quantify the societal benefits of reducing lead exposure. Tom Neltner will explain how to use those tools to help evaluate your work and persuade others to support it.
- Tom Neltner of Unleaded Kids (LEHA Board) – PDF
Lead in Drinking Water: LCRI, LSLs, Schools and Child Care
In 2024, EPA finalized improvements to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requiring full lead service line replacement, lowering the lead action level, and improving lead testing methods. In October that same year, utilities published inventories of service lines and their material types and will be required to update these inventories annually. The presenters will explain the impact of these changes, how schools and child cares will be affected, and the status of legal challenges to the LCR improvements.
- Roya Alkafaji of Environmental Defense Fund – PDF
- Deandrah Cameron of Lead-Free New Jersey and New Jersey Future – PDF
Break – Exhibit Hall Open:
EPA's Dust-Lead Standards and State/HUD Implementation
Last Fall, EPA revised its dust-lead standards and standards for labs . The changes have created some confusion among lead-based paint risk assessors when they describe lab results that show reportable levels and what recommendations to make. There has also been confusion among states, HUD-grantees, and managers of housing covered by HUD's Lead-Safe Housing Rule (LSHR). This session will explain the new rule, review implications for programs, and give suggestions to manage the transition.
- Tom Neltner of Unleaded Kids (LEHA Board) – PDF
Pregnancy, Lead and Mercury: Protecting Our Future
Lead and mercury exposure during pregnancy can cause serious complications in pregnant people (e.g., preeclampsia, embolisms, miscarriage, etc.) while also harming infant development (e.g., lower IQs, organ malformation, behavior issues, etc.). Lead poisoning prevention programs focus on testing children at their 12- and 24-month pediatrician visits and there is no routine mercury poisoning testing in children. This approach results in many children undergoing up to 21 months of development while being harmed by lead due to the lack of earlier screening and ongoing harm from mercury. The presenters will explain the results of biomonitoring for lead and mercury in pregnant people and newborns at Newark's University Hospital and describe several case studies where interventions were implemented.
They will also discuss options and potential benefits of expanding testing for pregnant people and newborns.
- Elyse Pivnick of Isles (Virtual) – PDF
- Eric Bind of New Jersey Health Department and Newark Hospital – PDF
Lead in Food: Baby Food, Cookware, and Vitamins
The cinnamon applesauce debacle in late 2023 brought renewed attention to the long simmering issue of lead contamination in baby food and spices. In addition, a 2023 California law on lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury in baby food was enacted, with a similar law being considered for prenatal vitamins. And in 2024, Washington State passed a law limiting lead in metal cookware. The presenters will summarize the latest efforts to reduce lead exposure from food.
- Katie Fellows of Public Health – Seattle & King County, Hazardous Waste Management Program (Virtual) – PDF
- Mariah Walters Orose of Unleaded Kids – Combined with Ronholm PDF
- Brian Ronholm of Consumer Reports
Adjourn
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Closing General Session (In Century Ballroom Section C)
Session Overview
- Moderator: Kathy Harris of EHS Labs (LEHA Board)
Finishing the Job on Lead
The sea change taking place at the federal level poses a potential threat to progress in our collective goal to end the toxic legacy of lead. It is a time to unify and unite in a call to action to ensure our nation does not move backwards on this critical effort to ensure every child can grow up healthy and thrive. Ms. Norton will raise opportunities to work with new sectors and partners to ensure the march to zero continues and highlight potential opportunities that may still exist at the federal level including HUD, EPA and of course the CDC, while programs look to generate programmatic income from social impact efforts and new funders coming over the horizon. Most importantly, she will explain the need for constant vigilance and how to use critical data, broad media outlets and old-fashioned hard work to gain new champions and to make the case at every level in every community.
- Ruth Ann Norton, President/CEO, of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative – PDF
Opinion of this mischievous Effect from Lead
Pediatricians are at the forefront of diagnosing and managing children with elevated blood lead levels. Given that no safe level of lead has been identified, the primary prevention of lead exposure is imperative. This session will discuss how pediatricians can work with local and state governments with a focus on the primary and secondary prevention of childhood lead exposures.
- Jennifer Lowry Sample of Pediatox – Contact presenter
PEHSUs: Partnership and Perspectives
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) are a national network of experts created in 1998 supported by CDC/ATSDR and EPA that work collaboratively to improve health systems to make communities safer for children and families by providing community education and outreach, training for health professionals, and guidance and referrals. The presenter will describe how to access the network, how to make use of their expertise, and provide insight regarding how the network may shape environmental health programs in the future.
- Elizabeth Friedman of Children's Mercy Kansas City and Region 7 PEHSU – PDF
Shaping and Supporting Healthy Homes
This session highlights how professionals with lead and healthy homes experience have used advocacy efforts, partnerships, research, education and collaboration to find their voice within the healthy homes and lead poisoning prevention communities.
- Kate Kirkwood of Lead-Edu (LEHA Board)
- Kathy Harris of EHS Labs (LEHA Board)
- Neal Freuden of EnviroPlan (LEHA Board)
Finding the Path Forward and Taking Action, hosted by National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition
This session will offer participants an opportunity to reflect on takeaways from the conference about impacts of federal policy actions on states and localities and identify actions they want to take that fit into a larger collective vision for action. Presenters will share how the NSHHC will be engaging on these issues and how coalition members can get involved over the coming weeks and months. Combined PDF of presentation.
- Sarah Goodwin of National Center for Healthy Housing (LEHA Board)
- Michael McKnight of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
Adjourn
Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsors
PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSOR
Environmental Hazards Services LLC
Richmond, VA 23237
SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSOR
Community Development Alameda County
Oakland, CA
SILVER SPONSOR
4LEAF Construction Management
Pleasantville, CA
BRONZE LEVEL SPONSOR
Lowe's
Mooresville, NC
Exhibitors
Environmental Hazards Services LLC
Floro-Spec Inc.
4LEAF Construction Management
Lead Locators
Neighborly Software
SciAps, Inc.
Sentinel Products
Viken Detection
Thank You
Attendees & Participants
The 2025 National Lead & Healthy Housing Conference has successfully concluded. We extend our sincere gratitude to all attendees, speakers, presenters, and participants whose engagement and contributions made this event a resounding success.
Sponsors & Partners
We express our deep appreciation to our generous sponsors and partners whose invaluable support was essential in bringing this conference to life. Your commitment to advancing lead poisoning prevention and healthy housing initiatives drives meaningful change.
We hope you found the sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities valuable. We look forward to continuing this important work together and invite you to join us at our upcoming conferences as we advance the mission of creating safer, healthier living environments for all communities.
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