AN EVALUATION OF THE IMORE-COMMUNITY-LEAD-EDUCATION-AND-REDUCTION-CORPS (CLEARCORPS) PROGRAM

This evaluation examines the effectiveness of the Baltimore Community Lead Education and Reduction Corps (CLEARCorps) program in reducing le ad dust levels in low-income urban housing in Baltimore, Maryland, thr ough minor lead-reduction activities and tenant lead-poisoning prevent ion education. Lead dust data collected before and after lead-reductio n activities show statistically significant mean declines for floors, window sills, and window wells. Limited data using sign tests also sho w that follow-up lead dust levels collected 6 months after the CLEARCo rps intervention were significantly lower than preintervention lead le vels, although there are many important limitations of this analysis, the findings suggest that in-place management may be an effective meth od in reducing childhood lead poisoning in high-risk areas.