MIALSH Obtains $1.25 Million State General Fund Dollars for Lead Hazard Control Wesley Priem, Carin Speidel Michigan Department of Community Health Mary Sue Schottenfels CLEARCorps Detroit

History of Lead Hazard Control Funding In Michigan Primary funding has been HUD Lead Hazard Control Grants since 1994 to Michigan and several major cities and counties CDC funding for Case Management and Primary prevention to Michigan and Detroit $ 5 million Clean Michigan Bond Fund ( ) $ 1 million per year Healthy Michigan Fund ( )

History of Funding Funding from EPA for Certification/Training/ Enforcement program $100K per year from General Fund for Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) No dedicated funding to maintain either CLPPP or Healthy Homes Section

History of Funding Due to pressure by lead advocates in 2003/2004, a Lead Poisoning Prevention Task Force was established to take a comprehensive approach to addressing lead prevention in Michigan Commission established in state statue with sunset provision of 2007 Act renewed until July 1, 2010

Governor Granholm Lead Poisoning Prevention Task Force Commission Task Force was successful in establishing 7 Priority Recommendations Most of these recommendations were achieved Expanding lead hazard control of homes through an on-going earmarked funding source was not!

Last Meeting of Lead Poisoning Prevention Task Force Commission A few like-minded advocates sitting around a table at the final commission meeting decided that the effort needed to continue with or without legislation We decided a permanent funding source for lead hazard control had to be achieved if lead poisoning would be eliminated in Michigan’s children

The following is a retrospective summary of how this group succeeded in obtaining the first State General Fund dollars dedicated to lead hazard control in Michigan

Ten Steps To Success 1. Assembling Core Team 2.Defining the Issue 3.Focus on a Solution and Build Trust 4.Expand Constituents 5. Identify Legislative Champions

Ten Steps To Success (Continued) 6.Educate Key Policy Makers 7.Continue Education to Draw Awareness 8.Timing is Everything 9.Thank the Champions 10. Spend the Funds

Step One: Assembling Core Team The small group established the Michigan Alliance for Lead Safe Housing (MIALSH) to continue fighting for funding.

Step One: Assembling Core Team (Continued) Core group realized years ago that HUD and CDC funding was not a 100% guarantee No longer a national spokesperson for lead prevention, such as former Vice President’s wife Tipper Gore

Step One: Assembling Core Team (Continued) The Michigan Environmental Council was added to team for advocacy expertise and access to legislators Others were recruited to join the core team to develop bring in added skills and strengthen the group

MDCH Healthy Homes Section Core Stakeholders Doss Consultants CLEARCorps Detroit Healthy Homes West Michigan Ecology Center/Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health Wayne State University Michigan Environmental Council

Step Two: Defining the Issue The challenge is to simplify a complex issue in order to educate a politician in 5 minutes Most freshman legislators and there staff have a misconception that lead poisoning is a health concern of the past

Step Two: Defining the Issue (Continued) The message - “The state must increase funding to remove lead paint from older housing.” Repeat same message at every opportunity….

Step Two: Defining the Issue (Continued) A clear one page Lead Poisoning Fact Sheet in bullet point format that explained the message and called for a solution with Michigan facts backed by cited references…

Step Two: Defining the Issue (Continued)

Step Three: Focus on a Solution and Building Trust How do you package? 900 pages of HUD Guidelines for finding lead hazards and methods for abating homes State Act and Rules CDC Guidelines for Case Management ASTM Standards

Step Three: Focus on a Solution and Build Trust ( Continued ) MIALSH assured the legislators that they and the Michigan Department of Community Health had the expertise to do the work once the money was provided Many politicians did not know about this group, MDCH or our partnering agencies

Step Three: Focus on a Solution and Build Trust ( Continued ) Over time the legislators began to build a trust and rapport with MIALSH and consulted individuals in the group regarding other lead bills and issues We became the “go-to” group for lead Partnership trust increased within MIALSH

Step Three: Focus on a Solution and Build Trust ( Continued ) Allowed members to speak for the group acting as one voice Learned individual skill sets Could rely on members to do what they said they would do

Step Three: Focus on a Solution and Build Trust (Continued ) Developed an initial list of 9 recommendations for funding Narrowed to Paint Fee like Maine’s MEC said NO to Paint Fee, will not be well received in housing crisis Proclaim message, let legislature find funding

Step Four: Expanding Constituents Legislators respond first to constituents in their geographic district Added Families who have EBL children in key committee member’s districts Added Contractors who employee workers in these districts MIALSH has 110 members today!

Ring/Secondary Stakeholders Office of the Governor Michigan Department of Community Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program U.S. Department of HUD Region V Southeast Michigan Health Association Local Health Departments Ingham, Genesee, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Muskegon, Wayne City of Lansing Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County ARC of Michigan Core Stakeholders RSM Lead Inspections

Our success hinged on finding a legislative champion to take up our mission. Had to be a member of controlling party In 2010 Senator Bruce Caswell stated, “ I understand, I get it, lead hurts children. We must remove it from homes.” Step Five: Identify Legislative Champions

Step Six: Educate Key Policy Makers Senator Caswell then helped MIALSH to target other key committee members that would need to understand the importance of the issue. We set out to educate them…..and did!

Step Seven: Continue to Educate and Draw Awareness Must push the momentum of the mission Each new legislative session brings in a new set or priorities, example Medicaid Expansion, gun laws, medical marijuana

Step Seven: Continue to Educate and Draw Awareness (Continued) MIALSH Website Brief on-line newsletter Lead Education Day Facebook Elevators, stairwells and walks between office buildings…. Newspaper articles

Step Seven: Continue to Educate and Draw Awareness ( Continued )

Step Eight: Timing Did you say Extra Money in the budget? No problem, we can spend it! Seize the moment…Strike while the iron is hot….

Step Eight: Timing We did it! Governor Snyder and Michigan Legislature awarded $1.25 million for lead abatement in Fiscal Year 2014 First time that state General Funds have been allocated for this purpose State Gives Lead Safe Home Program $1.25 million

Step Nine: Thank the Champions Victory party with awards Michigan Environmental Council newsletter, website and Facebook Personal letters Elevators, stairs and walks in between buildings - thanks, thanks and thanks

Step Ten: Spend the Funds Marketing Process Applications Inspect/Risk Assess Homes Purchase XRF Laboratory supplies/analysis

Step 10: (Continued) Marketing

Step Ten Spend the Funds (Continued) Write Specs Contractor Selection Lead Hazard Control of Homes Clearances Report Progress to Legislators

Spending the Funds

BEFORE After

How will you allocate funds? Advocate for Additional Staff Increase Contractor Pool Increase Marketing Write Contracts Produce or Lose $$$ Additional Processing Staff Spending Funding Has its Challenges

What is Better than $1.25 Million? $1.25 million (or more) for 2015!

Summary Long hours and hard work Don’t stray from mission Keep message simple Risk losing everything Don’t give up… Have a great team Repeat process next year

Our Presenters Wesley F. Priem Section Manager Michigan Department of Community Health Carin Speidel Manager Lead Safe Home Program Michigan Department of Community Health Mary Sue Schottenfels Executive Director CLEARCorps Detroit