Past Advocacy Webinars

Lead in Water

Illinois passed legislation that requires certain licensed child care centers and homes to test drinking water for lead and mitigate when necessary. Illinois Action for Children and our partners at the Environmental Defense Fund and Elevate Energy hosted a four-part webinar series addressing lead in water overview, testing for lead in water, and mitigation strategies.

A Lead Free Future 

In August 2021, Elevate and Illinois Action for Children released a new report, A Lead Free Future: Research and Recommendations for Protecting Children from Lead in Water, a review on lead in water testing and mitigation policies and recommendations in Illinois. Within this report, we identify themes from child care providers on the challenges and successes they experienced through the lead in water testing and mitigation process. This report is part of our ongoing advocacy work to ensure children, families, providers, and communities have access to lead free water

Water Samples

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has adopted final rules for licensed child care centers and homes to address lead in drinking water. Providers must collect samples from their sources of drinking water and send samples to an approved lab by May 1, 2019. More information can be found on our factsheet, or on the DCFS Sunshine website.

Training Module

As of July 1, 2019, content from the Illinois Action for Children, Environmental Defense Fund, and Elevate Energy Lead in Water Webinars were combined into an i-Learning training module on the Gateways to Opportunity website.

Enroll in the English training module

Inscríbete en el módulo de entrenamiento en español

Once you complete the training module, the credits will automatically appear on your Professional Development Record (PDR) and you will be able to immediately print a certificate for your DCFS Licensing Representative.

If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact INCCRRA.

If you took the Lead in Water training webinars prior to July 1, 2019 and have not received credit on your Gateways account, please email advocacy@actforchildren.org with your full name, the date you took the webinars, and your Gateways ID Number.

Letter Templates

These letter templates will help you communicate with parents, staff, and DCFS about your lead in water test results and follow up actions.

1. Template Letter Notifying Parents that Your Facility will Test its Drinking Water for Lead | En Español
This is a template to help you write a letter that informs parents and guardians that you will be testing the drinking water at your facility for lead. This is the first letter you will send.

2. Template Letter for Communicating your Test Results if Below-2.01 | En Español
This is a template to help you write a letter that informs parents and guardians of the results of your lead in water test. Use this version if all your test results were BELOW 2.01 ppb.

3. Template Letter for Communicating your Test Results if Above-2.01 | En Español
This is a template to help you write a letter that informs parents and guardians of your lead in water test results and the action/s you are taking (or plan to take) to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. Use this version if any of your samples came back at 2.01 ppb or greater.

4. Template Letter for Communicating your Follow Up Test Results | En Español
This is a template to help you write a letter that informs parents and guardians of your follow up test results after implementing long-term mitigation actions. You will send if any of your initial lead in water tests reveal lead levels at 2.01 ppb or greater.

5. Template Letter for Communicating your Mitigation Plan En Español
This is a template to help you write a letter that informs parents and guardians of your long term mitigation plans. Use this version if any of your samples came back at 2.01 ppb or greater.

Lead Hazard Reduction Home Improvement Program

Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are working together to inspect homes and fix lead paint hazards in homes in specific areas.

FREE home lead inspection and repairs available: English | Spanish

A family must income-qualify for this program to have a free lead inspection. If lead hazards are found in the home, CCDPH will fix the hazards, at no cost to the family. The home repair work typically offered includes painting, window replacement, or any other home repair to remove lead paint.

Enroll in the Lead Hazard Reduction Home Improvement Program and have lead paint hazards removed from your home—protect your family, today!

To see if you qualify, call the number below:

Berwyn, Cicero and Maywood
Call North West Housing Partnership at 847-969-0561

Blue Island, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Dolton, Riverdale, Robbins and Summit
Call Neighborhood Housing Services at 773-329-4146

Water coming out of a tap GIF

Additional Resources

To keep in touch about upcoming in person trainings, new materials, and funding resources contact: advocacy@actforchildren.org