Participatory Budgeting

A typical participatory budgeting process follows these steps, usually over the course of a year:

1. Process Design: We are partnering with a consultant and community leaders to create the rules and engagement plan.
2. Brainstorm Ideas: Through meetings and online tools, residents will share and discuss ideas for projects.
3. Develop Proposals: Groups of volunteers will develop the ideas into feasible proposals.
4. Vote: Volunteers vote on the proposals that most serve the community’s needs.
5. Fund Winning Project: The Community Foundation will fund the winning idea(s) with a pool of $150,000 in grant dollars.

Graphic courtesy of Participatory Budgeting Project

Volunteers are invited to sign up to be a part of this exciting program. Participants will hear from county and city officials, community leaders and residents as we share stories, expertise and ideas, develop proposals and vote on the best project. Registration is required to ensure we have enough food, translators and childcare available.

LEAD Prevention:  What can we do about Lead?

Participatory Budgeting project to increase lead testing for children

Meeting Schedule September 13, 2022 — May 2, 2023

Tuesdays:  6:30pm – 8:30pm

Unable to join us? Watch back our Participatory Budgeting Sessions here:

• November 15, 2022 | Session 3 – YMCA Downtown Syracuse

Participatory Budgeting Project
To Increase Lead testing for children

TOP IDEAS

Thank you for your guidance, knowledge and ideas to help us increase lead testing for children. Based on your work on this project, you and your neighbors have voted on ideas gathered from each meeting. Below is an overview of the top 3 ideas from the September – February 2023 meetings.

February 7, 2023 – Top 3 Ideas

1. Only rent to properties that have been deemed safe from lead – 18 votes
2. Partner with SCSD and Daycares to get more children tested and screened for lead – 9 votes
3. Research funding looking at connections with neuro-development disorders (ADHD, anxiousness, etc.) – 8 votes

January 10, 2023 – Top 3 Ideas

1. County Lead ambassadors who represent the 5 major language groups to conduct outreach and education for families – 20 votes
2. Mobile lead testing unit with tracker of locations to do pop-up testing where there are a lot of families (Mall, State Fair) – 17 votes
3. Tenant hardware store to subsidize cost of materials to do lead remediation (tenants would have to be certified by the county to do any lead remediation work) – 14 votes

December 6, 2022 – Top Ideas 

1. Hold landlords accountable – 21 votes
   • Landlords test units
   • Landlords limit selling a house until lead problem is fixed
   • Landlords face higher penalties is lead is found
2. Lead Bus Testing – 14 votes
   • Bus testing at community centers, W.I.C., churches, daycares, and other community events
3. Mandatory lead testing during yearly children’s physicals – 11 votes

November 15, 2022 – Top 3 Ideas 

1. Incentives for Testing— 30 Votes
2. Giving incentives – 5 votes
   • Have to get children screened in order to qualify for assistance (5 votes)
   •  If you get lead tested you get a free physical (3 votes)
   • Incentivize screening for youth (merch, gift cards, etc.) (8 votes)
   •  Grants/financial aid with conditional stipends during immunization [sic] process (14 votes)

2. Mobile Testing— 28 Votes
   • Bring back screening van  (10 votes)
   • Mandatory mobile testing to get families tested by zip code (13 votes)
   •  Mobile testing vans in community for accessibility (5 votes)

3. PSA that incorporate Social Media— 12 votes
   • Fun short PSA (social media, doctors’ offices, etc.) (8 votes)
   • Information through social media with relatable candidates (4 votes)

October 4, 2022 – Top 3 Ideas 

Top Ideas

1. Public service announcements (church, press conferences, non-profits, social media, campaign, gather people to go to legislation, ACR Health, sororities, rescue mission, parks and rec, doctor office, boys and girls club) + Communication access/education (different languages, history, knowledge) – 18 votes
2. Make lead testing a requirement to go to school to increase the number of kids being tested – 15 votes
3. Doctors should raise awareness around lead (lead kits, cause/effects, symptoms, where to get information) – 11 votes
4. Communication access/education (different languages, history, knowledge) – 11 votes

September 13, 2022

Top Ideas

1. Mandatory Testing before Renting— 16 Votes
2. Provide Free Interpreters; in person face-to-face— 14 Votes
3. Bring back the lead bus/mobile van— 11 votes

More to come!

More to come!

We have compiled a list of resources to help you learn more about the dangers of lead poisoning and how to safely remove it from your home.

LeadSafeCNY is an initiative of the Central New York Community Foundation, which has made a multi-year commitment to help decrease the region’s alarming childhood lead poisoning rates. Understanding that lead poisoning undercuts all community efforts to help children reach their fullest potential, LeadSafeCNY tackles this issue through multiple approaches including funding, impact investing and collaboration to support lead-free housing construction, existing home renovations, community outreach and training, workforce development, public policy and more.

For more information, download these PDF’s:

• PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING TOP IDEAS

• CONVENIENT ACCURATE IN-HOME TESTING (PHLEB EXPRESS PRESENTATION)

• LEAD FREEDOM REPORT: WHERE WE GO FROM HERE (REPORT SUMMARY)

• City of Syracuse Lead Presentation

• ONONDAGA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT LEAD POISONING PREVENTION PROGRAM

• LEAD TESTING STRATEGIES – SEPTEMBER 2022

• LEAD FREE KIDS NY – LEAD PREVENTION WEEK

PHOTOS:

Layla’s Got You Social Media Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• November Lead Video

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