CLEAR program launches in Weld County to help reduce lead hazards

Published on March 11, 2026

Gloved hand holding a blood sample vial labeled 'Lead Level Test' with medical tools and notebook in the background.

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) has launched a new lead exposure mitigation initiative, CLEAR: Children’s Lead Exposure Action and Replacement to provide free environmental investigations to families of children diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels, commonly referred to as lead poisoning.

The program is made possible through a donation from the Bond Family Foundation, which established a dedicated fund to help replace hazardous consumer products and support families in reducing lead hazards within their homes.

While WCDPHE’s investigation program has been successful in identifying sources of exposure, staff have historically been limited to offering recommendations at the conclusion of an investigation. These recommendations may include professional abatement, replacement of personal items, and specialized cleaning — steps that can be costly. Many families lack the financial resources to implement these recommendations. The CLEAR program helps bridge that gap by providing direct assistance to eligible families.

Through CLEAR, WCDPHE can help replace contaminated items, such as cookware or spices, that families might otherwise continue using. The program can also provide essential tools, including disposable floor-cleaning supplies and HEPA vacuums, to help reduce lead-contaminated dust from aging paint and other sources inside the home.

“WCDPHE is excited to take this important step toward creating safer homes and brighter futures for Weld County children,” said Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Coordinator Cassie Theisen. “CLEAR represents a meaningful commitment to health equity and prevention by helping ensure families have the resources they need to reduce lead hazards and protect children from exposure.”

Children can be exposed to lead through ingestion or inhalation from a variety of sources. The most common sources include deteriorating lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, and soil in homes built before 1978. Utensils and food that that are not formally imported (such as brought back from vacation or travel) have a higher chance of containing lead. Some spices found to contain high amounts of lead include turmeric, azarcón, surma, sindoor, and pay-loo-ah. Artisan cookware including metal pots and glazed ceramic cookware have also been found to have high amounts of lead that can get into foods when used for cooking or even drinking hot liquids.

Children should receive lead testing at their 12- and 24-month checkups, or if there is an identified risk on the lead-exposure risk questionnaire. Families can access the questionnaire and learn more about lead exposure at www.weld.gov/go/lead.