HEALTH SERVICE GUIDE — LEAD SAFETY
A child's blood test, a home assessment and an item screening answer three different questions.
Rockland County's October 29 household-item screening has ended. Its free home lead-assessment route remains available for pre-1980 homes. Neither service replaces a child's blood-lead test through a health-care provider.
Choose the right check
- Concern about a child's exposure: ask the child's health-care provider for a blood-lead test. New York requires testing at age 1 and again at age 2, plus risk assessment from 6 months through age 6.
- Concern about a pre-1980 home: ask the County about a free home assessment at 845-364-3305 or leadfreekids@co.rockland.ny.us.
- Concern about a small household item: the County's two October 29 screening sessions have ended. The reviewed announcement does not list another item-screening date.
The October 29 item-screening sessions have ended
The County listed two October 29 windows at the Martin Luther King Multipurpose Center, 110 Bethune Boulevard, Spring Valley: 11:15 a.m.–1 p.m. and 5–6:30 p.m. Both have now ended, and the reviewed announcement does not list another household-item screening date. Read the County's October 26 announcement ↗
The announcement did not say that screening a household item would establish whether a child had lead in their blood or whether a home was lead-safe. Those distinctions still matter: use the County route below for a home concern and a health-care provider for a child's blood-lead test.
What the free home assessment can cover
The County's current brochure says an EPA-certified risk assessor can provide a free lead assessment in homes built before 1980. Its program page says an environmental investigation may include a visual inspection, paint testing, water sampling and dust sampling, followed by recommendations to the owner or landlord. Open the County lead-prevention program page ↗
That is broader than a drinking-water test and different from testing a child. The County asks residents to call or email the program to schedule an assessment; the public page does not promise that every requested test will be performed in every home. Ask what the visit will include when scheduling.
A child's test goes through a health-care provider
New York health guidance says all children should receive a blood-lead test at age 1 and again at age 2. At every well-child visit, providers should assess children from 6 months through age 6 for exposure risk and order a blood test when indicated. Read the State's guidance for health-care providers ↗
CDC says no safe blood-lead level in children has been identified. Do not wait for a home or item screening to ask a clinician about testing if you are concerned about a child's exposure. A health-care provider—not a household-item screen—interprets the child's result and follow-up needs.
Why paint and dust get special attention here
Rockland County reports that, among children covered by its investigations of higher blood-lead levels from 2022 through 2026, 79% were exposed through paint. That is a statistic from investigated cases, not a claim that 79% of all Rockland children have been exposed. The County also identifies some imported toys, spices, cosmetics, cookware and dishes as possible sources.
Spring Valley landlords have a separate legal duty
New York's Lead Rental Registry applies in Spring Valley to pre-1980 residential rental properties with two or more units. Owners must register affected properties, arrange lead-hazard inspections and address hazards; the program is not optional because a tenant has not requested a test. Check the State registry requirements ↗
The County program page says eligible owners may be able to obtain grant help for hazard removal. That is not automatic funding and this article does not determine whether a property or owner qualifies.
What this changes for a resident: do not travel to the October 29 household-item screening; both sessions have ended. Rockland families can still ask the County about a free assessment of a pre-1980 home, while concern about a child's exposure belongs with the child's health-care provider and a blood-lead test.
Primary sources: Rockland County Department of Health announcement ↗, posted October 26, 2026 and rechecked October 29 at 6:52 p.m. EDT; County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program ↗; County program brochure ↗; New York State testing guidance ↗; State Lead Rental Registry ↗; and CDC child-testing guidance ↗. The Rockland Edit did not contact a family, clinician, property owner or County employee and does not determine exposure, test results, inspection findings or financial-assistance eligibility.