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COOK COUNTY, IL — LeadCare Cook County recently reached a major public health milestone with the replacement of its 200th lead service line at a child care facility in suburban Cook County.
Administered by Elevate in partnership with Cook County Government and funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the program is making child care environments safer and healthier for children and the professionals who care for them.
“It is imperative that everyone in Cook County—especially our children—has access to safe, healthy drinking water,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “I’m proud that this program has now replaced 200 lead service lines, and we look forward to assisting more child care facilities in suburban communities to ensure they have the safest conditions possible. I’m grateful to Elevate for this tremendous partnership.”
Lead exposure poses serious risks to human health, especially for children under age 6, whose developing brains and nervous systems are particularly vulnerable to its harmful effects. Lead service lines are often the most significant source of lead in drinking water, yet the high cost of replacement makes it inaccessible for many child care providers.
“Replacing lead service lines at child care facilities is one of the most effective and important ways to protect children’s health and foster stronger communities,” said Dr. Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate. “We’re proud to partner with Cook County on this vital effort. Every child needs safe, clean drinking water no matter where they live.”
By replacing 200 lead service lines since the summer of 2023, LeadCare Cook County has benefitted more than 2,500 children and eased a major financial and health burden for families and child care providers.
LeadCare Cook County replaced the lead service line at child care provider Barbara Nelson’s home in Dolton in 2024.
"LeadCare Cook County is an amazing program, and I'm happy that my lead service line was replaced for free,” Nelson said. “I encourage child care providers to sign up to access safer water. It feels really good to know that I did something to make sure that the kids are no longer exposed to lead in their drinking water.”
Originally published by Dennis Rodkin via Crain's | July 2, 2025
Cook County opens first modular homes in $12 million affordable housing push - Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will open the first two of 120 planned modular-built houses today, a little more than a year after the county board approved spending $12 million, or $100,000 per unit, to build the homes as new affordable housing options.
The first two completed homes are on Homan Avenue in Humboldt Park, where Preckwinkle will hold an event today along with officials of the county and the Cook County Land Bank, plus Tim Swanson, whose firm Inherent L3C built the three-bedroom houses.
The pair of houses is the start of an initial dozen in this neighborhood, each built in Inherent's factory 3.5 miles away in North Lawndale and delivered by truck as two pieces—first floor and second floor—to the lot.
Work will start on modular homes in Chicago Heights, in south Cook County, in August, and in Proviso Township, west Cook County, in late fall, according to the county's bureau of economic development.
"If we're going to meet the housing crisis in this country, we're going to have to invest a lot more in modular housing," Preckwinkle told Crain's in an interview ahead of the event. "It takes less time than stick-built, and they're built in a controlled environment where there's no rain or snow that takes extra time."
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