Little Hands, Safe Homes:

An action guide to lead poisoning prevention

Little Hands, Safe Homes is a newly revised bilingual action-guide book to help parents and caregivers protect children from lead poisoning in older homes and home-based childcare centers. Little Hands, Safe Homes features photos of families from the very communities it will serve. 

Children in the communities we serve face a lead poisoning risk from housing of up to 94%. 

While most people understand that lead is harmful, many don’t know that it could be found in their very own homes, or what they can do to prevent exposure.

The story behind Little Hands, Safe Homes

When EHC’s Healthy Homes team goes into the community to educate parents and caregivers about lead poisoning prevention, they are often in locations without PowerPoint or screens. Instead, they use an educational book with large color photographs of children and critical information to educate and connect. However, this book was long overdue for a makeover.  

That is where Sonora Benavides comes to the rescue! As part of her College Corp service with EHC, Sonora, a USD student, came up with the concept of the new book – Little Hands, Safe Homes– secured funding, and led its creation! 

With this new, vibrant, and up-to-date book, the Healthy Kids team will continue to provide critical in-person education, and anyone who needs it can download the digital version, read it online, share it, or print it!

Thank you!

This book was made possible through the generous support of the University of San Diego and Copley Library. We gratefully acknowledge Sonora Benavides, USD College Corps Community Health Fellow, for successfully securing the grant that made the Little Hands, Safe Homes project a reality.

Thank you to the families and children who participated in the photoshoot for the Little Hands, Safe Homes book.