A Yonkers mother is sharing her family's experience with lead exposure after receiving county assistance to remove dangerous hazards from her home through the Lead Safe Westchester Program.

When Marlaina Headley and her family purchased their home, built around 1909, lead poisoning was not a concern. That changed when their daughter tested positive for elevated lead levels during a routine blood test at the age of 1.

According to Westchester County, more than 81% of the county's housing stock was built before 1978, making lead-based paint a common concern in older homes. Lead exposure can cause serious and long-lasting health effects in children, but health officials say it is preventable.

"While we have made significant progress in raising awareness, there's still work to be done to make sure families are protected," said Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.

The county recently secured a $7.75 million federal grant to support lead hazard reduction efforts. Through the Lead Safe Westchester Program, the Headley family received extensive remediation work at their home, including the replacement of 41 windows, paint stabilization on 21 additional windows, and repairs to doors, stairways, walls, ceilings and other interior surfaces where lead hazards were identified.

Headley says the improvements have provided peace of mind for her family.

"Now we feel comfortable and safe, and there's a lot of peace of mind for my kids playing now, and we're not worried about their health," she said.

Westchester residents interested in learning more about the Lead Safe Westchester Program can visit the county's website.

New York City homeowners may also qualify for assistance through the city's Lead Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes Program for residential buildings constructed before 1960.