Oak Park parents with children under 6 will notice a change at their next well-child visit: a new Illinois law now requires automatic blood lead testing for all children at 12 and 24 months, and a lead-exposure questionnaire for every child 6 and younger at each health care appointment.

The law took effect July 1, replacing a prior system that only mandated testing in designated "high-risk ZIP codes." The Illinois Department of Public Health announced the change on June 25, calling it "the culmination of a years-long effort to expand the number of children who receive such testing."

What changed

Previously, only children in certain ZIP codes were required to be tested. Under the new standard, every Illinois child gets an automatic blood draw at 12 months and again at 24 months, regardless of where they live. Children who were previously tested must be re-tested if they don't pass the screening questionnaire.

The test itself is simple. "It's just a finger poke, it goes on a little test strip and into a machine and is tested and gives us a readout," said Leah Drebenstedt, a lead nurse with the Adams County Health Department. If the result comes back at 3.5 micrograms per deciliter or higher, a confirmatory arm-draw blood test follows.

Any confirmed level above 3.5 µg/dL triggers a mandatory public health response: a home inspection to find and remove the lead source, plus an educational visit from a public health nurse. Illinois adopted that 3.5 µg/dL threshold in 2025, lowering it from the previous standard of 5 µg/dL. Because the bar dropped, the number of tests flagging elevated levels rose 56% from January through August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to IDPH. The increase reflects the broader definition, not necessarily more children being exposed.

Why it matters in Oak Park

One in five homes in suburban Cook County contains lead-based paint hazards, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health. Two-thirds of homes in Cook County were built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned. Much of Oak Park was built before 1940, and the EPA estimates 87% of homes from that era contain some lead-based paint.

Since 2010, roughly 42,000 Illinois children have tested positive for elevated lead levels, about 2.5% of all children tested. IDPH estimates 28,000 additional children who were never tested may have elevated levels as well.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said the agency's Childhood Lead Program has identified thousands of exposed children, "allowing for early intervention to address negative health effects and implementation of efforts to limit further exposure."

What Oak Park families should do

Parents should ask their pediatrician about the new testing and questionnaire requirements at their child's next well-child visit. The Cook County Department of Public Health also operates a free Lead Hazard Reduction Program for qualifying homeowners and renters in suburban Cook County, including Oak Park. The program covers home inspections and lead hazard repairs for households earning up to 120% of Area Median Income.

The CCDPH administrative office is at 7556 Jackson Blvd. in Forest Park. Families can call 708-836-8600 for information about the lead hazard program.