Collaborating for primary prevention: Rochester's new lead law.

In December 2005, the City Council of Rochester, New York, passed an amendment to its municipal code requiring inspection for and correction of lead hazards. Local lead poisoning prevention advocates had long recognized the need for stronger lead policy to address Rochester's high rate of childhood lead poisoning. Between 2000 and 2005, a diverse coalition of educators, healthcare professionals, community members, researchers, government officials, and many others worked to develop a strategy for ending childhood lead poisoning in Rochester by 2010. Their experience in defining the issue, mustering resources, and structuring their decision-making processes is informative for other communities seeking to overcome barriers to improved primary prevention policy.