Download Diaper Divide – Resources Available (PDF) - 4/6/16

memo
DATE:
April 6, 2016
TO:
WIC Coordinators, Public Health Leaders & Partners
FROM:
State WIC Staff
SUBJECT:
Diaper Divide – Resources Available
NOTE: This is provided for your information only. You need not do anything, but you might
want to share it with other organizations in your community who might be eligible to
participate and interested in the program. It would be a valuable resource for many WIC
families.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------•
Nearly 1 in 3 families struggle to afford diapers.
o
o
•
Low-income families often pay twice as much for diapers as higher income families.
o
o
•
When families can’t afford diapers, they may have to choose between buying diapers
and paying for food, rent, or utilities.
To make do, parents might stretch the time between diaper changes, which can result in
serious health problems, as well as additional stress on caregivers.
Low-income families often pay full price for diapers ($0.30-$0.50/diaper), averaging
$936 per child for diapers per year.
Higher-income families have access to reduced cost, bulk-buying options at big-box
stores or through the internet, that many families don’t (because of transportation, cash
flow, etc.)
There is no federal assistance for purchasing diapers.
To address this issue, the White House has included in its budget a $10 million investment to
test effective ways to get diapers to families in need and document the health gains that result.
Knowing that it takes an “act of Congress”, the White House reached out to private and nonprofit leaders to explore creative ways to address this widespread public health problem. The
result is the Community Action Program – a partnership between Cuties brand diapers and Jet,
a shopping platform.
Participation in the Community Action Program is open to non-profit organizations. If there
are organizations in your community which might be interested in this opportunity and which
might qualify, please feel free to pass this on to them.