SC Connecticut News

On May 3,Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) announced that she had secured $1.2 million for the Massachusetts Association of Community Action Programs (MASSCAP) that is partnering with the Diaper Bank of Connecticut and the National Diaper Bank Network, headquartered in New Haven, to get diapers to Connecticut families in need. The funding comes as part of the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot that DeLauro as then-Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education provided in the FY 2023 omnibus.

“One in three families across the United States does not have enough diapers to meet the needs of their babies and toddlers,” said DeLauro. “To help meet this need, we created the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot – to meet families diaper needs, alleviate the significant cost burden of diapers, and improve the economic security of working families. Not only will families receive diapers – which alone can cost 8 percent of a person’s total income – they will also receive critical support services like job training, educational support, Head Start, housing services, and more. This is for our children, and I promise to fight to ensure families do not have to sacrifice diapers or any other need of their child to make ends meet.”

"Diapers are a basic need of every baby, and diaper need is a public health issue that cannot be solved by the philanthropic community alone. This first-ever federal funding to support diaper distribution programs is a direct result of the ongoing work of the National Diaper Bank Network and our more than 300 member basic needs banks throughout the country, including The Diaper Bank of Connecticut, and our congressional champions. When I began this work almost 20 years ago, I dreamt of federal funding to provide clean diapers to children living in poverty. Rep. DeLauro not only shared my vision, she has led the fight to change public policy. Small things like diapers impact the physical, emotional, and economic well-being of children and families. I’m thrilled to see this funding come to life.” – Joanne Samuel Goldblum, CEO National Diaper Bank Network

To help address diaper needs and increase economic security, the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Administration for Children and Families launched a new Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot, also known as the Diaper Distribution Pilot. This program, which is administered by OCS’ Division of Community Discretionary and Demonstration Projects, provides funding to expand existing diaper distribution services through a robust network of community partners that provide anti-poverty services.

As partners with MASSCAP, the Diaper Bank of Connecticut and the National Diaper Bank Network will also use their diaper distribution programs to connect families with wraparound services - expanding the impact for diverse low-income communities, and moving these families closer to economic security.

Original source can be found here.