When you have a baby, diapers are a necessity, not an option. Imagine the stress of having to ration diapers, or choose between buying diapers for your baby, or keeping the lights on in your home. This is the reality for nearly 1 in 3 American parents who struggle to afford enough diapers. An inadequate supply of diapers is not only unhealthy for baby, but diaper insecurity is highly linked to stress and depression for low-income parents (coincidentally, parental mental health and resilience are one of five protective factors shown to decrease the risk of child abuse and neglect).
Unfortunately, the parents with the fewest resources are often those who pay the most for diapers. Families without access to bulk-buying via the internet or warehouse stores pay twice as much as families who have those purchasing options. Neither is there federal assistance with purchasing diapers: WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid do not subsidize diaper buying for low-income families. The White House estimates that the lowest earning 20% of families nationwide spends up to %14 of their income on diapers alone.
This February, Family Focus Resource Center is tackling the diaper divide with the help of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and the campus community at CSUN. We are asking for donations of new, unopened packaged of diapers of any brand or size. Your generous donations will support the families of children receiving Early Start services in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys.
Between February 13-28, 2017 we will have collection boxes set up at 3 locations across campus:
Teaching Learning and Counseling Consortium- EA 109
Special Education Departhment Office- ED 1204
Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing- SN 155
If you have any questions, or would like to host a collection box in your office/department, please call (818) 677-5575 or email
Check out the original event posting by the Family Focus Resource Center.
Resources:
The Obama White House Diaper Gap Statement
The National Diaper Bank Network