Quality Early Education
Diapers are a basic necessity for accessing early childhood education. A supply of clean diapers is required to attend most early childcare programs. Without them, parents cannot take advantage of free or subsidized childcare, children miss out on educational opportunities, and parents can’t attend work or school on a consistent basis. This, in turn, leads to increased economic instability and continues the cycle of poverty.
Clean diapers open doors to childcare for families.
Childcare provides the dual benefit of stimulating children’s development while also giving parents or caregivers the opportunity to attend school, go to work, or undertake other activities.
“Recipients who use childcare report multiple reasons for enrolling their child in such programs. Of those households using childcare, by far the dominant response was ‘to go to work’ with 75% selecting it as the sole reason, and another 20% citing it as one of multiple reasons. Additionally, 29% use childcare in order to improve a parent’s education, and another 20% indicated childcare is used for other reasons.”
Source: CT Center for Economic Analysis at the UConn School of Business, “Better Health for Children and Increased Opportunities for Families,” 2018
Diapers help close the achievement gap.
Connecticut has the largest achievement gap in the nation, based on standardized test score differences between low-income students and their more affluent peers. We need to address this problem long before a child ever steps foot in a classroom. Brain development in the early years is rapid. By age 3, 80% of brain growth is complete. Creating an environment where basic needs are met, instead of one where a family is under constant stress, has lifelong benefits.
Furthermore, we know early childhood education increases success all the way from kindergarten to college. Children cannot attend these programs unless they have a supply of clean diapers. Having an adequate supply of clean diapers means children will miss fewer days of early education programs, since they’re less susceptible to urinary tract and respiratory illnesses, as well as diarrhea.
“Low-income families of young children face many obstacles and, at the same time, want to be good parents. Something as basic as a diaper should not be a need that is unmet in a state like ours, in a country like ours. At the very minimum, we should ensure that families have what they need to care for our most vulnerable citizens.”
– Janet Stolfi Alfano, Executive Director
Diapers are a basic need for families’economic security.
Diapers can cost a family around $1,200 to $1,800 per year. That can be a large percentage of a poor family’s income. Low-income families also may have to buy diapers at a premium per diaper if they do not have access to a big-box store.
Research Report Links
Smith Report
Health Equity/Smith
Messengale Report
Carstensen report
Sadler Report
Health of Mom & Baby
Diapers help improve the health and wellbeing of both mom and baby
Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved and support our work and mission of helping families in need.
Economic Security and Success
Having an adequate supply of diapers allows parents to go to work and school.