Arizona nonprofit receives $1.5 million for statewide Diaper Pilot Program
Arizona is one of 12 states and two tribal communities to receive a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services for a Diaper Pilot Program.
Introduced Monday, the Arizona program will provide free diapers to qualifying low-income families in 10 counties.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said she hopes the program will make being a parent in Phoenix a little easier.
“We know a lot of parents are struggling with cost right now,” Gallego said.
Kelly McGowan is with Wildfire Arizona, a nonprofit that received $1.5 million from the federal government to facilitate the Diaper Pilot Program.
Diapers are gateway to more services
She said the cost of diapers is prohibitive for most of the 8,000 people who visit the Arizona Diaper Bank and live at or below the federal poverty line.
McGowan explained that you need diapers to drop a child off at daycare.
“A recent study by Huggies showed that nearly three in five parents struggling with diaper needs missed an average of four days of work or schooling [in] a specific month because they didn't have enough diapers when dropping their children off,” McGowan said.
McGowan said beyond diapers, the program is about connecting families to economic mobility.
“It is also about connecting families to economic mobility and family support services like job training, housing and educational programs,” she said. “It is about lifting a real and tangible barrier to health and well-being for low-income families, and about connecting those families to other programs that address the causes and consequences of poverty.”
"A recent study by Huggies showed that nearly three in five parents struggling with diaper needs missed an average of four days of work or schooling [in] a specific month because they didn't have enough diapers when dropping their children off."
— Kelly McGowan
A victory for families
January Contreras is Assistant Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families.
“The diaper banks of the country have been very vocal about what they're seeing on the ground and raising this to policymakers at all levels,” Contreras said.
Contreras called the program a victory for families, and said she hopes all levels of government will focus on their needs.
“There are many, many very important programs that started as demonstration programs, by Congress, and this is one of those,” Contreras said.
Communication, Gallego said, will be a priority.
“The city of Phoenix is going to work hard to make sure that we partner with the diaper bank and spreading the word that diapers are available at family service centers throughout the city of Phoenix,” Gallego said.
