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Wisconsin AG seeks to stop Elon Musk's $1M payments at rally giveaway; Rural advocates urge CA lawmakers to safeguard banking protections; Federal, state job cuts threaten FL workers' rights, services; Alabama counties lack high-speed internet and health access.

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President Trump says there are ways for him to take a third term. New tariffs are scheduled for this week, but economists say they'll hurt buying power. And advocates say the Trans Day of Visibility is made more important by state legislation.

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Rural folks face significant clean air and water risks due to EPA cutbacks, a group of policymakers is working to expand rural health care via mobile clinics, and a new study maps Montana's news landscape.

Federal funds expand successful MA diaper distribution program

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Monday, October 28, 2024   

A federal pilot program distributing diapers to Massachusetts families in need is expanding.

The program has already distributed more than two million diapers, along with wipes and other supplies, to roughly 2,500 children over the past year.

Melissa White, director of programs for the Valley Opportunity Council in Hampden County, said the program is especially helpful for newly homeless and migrant families.

"It's one less thing you have to think of with all the stressors of, 'I don't even know where I am, so I don't know where to get the diapers, or how to get there, or how I'm going to afford all those things,'" White explained.

White is thrilled federal funds will support the diaper program for another year. More than one-third of Massachusetts families said they cannot afford enough diapers for their children.

Community action agencies distributing the diapers said they are operating at capacity with growing waitlists. Many parents said they cannot leave their infants at child care without providing diapers.

Lisa Smith, executive director of Neighbors in Need in Lawrence, said she has seen the stress it causes for the hundreds of families they serve.

"There is a direct economic correlation that families need diapers so they can go to work, utilize day care," Smith pointed out. "There are so many social and emotional reasons to why this program is important."

Smith noted the diapers help families stretch their dollars a bit further to help meet their basic needs. WIC and SNAP funds cannot be used for diaper purchases.

Advocates hope to make the diaper program permanent in Massachusetts.

Joe Diamond, executive director of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, a coalition of more than twenty community action agencies, said proposed legislation would create a state diaper fund to improve families' financial security and well-being.

"Our goal is to help people address their fundamental needs," Diamond emphasized. "So they can focus on the kind of training and education that's necessary to continue to get employment or better employment."

Diamond added the association is working with Children's Health Watch in Boston to gather data on the diaper program's effects. Studies show a lack of diapers for their babies as the number one predictor of postpartum depression in new mothers.

Disclosure: The Massachusetts Association for Community Action contributes to our fund for reporting on Housing/Homelessness, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, Poverty Issues, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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