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In Alameda County, nearly one in three<\/a> families does not have enough money to make ends meet. Parents are forced to make impossible choices every day \u2014 whether it is paying rent or keeping babies in diapers.<\/p>\n As a form of financial support, diapers can promote conditions tied directly to kindergarten readiness, including family economic well-being, child health and reduced caregiver stress<\/a>. Public investment is needed to bring economic justice and stability to children and communities harmed by poverty. Diapers are a start.<\/p>\n Diapers are an essential health, education and economic product. Families must supply their children\u2019s diapers to attend most preschool and child care programs. When families cannot afford diapers, children cannot participate in early learning programs, and caregivers are often unable to work.<\/p>\n From there, it\u2019s a domino effect for children. First 5\u2019s\u00a0studies<\/a> of kindergarten readiness in Alameda County show that the impacts of structural inequities \u2014 a family\u2019s socioeconomics, housing stability and parent\/caregiver stress \u2014 are tied to a child\u2019s kindergarten readiness. Success in kindergarten is tied to third-grade academic outcomes<\/a>, a predictor of high school graduation, which predicts lifelong educational and career success and well-being.<\/p>\n Despite the key role that diapers play in a child\u2019s health and wellness, access to education and a family\u2019s economic stability, public safety-net programs such as SNAP (CalFresh in California) and WIC do not provide any dedicated funding for diapers.<\/p>\n In Alameda County, a family with two adults, a preschooler and an infant needs approximately\u00a0<\/em>$138,000<\/a> annually to cover basic expenses. A family of four covered by Medi-Cal, California\u2019s public health insurance plan, makes $38,295 or less. <\/em>At $2,000 per year for two children, the cost of diapers is a significant portion of family income.<\/p>\n While diaper need has been overlooked, it is also\u00a0understudied. First 5\u00a0Alameda County invested in an evaluation of\u00a0Help A Mother Out\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0diaper\u00a0program in the Bay Area. The\u00a0final report<\/a> shows that families are healthier and happier\u00a0after receiving diapers:<\/p>\n \u2022 97% say their family feels less stressed. Between 2018 and 2021, the\u00a0cost of\u00a0basic expenses<\/a>\u00a0rose by 19%, and inflation continues to rise. Housing and child care now account for more than half (53%) of a family\u2019s monthly budget.\u00a0As families struggle to survive, we\u2019ve seen the indisputable benefit of providing economic support and then the resulting damage when it is removed.<\/p>\n The expiration of\u00a0the federal Child Tax Credit pushed 3.4 million children back into poverty<\/a> and forced families into even bleaker circumstances<\/a>. These pressures disproportionately harm children in families with low incomes and children of color.<\/p>\n For public systems, investing in basic needs brings a multi-fold return on investment. Community organizations funded\u00a0through First 5\u2019s Neighborhoods Ready for School initiative leveraged bulk purchasing and diaper distribution to serve as crucial hubs for supplies and connections to resources. By\u00a0ensuring families can make ends meet, we improve\u00a0child, family and community outcomes.<\/p>\n At First 5 Alameda County, we urge California\u2019s Legislature and governor to continue to invest now, and in future budgets, in economic supports for children and families. We applaud the Legislature\u2019s proposal for $30 million in the fiscal year 22-23 state budget for diaper and wipe distribution. We also call on Congress to re-establish and make permanent the Child Tax Credit.<\/p>\n Data and research prove\u00a0that differences in kindergarten readiness are\u00a0attributable to structural inequities with roots in racist and classist policies. We must pave a\u00a0more equitable path forward so that no parent has\u00a0to make an impossible choice, and all\u00a0children can thrive.<\/p>\n
\u2022 96% say their child is healthier.
\u2022 93% have more money in the budget for food.
\u2022 91% say it\u2019s easier to pay their bills.<\/p>\n