The Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), a Community Action Program (CAP) funded by the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) program, is taking steps to address a startling issue not often discussed: research shows that one in three families in the United States can’t afford to buy diapers.
“Many mothers in poverty have to reuse soiled diapers for their children because they have to make incredibly difficult choices about how to spend the little money they have: on food, housing, medicine, utilities or diapers,” said Patricia Sprengeler, NACOG Community Services Director.
A first-of-its-kind study by Yale researchers in 2013, Diaper Need and Its Impact on Child Health, found that 30 percent of mothers have struggled to pay for diapers and more than eight percent of low-income mothers have had to reuse soiled diapers.
Two years ago, NACOG, in partnership with Jet.com, created the Community Diaper Program for families in Apache, Navajo and Yavapai counties to provide free diapers up to four times in a 12-month period based on application interviews and income during the previous 30 days. Applicants must reapply for each donation of diapers.
In its first year, the program provided 1,658 diapers to 114 individuals in 26 households in Navajo County, 2,950 diapers to 120 individuals in 27 households in Apache County and 1,588 diapers to 88 individuals in 22 households in Yavapai County.
“Our case coordinators listen closely to each client’s situation to determine how many diapers they need,” which could be up to 100, Sprengeler said. “Fifty diapers may seem like a lot, but babies can go through six or seven in a day at a minimum.”
A survey by the National Bank Network found that infants require up to 12 diapers a day and toddlers need up to eight.
Interested individuals in Navajo County can apply for the Community Diaper Program by contacting Kathleen Dragoo, CSA Case Coordinator for Winslow and Holbrook, at 208 E. Second St. in Winslow or by calling (928) 587-7069.
Dragoo said the program is always in need of diapers for sizes 2, 3 and 4. Donations can be made to NACOG at 119 E Aspen Ave. in Flagstaff. Please indicate the donation is for the diaper program.
NACOG is one of 11 designated Community Action Programs statewide that are part of the Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA) network. The Community Action Program was founded by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty by empowering the poor with resources, services and programs to establish self-sufficiency.
