Release of Report on Statewide Diaper Pilot Coincides with State Diaper Benefit Bill Hearing and National Diaper Need Awareness Week
Report: Need is great; diaper distribution has positive economic and health impacts
Report Link: https://www.masscap.org/diaperpilot/
Boston, Mass. (September 18, 2025) – The Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP), and Children’s HeathWatch of the Boston Medical Center, today released a report detailing the health and economic implications of its federally-funded statewide diaper distribution pilot spanning the last two years. The report came out just in time to support their testimony at a diaper bill hearing on Tuesday calling for a similar pilot program in Massachusetts. These events also complement this week’s National Diaper Need Awareness Week, recognized annually by diaper banks across the country.
The report released today, Changing Diapers, Changing Lives: The Health and Economic Impacts of Diaper Benefits, was the culmination of a partnership between MASSCAP and Children’s HealthWatch, a nonpartisan network of children’s health and policy experts, to evaluate the impact of the diaper distribution pilot, involving 16 partner organizations. The reported findings were significant for families in the program, with employment rates and household income increasing over the duration of the program. Children’s health was also markedly improved, with rates of diaper rashes decreasing.
“The research provides compelling evidence that addressing basic needs like diaper supply creates cascading positive effects. We documented statistically significant improvements in employment rates, financial stability, and mental health outcomes – demonstrating that diaper assistance accomplishes multiple public health and policy goals while reducing material hardship among families with young children,” said Rich Sheward, Director of System Implementation Strategies, at Children’s HealthWatch.
In 2023, MASSCAP was awarded $1.2M in federal funds with a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to administer a diaper pilot across the state. Funding was increased by another $600K when MASSCAP took advantage of an opportunity to extend this high-demand program into a third year. The program has since distributed roughly 4M diapers to over 5K children.
In parallel, MASSCAP and others put their full weight behind a state diaper benefits pilot bill hearing that took place on Beacon Hill Tuesday. If passed, the bill would create a “diaper insufficiency fund”, laying the groundwork for an RFP process, with the end goal of issuing diaper distribution pilot grant awards to 12 community organizations in all geographic areas of the state.
“We hope that legislation moves swiftly ahead to enact a state-funded diaper distribution pilot, and eventually a permanent diaper benefits program,” said Joe Diamond, Executive Director of MASSCAP. “As we have seen over the course of the 2+ years of our federally-funded pilot, there is an overwhelming need for diapers across Massachusetts. When we can help families with this one essential, it frees up money for other necessities, such as food and medicine. Neither SNAP nor WIC benefits allow for the purchase of diapers, and this poses a huge problem for families with young children.”
“Access to diapers is absolutely essential for infants and their caregivers, and closing diaper gaps has impacts well beyond infant health, impacting caregivers’ economic opportunity and mental well-being. This study clearly shows the positive impacts that diaper benefits have for families, and I am hopeful these findings will continue to inform people about the importance of these critical programs,” said Senator Joan Lovely. “As part of the efforts to improve diaper access, I am proud to have filed S.151, An Act establishing a diaper benefits pilot program, which—like the House companion bill H.220 filed by Representative Mindy Domb and Representative Simon Cataldo—addresses diaper insufficiency by funding and distributing resources to organizations in each part of the state to acquire, store, and distribute diapers, along with holding diaper drives.”
According to Representative Mindy Domb, “Diapers are essential, and the costs can be insurmountable. As a state and community, we are obligated to help. Bills H.220/S.151 and H.221/S.120 work towards alleviating financial pressure on families struggling to afford diapers, just like we do with food and clothing. Without diapers, babies get sick, and parents can’t get childcare so they can go to work. Much appreciation to MASSCAP for increasing our knowledge about the economic and health impacts of diaper need and to diaper banks and providers for their essential support to Massachusetts families.”
Statistics show that diapers alone can equate to 8% of a person’s total income if they are making federal minimum wage. In 2022, a Health Equity study concluded that 36% of MA families could not afford enough diapers during the pandemic even with federal stimulus payouts, signaling a much greater underlying need across the state. Other research shows that nationally one in two families cannot afford diaper needs in their households.
MASSCAP is currently operating its program with 13 partners across Massachusetts to distribute 100 diapers per child per month to the 100 children enrolled at each site. Partners include both CAAs and other community organizations such as diaper banks. CAAs were well-positioned to integrate diapers into already functioning community services infrastructure, that currently also provided up to 100 other services to over 600K people per year in the state. Diaper distribution efforts were incorporated into programs such as Head Start, family shelters, WIC programs, and food pantries, among others.
“With our partners we have created a ready diaper distribution infrastructure that can be expanded to implement a permanent state program,” continued Diamond.
According to Laura Meisenhelter, Executive Director of North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP), a member agency of MASSCAP and operating as a diaper hub in the pilot, “We view a diaper distribution program to be of the same value as a fuel assistance program. The economic impact on a family is profound. Having diapers allows mothers to send their children to day care. With their child in day care, these mothers are able to go to work and have enough money to pay for gas.”
“Participating agencies in our network are currently operating their programs at capacity and hold long waitlists. We applaud Representative Domb and Senator Lovely for recognizing the need, staying committed to Massachusetts families, and pushing this bill forward,” said Colleen Cullen, MASSCAP’s Grants and Compliance Director and Program Manager for the diaper pilot.
Meisenhelter added, “We fully support legislation that would create a commission on the feasibility of a diaper allowance. We are happy to offer our experience and insights along with lessons learned about how to organize effective diaper distribution across the state.”
In May 2023, MASSCAP was selected to provide diapers to low-income families in need across the state. As of now, nationwide, 28 community action state associations, and tribes, are piloting the program. The diaper distribution pilot program, created by Congress, is implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services and run by the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Community Services.
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Key findings from the report include:
- Employment rates increased 30%
- Household incomes shifted upward as families moved from lower to higher income brackets
- Financial stability improved 13%, with income volatility decreasing significantly
- Caregivers reported a 31% reduction in stress levels related to diaper insufficiency
- Caregivers reported improved mental health, with 24% decrease in positive screens for anxiety and depression
- Children experienced 33% more frequent diaper changes
- Children also experienced a 27% decrease in diaper rash severe enough to require medical attention
About MASSCAP
The Massachusetts Association for Community Action’s (MASSCAP – www.masscap.org) 23 private, non-profit human service and advocacy organizations work to administer key anti-poverty programs in every city and town in the Commonwealth. These organizations serve approximately 600,000 low-income people annually, more than half of them with incomes below 125% of the federal poverty level.
For 60 years, Community Action Agencies have been on the front lines of addressing poverty — administering federal programs, federal community services and community development grants, and state funds. CAAs are economic engines in cities and towns across Massachusetts, providing communities with an annual infusion of over $800 million in total resources. CAAs generate at least twice that amount helping clients become economically stable and mobile.
Press Contacts
Joe Diamond
joediamond@masscap.org
617.645.2949
Colleen Cullen
colleencullen@masscap.org
617.735.5451