Diaper Bank of NC
Category
Family Support
Child's Age
0-1 years, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, 4-5 years
Participant
Parents/Guardian
Languages
English, Spanish
Brief Description
Network that partners with community agencies and programs to address families’ need for basic materials (such as diapers and baby wipes) to promote their child’s healthy development and hygiene. Includes three models for partnership: mobile delivery, closed partnership, and open partnership.
Expected Impact
- Increase in state capacity to meet diaper needs
- Decrease in partner agency’s time spent planning how to address clients’ needs for diapers, writing grants to purchase diapers, and seeking diaper donations
- Increase in partner agency’s time and funding to assist families with other needs that they previously were unable to address
- Increase in partner agency staff members’ opportunities to communicate with clients about other needs/services
- Improved retention rates and long-term follow-up between scheduled visits/appointments
- Improvements in parent/caregiver and child outcomes associated with having a basic need met
- 62% of recipients felt happier
- 61% of recipients could spend more money on other necessities, such as food
- 43% of recipients reported their child felt happier
- 28% of recipients reported their child was healthier
- 27% of recipients could pay nonmedical bills, such as utility bills
- 18% of recipients reported they child could go to preschool/daycare/child care
- 15% of recipients reported an adult in their household could go to work or school
- 5% of recipients could pay a medical bill
Core Components for Model Fidelity
- Partnering with DBNC: Closed partnership means that the partner site provides diapers only to their existing clients. Community partner agencies with an open partnership distribute diapers to any and all clients.
- Determining Needs: DBNC works with partners to determine the number of diapers they require to meet the community’s needs throughout the duration of their partnership.
- Pickup: Community partner agencies are responsible for driving to one of the DBNC warehouses to pick up the diapers/hygiene products they ordered. Warehouses are located in Forsyth, New Hanover, Durham, and Charlotte and service surrounding counties within a 2-hour long drive’s radius.
- Mobile Delivery: DBNC uses a mobile diaper bank to transport diapers to partner agencies located more than a 2-hour drive from the nearest warehouse.
- Distribution: Community partner agencies are responsible for distributing diapers to their clients, based on the guidelines established in their partnership agreement.
- Evaluation: Partner agencies are required to periodically distribute DBNC’s brief outcome surveys (available for print or virtual completion) to families receiving diapers. DBNC assumes responsibility for data entry of printed surveys.
- Fundraising: DBNC procures diapers through donations, grants, and fundraising efforts. DBNC must ensure adequate long-term funding before committing to a partnership with a new community partner agency. Partner agencies that can support DBNC’s fundraising efforts are encouraged to do so, as this expedites the implementation process and allows partner agencies to begin distributing diapers sooner.
Languages Materials are Available in
English, Spanish
Delivery Mode
In-person diaper pick-up and distribution.
Dosage
Families receive one package of diapers per month per child. Diaper rash cream, diaper wipes, infant formula, and other hygiene products are also distributed if available and as needed by families.
Infrastructure for Implementation
Materials: DBNC provides and stores diapers and related products in their warehouses until pick-up. Partner agencies must acquire necessary materials for storage purposes at their site.
Space: Partner agencies must provide storage for the diapers they receive from DBNC.
Other: For an additional cost, DBNC provides mobile transportation/delivery of diapers to partner agencies located more than a 2-hour drive from the nearest DBNC warehouse.
Staffing Requirements
Staff at community partner agencies are responsible for driving to the warehouse to pick up diapers, storing diapers on site, and distributing them to their clients (can be through other interventions/PIDs, community outreach, home visits, etc.). No specific credentials are required, but experience in fundraising, outreach, and inventory is beneficial.
DBNC staff operates the warehouse. When community partner agencies are located over 2 hours from a DBNC warehouse, arrangements can be made for DBNC staff to deliver.
NCPC strongly recommends staff receive training in the Standards of Quality for Family Support and Strengthening. Contact Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina (PCANC) or National Family Support Network (NFSN) for more information, training, and certification.
Training for Model Fidelity
DBNC meets virtually with partner agency staff to provide training on how to order products via the DBNC order form, how to distribute outcome forms, and what to expect during a pickup at the nearest warehouse or a delivery from the DBNC mobile unit.
DBNC staff are trained and qualified to maintain operations at the warehouses and are available to answer any questions from partner agencies.
Contact Information
Michelle Old: Founder and Chief Executive Officer; michelle@ncdiaperbank.org
Kelley Massengale: Director of Research and Evaluation; research@ncdiaperbank.org
Cost Estimates
DBNC procures diapers through donations, grants, and fundraising efforts. DBNC must ensure adequate long-term funding before committing to a partnership with a new community partner agency. Partner agencies that can support DBNC’s fundraising efforts are encouraged to do so, as this expedites the implementation process and allows partner agencies to begin distributing diapers sooner.
It costs DBNC $26,316 to serve 100 children for 12 months with 50 diapers and 1 package of wipes per child each month. The cost per child is reduced significantly as more children are served each month, but there is no minimum or maximum number of children that a partner agency can serve. Additional costs are associated with use of the mobile diaper bank to deliver diapers to partner agencies located more than a 2-hour drive from the nearest DBNC warehouse.
Purpose Service Code (PSC)
5506 - Family Support Services
Program Identifier (PID)
Diaper Bank of NC
Minimal Outputs for NCPC Reporting
FY 24-25:
- Number of parents/guardians partcipating†
- Number of children receiving diapers
†Select Family Support Programs data collection will include basic demographic data for parent/guardian participants including Race, Ethnicity. Data on interpretation and transportation will be collected when appropriate.
Minimal Outcomes for NCPC Reporting
FY 24-25:
- Increase in parent social support
Minimal Measures for NCPC Reporting
FY 24-25:
- NC Diaper Bank Parent Survey
NCPC Evidence Categorization
Evidence Informed- 3 evaluations. No comparison groups.
Research Summary
Three of the most recent publications on the Diaper Bank of North Carolina’s impact include a comparative evaluation of diaper need and needs being met throughout the United States,1 an evaluation of partner agency staff members’ experiences with DBNC,2 and an evaluation of health, social, and financial outcomes of diaper recipients.3 Results of these evaluations indicated that, across all 50 states, the percentage of children experiencing diaper need and receiving assistance from a diaper bank in the NDBN ranged from 0% to 16%. In North Carolina, 244,393 children under age 4 lived at or below 200% of the FPL but only 2,951 children were served by the NDBN each month, which is equivalent to meeting 1% of diaper needs in the state. When evaluating the experiences of staff members at community-based organizations (CBOs), results indicated that 57% of CBOs were unable to provide their clients with diapers prior to partnering with DBNC. Their partnership with DBNC allowed the CBOs to shift funding to assist families with other needs that they previously were unable to address. CBOs also reported saving time that they previously spent on planning how to address clients’ needs for diapers, writing grants to purchase diapers, and seeking diaper donations. Partnering with DBNC and providing clients with diapers increased CBO staff members’ opportunities to communicate with clients; for example, some staff members reported that providing diapers opened the door for conversations about other needs and services, provided an additional reason for scheduling a home visit with a client, and improved program retention and long-term follow-up between scheduled visits/appointments. Results of the evaluation of diaper recipients’ health, social, and financial outcomes indicated that, compared to census data, a greater percentage of diaper recipients identified with a BIPOC-AALANA community or spoke a language other than English at home. Families reported being qualified for WIC (94%), Medicaid (94%), SNAP (78%), and subsidized child care (45%). Furthermore, 60% of diaper recipients indicated high diaper need, defined as needing but not having diapers on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Families reported additional challenges, including food insecurity, unemployment, affordable childcare, housing insecurity, and others. Families experiencing these challenges more frequently had the greatest need for diapers. Participants indicated that receiving diapers “helped us a lot” (68%) and reported the following outcomes: 62% of recipients felt happier; 61% of recipients could spend more money on other necessities, such as food; 43% of recipients reported their child felt happier; 28% of recipients reported their child was healthier; 27% of recipients could pay nonmedical bills, such as utility bills; 18% of recipients reported they child could go to preschool/daycare/child care; 15% of recipients reported an adult in their household could go to work or school; and 5% of recipients could pay a medical bill.
Note: To provide context regarding diaper need, research indicates that children go through an average of 6 to 8 diapers per day, based on pediatric nurse recommendations for ensuring an infant’s adequate hydration and nutrition. This can cost families $125 each month, and diapers cannot be purchased using federally funded safety net programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, and TANF.4 The diapers provided by DBNC are a supplemental supply, providing enough diapers for approximately 4 to 8 days.
- ^ See Massengale et al. (2020). This evaluation compared the number of children under age 4 years living at or below 200% of the federal poverty line (FPL) with the number of children receiving diapers from a diaper bank in the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) located in their state. Research measures included the NDBN member diaper bank annual survey and the US Census Current Population Survey, used to identify the number of children under age 4 living at or below 200% of the FPL. Results indicated that, across all 50 states, the percentage of children experiencing diaper need and receiving assistance from a diaper bank in the NDBN ranged from 0% to 16%. In North Carolina, 244,393 children under age 4 lived at or below 200% of the FPL but only 2,951 children were served by the NDBN each month, which is equivalent to meeting 1% of diaper needs in the state.
- ^ See Massengale, Erausquin, & Old (2017). This evaluation explored outcomes associated with a partnership between a community-based organization (CBO) and the Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC). At the time of the evaluation, DBNC provided each child with 25 diapers, a package of wipes, and diaper rash cream, a monetary value of $6.75 provided at no cost to the families receiving the supplemental supply of hygiene products. DBNC partnered with 45 CBOs which distributed diapers to their clients, typically with a focus on addressing the family’s health, social, and economic needs as well as connecting them with other community services and resources. Research measures included qualitative interviews with key informants (CBO staff members who distributed diapers from DBNC) and a survey of CBO staff who distributed diapers from DBNC but did not participate in the interviews. Results indicated that 57% of CBOs were unable to provide their clients with diapers prior to partnering with DBNC. Their partnership with DBNC allowed the CBOs to shift funding to assist families with other needs that they previously were unable to address. CBOs also reported saving time that they previously spent on planning how to address clients’ needs for diapers, writing grants to purchase diapers, and seeking diaper donations. Partnering with DBNC and providing clients with diapers increased CBO staff members’ opportunities to communicate with clients; for example, some staff members reported that providing diapers opened the door for conversations about other needs and services, provided an additional reason for scheduling a home visit with a client, and improved program retention and long-term follow-up between scheduled visits/appointments.
- ^ See Massengale, Erausquin, & Old (2017). This evaluation details the health, social, and financial outcomes diaper recipients experienced after receiving assistance from the Diaper Bank of North Carolina (DBNC). At the time of the evaluation (2014-2016), partner agencies provided families with 25 diapers each time they received assistance, except for those who received 50 diapers beginning in December 2016. The sample population included 150 diaper recipients who represented BIPOC-AALANA, ESL/ELL, and low-income communities. Research measures included surveys of staff members’ and clients’ experiences at the community-based organization (CBO) prior to becoming a DBNC partner agency, a survey of clients’ experiences receiving diapers from the partner agency, and interviews with diaper recipients. Surveys were available in English and Spanish, as translated by a native Spanish speaker. Results indicated that, compared to census data, a greater percentage of diaper recipients identified with a BIPOC-AALANA community or spoke a language other than English at home. Families reported being qualified for WIC (94%), Medicaid (94%), SNAP (78%), and subsidized child care (45%). Furthermore, 60% of diaper recipients indicated high diaper need, defined as needing but not having diapers on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Families reported additional challenges, including food insecurity, unemployment, affordable childcare, housing insecurity, and others. Families experiencing these challenges more frequently had the greatest need for diapers. Participants indicated that receiving diapers “helped us a lot” (68%) and reported the following outcomes: 62% of recipients felt happier; 61% of recipients could spend more money on other necessities, such as food; 43% of recipients reported their child felt happier; 28% of recipients reported their child was healthier; 27% of recipients could pay nonmedical bills, such as utility bills; 18% of recipients reported they child could go to preschool/daycare/child care; 15% of recipients reported an adult in their household could go to work or school; and 5% of recipients could pay a medical bill.
- ^ See Porter & Steefel (2015). This article summarizes the impact of diaper need and the importance of access to hygiene products like diapers. Pediatric nurses generally advise parents/caregivers to expect 6-8 wet diapers per day to ensure their child’s proper hydration and nutrition. This is equivalent to an average of 2,555 diapers per year (7 diapers/365 days) at an annual cost of approximately $1,500. Without access to clean diapers, parents/caregivers may need to keep their child home from school/child care programs, as programs typically require parents/caregivers to provide their child’s diapers during the school day. Subsequently, parents/caregivers may stay home from school or work if they cannot find child care alternatives. A lack of clean diapers is associated with parent/caregiver stress, diaper dermatitis, limited developmental/educational opportunities for children, and strain on a family’s economic resources.
Researched Population
- Families with children ages 0 to 5 years who are still using diapers
- Families who identify as low-income, diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, and/or ESL/ELL
Massengale, K. E. C., Comer, L. H., Austin, A. E., & Goldblum, J. S. (2020). Diaper Need Met Among Low-Income US Children Younger Than 4 Years in 2016. American Journal of Public Health, 110(1), 106-108. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305377
Massengale, K. E. C., Erausquin, J. T., & Old, M. (2017). Organizational and Health Promotion Benefits of Diaper Banks and Community-Based Organization Partnerships. Children and Youth Services Review, 76, 112-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.03.004
Massengale, K. E. C., Erausquin, J. T., & Old, M. (2017). Health, Social, and Economic Outcomes Experienced by Families as a Result of Receiving Assistance from a Community-Based Diaper Bank. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 21(10), 1985-1994. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-017-2317-9
National Diaper Bank Network. (2021). North Carolina Diaper Facts. Retrieved from https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2020_State_Diaper_Facts_3_2021_North_Carolina_V1.pdf
Porter, S. & Steefel, L. (2015). Diaper Need: A Change for Better Health. Pediatric Nursing, 41(3), 141-144. Retrieved from https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Porter-Steefel-Diaper-Need-1.pdf
Local Partnerships Currently Implementing
Local Partnerships in purple have adopted Diaper Bank of NC. Local Partnership contact information can be found here.