FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: HHS Press Office
September 27, 2024
Today, HHS’ Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF), through its Office of Community Services, announced the fourth cohort of grant recipients of the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot, also known as the Diaper Distribution Pilot. This fourth funding release comes during National Diaper Need Awareness Week and will support a new cohort of seven grant recipients with a total of $8.4 million in awards that will expand diaper distribution and additional wraparound support services for caregivers in six states and one tribe. This funding will also provide $7.5 million in supplemental awards to 13 grant recipients from the first two cohorts of the Diaper Distribution Pilot. Today’s funding of $15.9 million brings the total funding allocated for the Diaper Distribution Pilot to $40.2 million since September of 2022. Diaper Distribution Pilot projects will now serve 24 states and 4 tribal communities.
“When families can’t afford diapers, it affects everything from a child’s physical health to caregiver’s emotional wellbeing,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “By providing funding for diaper needs, we are strengthening the overall health and economic security of the entire family. This is just the latest action we are taking as part of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, our whole-of-government strategy to improve maternal care.”
The seven new grants will serve families in Indiana, Georgia, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Colorado, Florida, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Grant recipients will work with community partners to strengthen and expand their existing diaper distribution infrastructure and provide wraparound support services to assist families experiencing diaper need. These support services can include job training, educational support, housing services and food and nutrition services.
The 13 supplemented grant recipients will continue their pilot programs in Arizona, Iowa, Virginia, Washington, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, California, Maryland, Ohio, Utah, Massachusetts and The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation for another year. The supplemental funds will allow these grant recipients to continue providing diapers and diapering supplies to families enrolled in their programs while also connecting them to wraparound support services in their communities.
“Diapers can be costly; no caregiver should have to choose between buying diapers and paying for food,” said ACF Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild. “Addressing diaper need through these important grants is one step toward ensuring every child can thrive in a healthy and nurturing environment.”
Helping families get diapers and diapering supplies has been found to reduce economic stress, increase workforce participation, increase family income and improve both children’s and caregivers’ health and well-being.
“The Diaper Distribution Pilot is working to both alleviate diaper need and provide wraparound services to support families and caregivers,” said Office of Community Services Director Dr. Lanikque Howard. “The continued growth and investment in the Diaper Distribution Pilot means more families across the country will receive this critical support as they raise their children.”
The breakdown of funding is as follows:
New Awards
- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, Okla., $1,181,552
- Colorado Community Action Association, Denver, Colo., $1,200,000
- Florida Association for Community Action, St. Johns, Fla., $1,196,518
- Georgia Community Action Association, Inc., Decatur, Ga., $1,200,000
- Indiana Community Action Association, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., $1,200,000
- Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies, Edmond, Okla., $1,199,000
- Wisconsin Community Action Program Association Inc., Madison, Wis., $1,199,620
Total $8,376,690
For more information about the Diaper Distribution Pilot, watch this animated video in English , Spanish, or Mandarin
To learn about ACF Office of Community Services’ other anti-poverty strategies, visit www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/help
Supplemental Awards
- Arizona Community Action Association, Phoenix, Ariz., $600,000
- California Community Action Partnership Association, Sacramento, Calif., $600,000
- Community Action Association of Alabama, Birmingham. Ala., $600,000
- Iowa Community Action Association, Pleasant Hill, Iowa., $600,000.
- Maryland Association of Community Action Agency, Annapolis, Md., $600,000
- Massachusetts Association of Community Action Programs, Boston, Mass., $600,000
- North Carolina Community Action Association, Raleigh, N.C., $600,000
- Ohio Community Action Training Organization, Columbus, Ohio, $600,000
- Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Agency Village, S.D., $538,107
- South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, Columbia, S.C., $600,000
- Utah Community Action Partnership Association, Layton, Utah, $550,889
- Virginia Community Action Partnership, Henrico, Va., $600,000
- Washington State Community Action Partnership, Olympia, Wa., $400,000
