As your constituent, I strongly urge you to make diaper need a priority this session. Diaper need impacts nearly one out of every three families, and there is no public benefit program to help families purchase diapers. Instead, caregivers are forced to have their children wear dirty diapers or use diaper substitutes, which can lead to medical issues like diaper rash or UTIs. Caregivers may also have to miss school or work due to being unable to supply clean diapers to their child’s early care and education provider. Poverty and the inability to meet a child’s basic needs due to low incomes are often mistaken for child neglect when these challenges arise. There is a solution to diaper need: a monthly diaper allowance to families with limited income specifically to purchase diapers. This legislation, already passed in California and Washington, would have a significant, positive impact on nearly 100,000 Illinois children, many of whom are our neighbors. Thank you for your attention to this challenge facing caregivers and children, and I strongly urge you to support our neighbors in Illinois in accessing this vital, basic need.

Are you familiar with diaper math? It’s the mental math caregivers do to ensure they have enough diapers for their children each month. Many caregivers facing diaper need can tell you exactly how many diapers they have and how long those diapers will last. Stretching every last diaper to the brink can cause undue stress on caregivers, and wearing a dirty diaper for too long can lead young children to experience irritation, diaper rash, or UTIs. And unlike many other basic needs, no current public benefit program provides families assistance in affording diapers. As your constituent, I urge you to support efforts to create a dedicated diaper allowance. A diaper allowance will provide Illinois families with low incomes a dedicated benefit to purchase diapers and prevent the stress of diaper math. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I strongly urge you to support our neighbors in Illinois in accessing this vital, basic need.

As your constituent, and on behalf of the one in two families in this country who cannot afford diapers, I strongly urge you to prioritize making diapers more affordable this session. Diaper prices have increased over 30 percent since 2019. Combined with the fact that there is no public benefit to purchase diapers, families are feeling the stress of purchasing this basic need now more than ever. We cannot stand for the inability to meet a child’s basic needs due to low incomes be mistaken for child neglect. But there is a solution: your colleagues are working on legislation that would create a diaper allowance. This allowance is a monthly benefit for struggling families to be able to afford diapers. Modeled on existing programs in California and Washington, a diaper allowance would be able to help nearly 100,000 Illinois children, many of whom are our neighbors and their caregivers are our friends. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I strongly urge you to support our neighbors in Illinois in accessing this vital, basic need.

As your constituent, and on behalf of the one in two families in Illinois who cannot afford diapers, I strongly urge you to prioritize efforts this session to make diapers more affordable for families. Diaper prices have increased by over 30 percent since 2019. When families can’t afford diapers, they use diaper substitutes or leave diapers on too long. This can result in irritation, diaper rash, or UTIs. Studies show providing families with clean diapers can save families up to $1500 per year in medical costs! And that doesn’t include potentially missing work or school when a caregiver doesn’t have clean diapers to supply their child’s early care and education provider. Poverty and the inability to meet a child’s basic needs due to low incomes are often mistaken for child neglect and families risk additional systemic challenges when experiencing diaper need. One step you can take to make diapers more affordable for Illinois families this session is supporting a diaper allowance. It provides a monthly stipend for families with a low income to purchase diapers. This could have a significant impact on nearly 100,000 Illinois children, many of whom are our neighbors. Thank you for your attention to this issue, and I strongly urge you to support our neighbors in Illinois in accessing this vital, basic need.

According to a recent survey, 44 percent of families lacking clean diapers reported feeling alone, 53 percent felt judged, 68 percent felt helpless, and 70 percent felt stressed or anxious. Many families struggling to afford diapers can tell you the exact date and time their supply of diapers will run out. If something unexpected happens, they must scramble to pay for additional diapers or create makeshift diapers from household supplies. Studies found the inability to afford diapers was a predictor of postpartum depression symptoms and this mental “diaper math” is a significant burden on caregivers. As my legislator, you have the power to help these families by supporting efforts to create a monthly diaper allowance to families with limited income specifically to purchase diapers. This legislation, already passed in California and Washington, would have a significant, positive impact on nearly 100,000 Illinois children, many of whom are our neighbors. Thank you for your attention to this challenge facing caregivers and children, and I strongly urge you to support our neighbors in Illinois in accessing this vital, basic need.