Nearly half of families struggle to afford diapers, and 40 percent of menstruators with young children struggle to afford period products. It is critical to examine the health, social, and economic impacts of diaper need and period poverty and connections to other policies supporting maternal, child, and women’s health; financial security and economic opportunity programs; and the reach of basic needs banks. This year, the Urban Institute and the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) began a five-year research collaboration to plan and execute a research agenda that leverages existing data and explores these intersections, producing evidence that will inform policies and efforts that address access to essential needs.

During this hybrid event, Urban and the NDBN will share more about this new collaboration and highlight recent policies and research around diaper insecurity and period product insecurity. There will also be a moderated panel of experts that will explore the importance of examining the impacts of basic material needs on health and financial well-being and implications for social and economic policies and programs.

Speakers

• Rosa DeLauro, US House of Representatives, 3rd District of Connecticut
• Tammy Duckworth, US Senator, Illinois
• Myra Jones-Taylor, Senior Vice President for Impact and External Affairs, Urban Institute
• Andrea Luquetta, Economic Justice Policy and Program Consultant, Pa’lante Collaborative Strategies
• Kelley Massengale, Director of Research and Statistics, National Diaper Bank Network
• David Radcliffe, Director of State and Local Policy, Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy, The New School
• Rebecca N. Robinson, Medical Office Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy, TennCare
• Heather Sandstrom, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
• Megan V. Smith, Chief of Innovation and Impact, National Diaper Bank Network

This event is available for in-person or virtual participation. Please be sure to register correctly. In-person check-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.

Support for this event was provided by the National Diaper Bank Network. For more on Urban’s funding policies, go to urban.org/about/organizational-principles.