Summary

In the United States today, many people cannot afford their or their children’s basic needs, including diapers. Diaper need is the result of an economic and political system that has created severe inequality and a high cost of living. Things have only been made worse by massive cuts to social programs that, even at their best, provide only a modicum of support.

Yet right now the general public does not understand how widespread and urgent the problem of diaper need is.

In this brief, produced in partnership with the National Diaper Bank Network, we offer evidence-based strategies that embrace a new approach to framing diaper need: Start Big, Then Zoom In. Rather than leading with diaper need or poverty, framing should broaden the lens, starting with wider economic and social systems.

This brief is accompanied by a research supplement and a toolkit. The research supplement contains a more detailed description of the evidence behind the recommendations and methods we used to conduct the research. The toolkit provides practical support for applying the framing insights included in this brief.