Organizational and health promotion benefits of diaper bank and community-based organization partnerships

Kelley E.C Massengale,Jennifer Toller Erausquin,Michelle Old

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.03.004

Kelley E.C Massengale, Jennifer Toller Erausquin + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.03.004

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Abstract

The Diaper Bank of North Carolina provides a supplemental supply of free disposable diapers, baby wipes, and diaper rash cream to low-income families. Rather than providing the diapers directly to families in need, the diaper bank formed partnerships with service-providing community-based organizations (CBOs) that distribute the diapers to their own clients. During a multi-phase mixed methods evaluation, we conducted qualitative key informant interviews with staff members (n=9) of CBOs that distribute diapers. Analysis of the interviews informed development of an electronic survey distributed to CBO staff members (n=42) who did not participate in key informant interviews. Key findings demonstrate the provision of diaper bank diapers allowed CBOs to assist families in meeting a basic need while: (1) positively impacting their organization and program budgets, (2) enhancing communication with clients, (3) improving program retention, (4) teaching problem solving and critical thinking skills, and (5) connecting families with other services.

Highlights

Community-based organizations are important for health promotion efforts among low-income families because they provide safety nets for working low-income families, connecting families with community resources to address basic needs unmet by government programs (Allard, 2011)
The current study examines the organizational benefits of a health promotion model in which community-based organizations (CBOs) distribute diapers from a community diaper bank, using data from a community-engaged formative evaluation of the ( The Diaper Bank of North Carolina)
The supplemental supply of (The Diaper Bank of North Carolina) diapers provided by CBOs to recipient families is enough to last a newborn baby for less than 3 days

Summary

Introduction

Community-based organizations are important for health promotion efforts among low-income families because they provide safety nets for working low-income families, connecting families with community resources to address basic needs unmet by government programs (Allard, 2011). Many CBOs use incentives to attract and retain participants in their health, social service, or education services and programs. Program participants may gain skills, knowledge, or services as a result of participating in programming offered by CBOs, organizations with limited budgets or restrictions on grant funding may be unable to provide additional incentives to attract potential program participants and encourage continued participation. In this paper we explore a partnership between a community diaper bank and several CBOs, which allowed CBOs to use diapers as incentives for families they serve, and/or to give diapers directly to families in need. We focus on the organizational and health-promotion benefits of this partnership

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