Illinois bill could help child care providers buy supplemental diapers for low-income families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Diaper insecurity is a serious problem that impacts roughly one in two families. Illinois lawmakers hope to pass a plan to require the Department of Human Services to establish add-on rates for child care providers participating in the state's child care assistance program to purchase supplemental diapers for children in need.

Lawmakers have learned many child care providers across the state require parents and guardians to provide disposable diapers for their kids to attend. Advocates told the House Adoption & Child Welfare Committee Tuesday that their plan could ensure providers no longer turn away children due to a family's inability to provide diapers.

"For many families, a diaper is not just a diaper," said Eric Mayo, public policy manager for Brightpoint. "It's a costly item families must build their budget around while sacrificing other necessities. It is a tangible symbol that caregivers use to gage how well they are providing for their families. And it could be the key to ensuring a child can attend their local early childhood program."

House Bill 545 states that DHS would have to provide sufficient funds to child care providers to buy 50 diapers per month for children under participating in full-day programs and 25 diapers per month for kids in part-day child care.

Sponsors believe this would cost roughly $6 million. Although, Republicans are concerned it would cost much more.

"Once you start providing for those that are needy, it's going to balloon because they're going to find out that I don't have to provide diapers even if they're financially able to do so," said Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud). "You're going to find out that it's going to go from $6 million to double or triple."

However, families would need to show proof that they qualify for the state's child care assistance program in order to get help with diapers. Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) also noted that her bill could coordinate well with Gov. JB Pritzker's Smart Start Illinois program.

"Diaper insecurity increases healthcare costs, takes a mental health toll, and presents an economic cost and economic instability for families," Mason said. "One in four caregivers who have experienced diaper need or diaper insecurity have reported missing approximately five days of work or school a month because they lacked clean diapers to put their children in child care."

This plan passed unanimously out of the House Adoption & Child Welfare Committee. House Bill 545 now heads to the House floor for further consideration.