Elevance Health and NDBN launch pilot program to expand diaper access in the United States

Elevance Health has announced a partnership with the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) to launch a national pilot program designed to expand diaper access for families with infants and toddlers across the United States.

The initiative will run for 12 months and provide free diapers to families served by Medicaid health plans affiliated with Elevance Health. The program will be implemented in 10 community-based Welcome Rooms, where up to 75 families per month at each site are expected to receive support, potentially reaching up to 9,000 families in 2026.

The project integrates community health plan infrastructure with the NDBN’s national network of local diaper banks, aiming to deliver essential supplies directly where families live and seek care.

According to the organization’s Diaper Check 2024 report, nearly one in two U.S. families with young children struggles to afford diapers. Diapers represent a recurring household expense and are generally not covered by most public assistance programs.

 

Research has also linked diaper need to increased parental stress, missed childcare or medical appointments, and potential negative outcomes for maternal and child health.

The pilot program will operate in communities including Bakersfield and Los Ángeles, California; Hialeah, Florida; Columbia, Missouri; Lakewood, New Jersey; Columbus and Toledo, Ohio; Houston, Texas, as well as two locations in Washington, D.C..

In addition to direct diaper distribution, the National Diaper Bank Network’s Innovation and Impact Department will conduct research to examine the relationship between diaper access and key maternal, infant and child health indicators.

Findings from the pilot may help inform future investments and integrated approaches aimed at improving family stability and health outcomes.