Photo: Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry, Memphis.

Leading Research into 2023 & Beyond

The National Diaper Bank Network and the Alliance for Period Supplies are committed to leading and advancing academic research that helps to inform policies and programs.

The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is the authority on diaper need and how it affects children and families in the United States. Since its founding in 2011, NDBN has led and/or worked with researchers to understand the consequences of diaper need. In 2019, NDBN expanded its mission to focus on other material basic necessities.

Today, NDBN is involved in research to learn more about the impact the availability of basic necessities has on people, especially those living in poverty.

Our goal is to support research that leads to informed and well-funded public policies and programs so all people have the basic material needs to thrive and reach their full potential.

NDBN is leading multiple major initiatives, including the release of The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families, the first national study on diaper need since 2017.

National Basic Needs Research Council

Bringing together research scientists from multiple disciplines to increase understanding of the issues of basic needs and material hardship using a multi-generational perspective.

National Diaper Bank Economic Impact Study

The first fully-funded national study assessing the economic and fiscal impacts of free diaper distribution to families in need, offered NDBN member diaper banks the opportunity to participate in breakthrough research with local, state and national implications. Results are expected to be released in 2023

Library for Material Basic Needs Research

Comprehensive repository of local, regional and national research related to material basic needs, and their impact on the physical, mental, and economic well-being of individuals, families and communities.

The NDBN Diaper Check 2023

Released in June 2023, The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families reports that nearly half (47%) of U.S. families with young children struggle to afford diapers. The study illustrates the need for transformative policy changes to address this public health crisis.

Basic needs research council

National Basic Needs Research Council

Brings together research scientists from multiple disciplines to fully understand the issues of basic needs and material hardship.

No single institution has the capacity to address all of the problems related to the lack of peoples’ basic material needs.

The National Basic Needs Research Council brings together the resources of the National Diaper Bank Network and the Yale University School of Medicine to maintain a network of basic needs researchers studying a wide range of policy-relevant issues across the country.

The Research Council brings together scientists from different fields such as economics, medicine, nursing, sociology, social work, and demography to fully understand the complex issues of basic needs and material hardship from different angles and with a multi-generational perspective.

The Research Council does three main things.

  1. Brings together researchers who study issues like diaper need, period poverty, and lack of basic necessities.
  2. Provides pilot research grants to researchers to study basic needs.
  3. Supports two graduate research fellowships for students to study these issues.