Lobby Day was a success! Despite thoroughly uncooperative weather, we had 24 diaper advocates who met with 59 legislative offices representing 18 states. The post office isn't the only organization that won't let a little snow get in the way!

We discussed "When Diapers Fit" in federal programs where diapers serve an important role, specifically Early Head Start/Head Start and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Child Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs. Our panel of experts include Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor of ZERO TO THREE, Scott Groginsky of the National Head Start Association, Anna White of DC's Office of the State Superintendent for Education, and Molly O'Fallon of Nurse Family Partnership. Greg Kaufmann, the editor of Talk Poverty, moderated. You can see the livestream of the discussion here.

Other significant federal legislative action; While we were in DC, the House and Senate passed (and the president signed) an omnibus funding bill that includes, among other things, increased funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, allowing for more subsidies for child care in the states. The program had been so underfunded in the past that many states had stopped taking additional children into the program despite their family's need. Also, Early Head Start/Head Start which provides diapers for children enrolled for the school day received additional funding, but that program also meets only a minuscule fraction of the need. The MIECHV program received steady funding, after having been reauthorized earlier this year.

Other exciting news: the Senate passed the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, which would create a task force to examine ways to make it easier for grandparents to access programs that would help them raise their grandchildren. In the wake of the opioid crisis, many more grandparents have stepped into the parental role for their grandchildren.

Missouri's proposal to offer tax credits for donations to diaper banks has taken another step forward. S1015 was approved by the Senate Economic Development Committee. Also, Missouri's Social Services appropriations bill S2011 includes an allowance specifically for diapers and other hygiene items as part of its Abortions Alternatives program, a program the state has run since 1994. This year's appropriations bill represents a significant increase for material support for the program, with funds coming from the General Fund and the state's TANF block grant.

On Wednesday, Connecticut held a hearing on the Governor's proposal to improve the lives of incarcerated women in a number of ways, including making all feminine hygiene products available free of charge. Maryland also held a hearing on a similar bill this week. A bill in New York to provide feminine hygiene products in all state female bathrooms has been referred to the Government Operations Committee.

California has issued guidance to its County Welfare Directors on how to implement its new diaper cost supportive services program. Perhaps other states can use this as a model.