BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - There are programs to help low-income families address most basic needs, but until recently, there hasn't been a local service to address one often overlooked need - for babies to have clean, dry diapers. The Diaper Drive is a Minnesota nonprofit just formed last year to provide that service, with a motto of "No Child Wet Behind". This Saturday, they're hosting what is billed as the "biggest diaper drive in America" at the Mall of America to collect 200,000 diapers and raise awareness about this critical need.

Kristen Grode, the founder of The Diaper Drive, says the problem is real.

"Diapers are a basic need just like food and shelter, yet public programs designed to address basic needs - like food stamps or WIC - don't cover diapers, so we're trying to fill this critical gap for low-income families."

A recent study commissioned by Kimberly Clark, maker of a popular brand of disposable diapers, found that one mother in three in the U.S. reports cutting back on basic essentials like food, utilities or child care in order to afford enough diapers for her children. Grode says at about $100 a month, the high cost of diapers can put low-income families in desperate situations.

"There are families out there that end up leaving their children in a diaper for a day or more because they just can't afford another pack of diapers."

Some critics have argued that low-income families should use cloth diapers. Grode says while this is great alternative for some families, it can create a barrier for low-income families that are trying to access subsidized child care.

"Many daycare facilities don't take cloth diapers, and for families who are trying to become financially independent, that can be a frustration. So it's a more logical solution for low-income families to use disposable diapers. "

She adds that for families without easy access to laundry facilities, the washing costs can add up quickly, and most laundromats have policies that forbid the washing of cloth diapers. With locations in Alexandria, Duluth, Fargo and the Twin Cities, The Diaper Drive does accept both cloth and disposable diapers in newborn through adult sizes.

The all-day event Saturday is to feature live entertainment by Mindy Hester and the Time Outs, a "Dolly Diaper Changing Contest," baby yoga, and other family-friendly activities.

For more information, visit www.thediaperdrive.org

The Kimberly Clark "Every Little Bottom" study is at www.huggies.com




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Roughly 200,000 children in the U.S. have lost a caregiver to COVID-19. In South Dakota, mental-health experts say these cases can have added complications as kids grieve, and a range of support is needed for a strong emotional recovery.

Nikki Eining is therapist with Avera Behavioral Health and board member for the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment. She said loss of a biological parent falls under the scope of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Eining explained it can affect the child's development, because they lost a relationship that's difficult to replace.

"I might not be receiving that nurturing piece from that caregiver anymore," said Eining, "when I've developed that bond to that caregiver as an infant or a toddler, or even an early elementary-aged youth."

With social-distancing requirements, the child may have not had a chance to say goodbye, and those rules may have kept their support system at bay during the mourning phase.

Eining said that's why it's important for adults in their lives to help build new trusted relationships that offer a sense of bonding. That involvement can come from outside the home, including neighbors, teachers and coaches.

Maureen Murray, director of mental health and prevention services with Youth and Family Services in Rapid City, said her office has responded to a handful of these cases.

She said in situations where a child has to suddenly adapt to a new environment, that can extend the grieving even longer.

"A move, a different school system, loss of friends," said Murray, "even if the surviving parent is struggling with their own grief and is not there emotionally for the child."

She said it's dangerous to assume all kids are resilient, noting some will not show how much they're struggling emotionally.

Murray said providing safe spaces for them to talk when they are ready is important, while adding therapy, such as individual sessions or grief camps can help.

The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines were cleared this weekend for use in children under age five by both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Parents likely have questions, and at Arkansas Children's Hospital, health professionals are gearing up to answer them.

The FDA has said both vaccines are likely to protect kids under age five against severe COVID illness, hospitalization and death. For the week ending June 9, children made up nearly 14% of reported weekly COVID cases.

Dr. Jessica Snowden, division chief for pediatric infectious disease at Arkansas Children's Hospital, thinks the expanded access could help keep cases down.

"There are a lot of kids who develop 'long COVID' syndrome that we are still trying to figure out how to treat and prevent," Snowden pointed out. "So far, the only thing we know that decreases your chance of getting that is being vaccinated. For a lot of parents, this is going to be an important step in protecting their kids as we move through the pandemic."

Parents are being advised to check with their child's pediatrician, and also to take other health precautions to prevent spreading any virus, from covering coughs and sneezes to 'masking up' if local guidelines suggest it. As of June 2, more than 400 deaths in children under age four were COVID-related, according to the CDC.

For parents deciding if the vaccine is a right move for their young children, Snowden pointed to her own experience as a parent and doctor, seeing children who have been in the Intensive Care Unit with long-term COVID symptoms.

"Particularly knowing that we don't have good treatments for this virus yet; this isn't like an ear infection, where I can give you antibiotics, and you'll get better," Snowden emphasized. "If your child gets sick, the things we can do to help them are limited. If I can help any family avoid that, vaccination is the best way to do that."

Pfizer's vaccine will be offered to children ages six months through four years, while Moderna's is for kids six months through five years of age.

North Dakota is seeing more diversity within its youth population, but researchers say they face a tougher road in securing a brighter future. A new report details these outcomes and how they were shaped.

According to Kids Count, a research arm of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, nearly one in four children in North Dakota is a person of color. However, because of discriminatory policies in such areas as housing, their families are less likely to achieve economic security.

Kids Count regional Coordinator Xanna Burg said these decisions, made decades ago, still have repercussions today.

"It made it harder for families of color to qualify for loans to purchase a home," she said, "and when we think about kind of the legacy that that racist policy had on today, we see disparities in home-ownership rates. "

North Dakota has the third-lowest rate of childhood poverty, but when measured by race, it has the highest poverty rates for Native American and Black children. The report authors recommended more energy investments in tribal areas to reduce utility costs, as well as boosting the minimum wage.

Burg acknowledged these aims might be hard with a conservative legislature, but said recent victories provide hope. She pointed to passage of a bill updating Native American history curriculum, and noted that having a more culturally relevant education helps Indigenous students succeed.

Burg said there are disparities in health outcomes as well, including access to prenatal care early in a pregnancy.

"We really see some of the lower rates for American Indian families," she said, "and when we think about some of the history, the federal government had this trust responsibility to provide health care. Unfortunately, the Indian Health Service is chronically underfunded."

The report recommended the federal government fund the Indian Health Service at the same per-person rate as Medicaid. It also called on the state to ensure all children eligible for Medicaid are enrolled. North Dakota is second-last in the nation for Medicaid participation among children, at 83%.