What is Stork’s Nest?

Stork's Nest is a cooperative project of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the March of Dimes Foundation for more than fifty years.  Stork’s Nest aims to increase the number of women receiving early and regular prenatal care in an effort to prevent cases of low birth-weight, premature births and infant deaths. 

The first Stork’s Nest was launched in 1971 by Epsilon Zeta chapter of Atlanta, Georgia.  It was one of many educational and service projects of Better Infant Births (BIB), a highly successful program sponsored by the Fulton-Dekalb-Clayton Chapter of the March of Dimes.  The program was so successful that Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. adopted Stork’s Nest in 1972 as its national project.  The first Nest to open after it was adopted as Zeta’s national project was by Lambda Zeta chapter in Houston, Texas.  

Stork’s Nest is a jointly owned trademark of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and March of Dimes Foundation and can only be implemented by these two organizations.  The program is designed to promote prenatal care participation and encourage healthy behaviors during pregnancy through two components-incentives and education.  Stork’s Nest clients “earn” points toward incentives such as maternity or baby care items though a variety of positive, health-promoting activities: attending prenatal visits, participating in prenatal education classes, stopping at-risk behaviors such as smoking cigarettes and consuming alcoholic beverages, reducing stress, etc.  There are more than 80 Nests throughout the country.    

Locally, Psi Mu Zeta Chapter has partnered with Mind Body Baby NC, a nonprofit organization to educate and provide social-emotional support to new and expecting caregivers through the perinatal experience.  Baby essentials provided to program participants are funded by the non-profit arm of Psi Mu Zeta chapter, Sisters of the Dove Charity Fund, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization.  Donations can be made at any time and designated for use in the Stork’s Nest. 

 For more information, email pmzstorksnest@gmail.com.