Stork’s Nest

Since 1972, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has enjoyed a cooperative partnership with the March of Dimes Foundation in an effort to encourage women to seek prenatal care within the first trimester of pregnancy, thereby increasing the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality. These efforts have been implemented for more than 48 years through a program called the Stork’s Nest.

The Stork’s Nest program was designed to improve birth outcomes by eradicating barriers of birth equity through innovative programming and social action. It is a community-based, prenatal, health promotion program for low-income pregnant women. It promotes prenatal care participation and healthy behaviors through two components-incentives and education. Stork’s Nest clients “earn” points toward incentives, such as maternity or baby care items, through a variety of positive, health-promoting activities such as:

  • Attending prenatal care appointments
  • Participating in prenatal education classes
  • Keeping appointments for well-baby visits
  • Eating healthy

Nationwide, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. sponsors over 175 Stork’s Nests. Last year, the Stork’s Nest program served over 28,000 women.

There are two Stork’s Nests in Virginia. Beta Theta Zeta Chapter has one of those Stork’s Nest. In March 2020 Beta Theta Zeta’s Stork’s Nest relocated their Storks’ Nest to  the Norfolk United Methodist Church,  6870 N. Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23518.

Our new partnership with the church has allowed our Stork’s Nest to have a bigger space to house  baby toiletries and incentives, a warm atmosphere to teach classes and the ability to continue serving Norfolk’s citizens.

For more information about Beta Theta Zeta’s Stork’s Nest, please email sadams73@cox.net or call (757) 652-8601.

1. March of Dimes – March for Babies

 

Begun in 1970, March for Babies (formerly WalkAmerica) is the first and best-loved walking event in the nation. As the March of Dimes biggest fund-raiser, March for Babies supports research and programs to help babies in your community and across the country get a healthy start.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has been a national March for Babies team since 1998. 

2. Zeta Prematurity Awareness Sunday

In response to the significant rise in premature births, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the March of Dimes are holding national events aimed at increasing community awareness. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority members across the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands conduct Prematurity Awareness Sunday activities in houses of worship. The sorority’s efforts are a prelude to the March of Dimes National Prematurity Awareness Day observance in which March of Dimes volunteers, Zeta members and others will make a concerted effort to help shed light on an increasing infant health problem.