Stork’s Nest is a prenatal education program operated by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the March of Dimes, and cooperating community agencies. The program provides incentives and encouragement for women to keep prenatal care appointments, a critical factor for helping babies get a healthy start in life.
Currently, the Omaha Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority sponsors one Nest in the Omaha metropolitan area, which has been in operation since 1992. Since induction, this site has served over 7000 women locally and has been maintained by Zeta members who dedicate thousands of volunteer hours each year.
To find out more about our local Stork’s Nest, contact our coordinator, Teonette Lucas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the objectives of the the Stork’s Nest Program?
The program has three major objectives:
- Provides prenatal education and incentives to low income pregnant women.
- Motivates women to get early, regular prenatal care through earned incentives.
- Educates women on self-care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
Who is eligible to participate in the Stork’s Nest Program?
To be eligible women will need to be pregnant or parenting a child less than 24 months of age and be Medicaid eligible. Pregnant women are referred to the Storks Nest through their local health care facility.
What good health habits does the Nest promote?
- Beginning prenatal care early, and keeping all scheduled prenatal care appointments
- Attending education workshops
- Eating well, and getting enough exercise and rest
- Avoiding harmful substances or environments
- Watching for signs of preterm labor
- Breastfeeding
- Bringing baby to well-baby exams and completing a full set of immunizations
What type of curriculum is used at the Omaha Stork’s Nests?
- The Stork’s Nest and You: All About Prenatal Care and Keeping Yourself Healthy
- Eating for Two
- The No’s of Pregnancy: Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco
- Warning Signs: What to Watch For
- The Big Day
- Caring for Your Baby
When and where do the Omaha Stork’s Nests operate?
There is currently one central Nest in operation within the Omaha Metropolitan area, the location and hours of this site are listed below:
Omaha Stork’s Nest
University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
4239 Farnam Street – 4th floor adjacent to the OBGYN Outpatient Clinic
402.559.4000Hours of Operation:
2nd Tuesday — 9:00 am until 11:00 pm
3rd Tuesday — 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm
How do the Omaha Stork’s Nests obtain incentive items?
Each Nest is stocked with maternity, baby clothing, and nursery items to serve as incentives and are received from the following sources:
- The Nebraska Diaper Bank
- Lozier Foundation
- Community baby showers are organized to obtain neighborhood contributions while educating members of the community about Stork’s Nest and its mission.
- Local senior citizen groups contribute handmade clothes and other infant care items.
Women referred to Stork’s Nest gain access to prenatal education sessions, educational materials, and a variety of other resources and referrals that help clients take good care of themselves and their babies.
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