New York State programs

We help moms get the information and care they need before, during and after pregnancy. If something goes wrong, we support families in the NICU. Learn more about some of our community programs below.

NICU Family Support

When a baby is born too soon or very sick and starts life in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), the March of Dimes is there to support the family. One in every 10 babies born in the United States is admitted to a NICU. Some babies spend just a couple of days, others many long months. Having a baby hospitalized in a NICU can be frightening, confusing and overwhelming. NICU Family Support offers information and comfort. We enhance family-centered care practices in partner hospitals to address the needs of families and provide professional education to NICU staff. 

Albany Medical Center
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital
Montefiore Medical Center
Stony Brook University Medical Center

New York State Perinatal Nurses Conference

The Perinatal Nurses Conference brings together nursing and other health care experts to provide state-of-the-art information in nursing theory, perinatal clinical practice, and policy. Developed by nurses for nurses, the conference focuses on continued clinical excellence and patient advocacy in the face of current restructuring and redesign in health care delivery. Each year, the Maternal Child Health Award for Clinical Excellence is awarded at the conference.

Moms-to-Be Breakfast

The “Mothers-to-Be" Program is a half day, free educational event for all pregnant women. The goal is to educate all attendees on the importance of taking care of themselves before, during and after conception in an effort to improve the health of all babies. Attendees will also be taught skills that will not only enhance their life style but also the health of their newborn. Participants will walk away with a wealth of information and supportive services that are available to them and their newborn.

New York State Student Convocations

March of Dimes New York State Chapter Student Convocations seek to increase student awareness and interest in the life sciences, while encouraging students to pursue studies as they relate to birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Students' interests could vary from becoming a Doctor, Nurse, Researcher, Social Worker, Radiologist and Neonatologist just to name a few. These convocations give New York's most promising high school students the opportunity to hear and meet outstanding speakers of national prominence in the fields of science and medicine. Each science field relates in some way to helping our babies.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Student Convocation – Northeastern New York
Nelson Rosenthal Student Convocation – New York City
Tina Russo Memorial Student Convocation – Staten Island
Dr. David R. Smith Student Convocation – Central New York

The Harvey E. and Esther M. Schultz March of Dimes Health Education Scholarship

The Genesee Valley/Finger Lakes Division annually awards two $1,000 scholarships for the current academic year to students beginning their first year of post-secondary education in a health care field (nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, pathology, audiology, paramedical studies, and/or medical studies). This is a continuing program that is awarded yearly.

The Suffolk Prematurity Project 

This successful program called the Suffolk Prematurity Project has educated over 500 healthcare professionals and reached more than 1,000 women. Through this collaborative effort, women learn the signs and symptoms of preterm labor, how to reduce the risks of another preterm birth and the benefits of taking folic acid. Suffolk Prematurity Project is a partnership between several stakeholders including the Suffolk County Department of Health, Local Churches, Stony Brook University Medical Center, and the Suffolk Perinatal Coalition.

Stork's Nest

Stork’s Nest is a cooperative program of the March of Dimes and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. that provides prenatal education and incentives for low-income pregnant women. The program was launched nationally in 1972. This program has both service and educational components. The service is the establishment of a distribution site, the "Nest," where expectant mothers, referred by cooperating hospitals, clinics, and health centers, can get necessary items such as maternity clothes, layettes and furniture at minimal or no cost. The educational component consists of seven sessions covering prenatal care, nutrition, drugs, alcohol and smoking, genetics, infant care and parenting.

Prematurity Awareness Month/World Prematurity Day

The preterm birth rate for New York State is 12.2%, down from last year and heading in the right direction. We can proudly say that it has never been a better time to be pregnant and have a baby than it is today in New York State. Increased access and improved screening are just some of the areas where we’ve improved, however a significant number of babies are born too soon in NY and around the world. 30,000 babies in NY, 540,000 in the US and 13 million around the world are born too soon. This year’s World Prematurity Day (WPD) on November 17 will be recognized worldwide.

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