Delaware programs

• We’re improving the health of babies in our state.
• Our programs support moms-to-be and professionals.
• We offer comfort to families with a newborn in intensive care.

We give moms 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.

Stork’s Nest

Stork’s Nest is a cooperative project of the March of Dimes and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. that provides prenatal education and incentives for low-income pregnant women.

Stork's Nest Locations and hours:

The Wilmington Stork's Nest is a partnership between the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Epsilon Rho Zeta Chapter, and Christiana Care Health System.

Wilmington Hospital Annex
1400 Washington St. , 3rd Floor
Wilmington, DE
(302) 255-1354
Redemption Hours:
Wednesdays 1-4 p.m.

The Dover and Milford Stork's Nest are a partnership between the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Theta Zeta Zeta Chapter, and Bayhealth Medical Center.

Dover Nest is located at:
Kent General Hospital
Across from the Gift Shop
640 S. State St.
Dover, DE
Redemption Hours:
Mondays, 11am - 1pm
Thursdays, 6 pm-7:30 pm

Milford Nest is located at:
Milford Memorial Hospital
Women's Center
200 Kings Highway, Suite #3
Milford, DE
Redemption Hours:
Tuesdays, 11am - 1pm

Perinatal Cooperative

The Delaware Perinatal Cooperative is established under the umbrella of the Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium (DHMIC), which serves as the statewide Maternal and Child Health Coalition and would intersect with the DHMIC Standards of Care Committee. The Perinatal Cooperative Advisory Board is composed of representatives from birth hospitals. A Medical Director and Perinatal Education Coordinator are tasked with oversight, education, and technical assistance. The Division of Public Health, Center for Family Health Research and Epidemiology, receives and reports on selected data indicators.

Member organizations agree to collect and report specific data elements relevant to the clinical priorities selected by the Board. For example, if a priority selected were the use of antenatal steroids for those at risk of preterm delivery, organizations would report the use of steroids and birth outcomes. The Division of Public Health will receive, compile and analyze data by site. In a non-punitive manner, data will be shared with members of the Perinatal Cooperative as a component of continuous quality improvement (CQI).

Working collectively with the Standards of Care Committee, the Perinatal Cooperative Advisory Board will determine intervention strategies, review data and implement CQI initiatives to increase adherence to perinatal best practices.

The March of Dimes Delaware Chapter provides the operational support for this program by housing and employing the Perinatal Nurse Educator who provides provider based education on topics identified by the Cooperative.