NEST Initiative
Supporting Parents from Day One
Welcoming a new baby should be a time of joy. But for many families, the first days at home bring immediate financial and emotional pressure. Diapers, wipes, postpartum supplies and other essentials add up quickly.
Through the NEST Initiative, families receive essential newborn and postpartum supplies, practical guidance and connections to trusted resources during the critical first weeks after birth. Now expanding nationwide, NEST is working to ensure that families have the support needed to thrive during the postpartum journey.
The Need
The first weeks of a baby’s life are among the most important for both the child and their parents. Yet for many families, especially those living in underserved or rural communities, access to essential childbirth recovery and infant supplies can be limited.
The NEST Initiative is designed to help address these challenges by prioritizing families in communities with the greatest need, providing a one-time package of essential newborn and postpartum supplies, practical educational information and connections to additional resources. Each kit includes newborn care and hygiene supplies such as diapers and wipes, maternal postpartum recovery items, breastfeeding support products, a blood pressure monitor and educational resources.
These simple resources can make a meaningful difference during a family's earliest days together.
Double Your Impact
Expanding the NEST Initiative
The CDC Foundation is a proud partner in the NEST program, an effort led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in coordination with the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Foundation is working with HHS to expand NEST’s reach, helping coordinate the operational infrastructure needed to deliver Kits to families, supporting evaluation and learning, and mobilizing philanthropic and private-sector resources to complement federal investment and deepen the initiative’s impact in priority communities.
Launched by HHS in 2023 as the Newborn Supply Kit pilot, the program has provided thousands of families with supplies and information to help them navigate the transition home with a newborn. NEST builds on that pilot by expanding access to essential newborn and postpartum supplies, practical information and connections to resources to additional families and states.
With the help of donors and partners, the CDC Foundation is working with HHS to expand NEST’s reach, providing crucial support to even more families.
How Your Support Helps
Your gift helps deliver essential supplies to families welcoming a new baby.
Supports access to essential postpartum supplies that support healing and comfort during recovery, helping reduce stress in the earliest days after birth.
Contributes to newborn necessities, including diapers and wipes, that families rely on during the first weeks at home.
Makes it possible to provide postpartum recovery items, newborn supplies, maternal and infant care and hygiene items such as a thermometer, burp cloths and basic clothing, plus practical tools that help families navigate the first weeks with confidence.
Expands the reach of the NEST Initiative, delivering critical supplies and support to more families in underserved and rural communities.
Products shown in the Nest Kit are representative and may vary based on
availability and location. Use of products does not represent an endorsement.
“This is one of the best programs for our moms. There is nothing but a really, really positive response from every mother. Our staff feel like it's a twofold thing for our patients—they can give them supplies they need but then it’s also an opportunity for a discussion between staff and the patient. It’s an amazing resource.”
– NEST distribution partner
Support New Families
Every parent deserves the chance to begin their journey with the essentials they need to care for themselves and their newborn.
Donate today to help deliver NEST Kits to families across the country.
We are grateful to the following funders who make this work possible.
- Elaine and John Chambers
- Merck for Mothers
If you are interested in discussing partnership opportunities related to this initiative, including in-kind product donations, please reach out to us at advancement@cdcfoundation.org.
The CDC Foundation serves as an implementation partner for the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition to federally funded implementation activities, the CDC Foundation independently raises and manages philanthropic contributions to complement federal investment and helps expand the initiative's reach and impact. Philanthropic contributions to the CDC Foundation do not constitute endorsement of any donor, product, or service by HHS.