NEST Launches in West Virginia, 2,000 Kits Expected

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is expanding its Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST), with West Virginia the first state to receive kits and about 2,000 expected to reach local families. Each kit includes more than 20 items, such as diapers, wipes, an infant thermometer, postpartum and breastfeeding supplies, and a blood-pressure monitor, along with guidance on maternal recovery, infant safety, feeding, and support services. The $5 million expansion builds on a 2023 pilot that distributed 30,000 kits across 15 states and is intended to reach rural and underserved communities. Kits are distributed through participating health care providers and organizations; reports differ on eligibility details, which have not been clearly specified by the program.