{"id":83739,"date":"2025-07-22T17:25:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T17:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/83739\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T17:25:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T17:25:08","slug":"office-of-the-governor-first-lady-murphy-and-governor-murphy-break-ground-on-first-of-its-kind-maternal-and-infant-health-innovation-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/83739\/","title":{"rendered":"Office of the Governor | First Lady Murphy and Governor Murphy Break Ground on First-of-its-Kind Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since 2022, the NJEDA and the\u00a0John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University<\/a>\u00a0have led a deep community engagement process to design a Center that reflects the needs of Trenton families. Their input helped shape the MIHIC\u2019s location, services, and structure \u2014 ensuring it is a center built by the community, for the community.<\/p>\n

Launched by First Lady Tammy Murphy in 2019, Nurture NJ is a statewide initiative committed to addressing our state\u2019s maternal and infant health crisis. Since its inception, Nurture NJ has seen over 70 pieces of maternal and infant health legislation signed by Governor Murphy. The initiative has also developed and implemented groundbreaking programs and policies, such as the first-of-its-kind in the nation Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, which will be the arm of government that continues the vital work of Nurture NJ past the Murphy Administration.<\/p>\n

Under First Lady Murphy\u2019s leadership, Nurture NJ has made significant policy achievements including: developing the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan \u2013 of which over half of its more than 80 recommendations have been started or completed; becoming the second state to expand Medicaid coverage to 365 days postpartum; establishing Medicaid reimbursement for doula care; increasing perinatal Medicaid provider reimbursements to 100 percent of Medicare rates; and launching the most robust-in-the-nation universal nurse home visitation program, Family Connects NJ, so that every new parent is visited by a nurse in their home for free within two weeks after bringing home a new baby. Through these innovative policies and more, Nurture NJ has positioned New Jersey as a national leader in the fight against the maternal and infant health crisis.<\/p>\n

Over the past seven years, New Jersey has seen measurable improvements: maternal mortality has improved from 47th\u00a0to 28th\u00a0in the nation; infant mortality from 5th\u00a0to 2nd; and neonatal mortality from 6th\u00a0to 1st. The MIHIC builds on these gains, offering a permanent home for the momentum of the Nurture NJ movement. It ensures that maternal and infant health remains a top priority for generations to come.<\/p>\n

The prime sponsors of the \u201cNew Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center Act,\u201d which\u00a0Governor Murphy signed in 2023<\/a>, were Senator Shirley Turner and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. Other primary sponsors included Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, and former Assemblyman Herb Conaway.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center will serve as a transformative resource for the City of Trenton, bringing high-quality health care services, educational pathways, and job opportunities to an historically underserved community,\u201d\u00a0said Senator K. Shirley Turner.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cIt also marks a critical step forward in addressing the persistent racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes across our state. It is fitting that the Center will be located in the City of Trenton where there is a great need.\u00a0 I commend First Lady Tammy Murphy and the Murphy Administration for their unwavering commitment to improving maternal and infant health, and I am confident the Center will serve as a model for communities across the country striving to advance equity in care.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs someone who was born and raised in this great city, I understand the challenges that families face when it comes to access to quality healthcare,\u201d\u00a0said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThis new center will help improve health outcomes for mothers and babies by addressing the ongoing maternal health crisis affecting American women, particularly women of color.\u00a0Closing the racial disparity healthcare gap is imperative, and I\u2019m proud that this Trenton facility will play an important role in that effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis center reflects our shared commitment in the State Legislature to closing racial disparities in maternal and infant health,\u201d\u00a0said Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cIt will bring together doulas, midwives, nurses, mental health professionals, researchers, and community advocates\u2014committed to improving outcomes for mothers and babies. All this will be happening right here in our state\u2019s capital, where the need is great. The potential for NJ to be a hub for solutions is even greater, and I am grateful to everyone who made this vision a reality.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s groundbreaking marks more than just the start of construction \u2014 it signals a new era for Trenton, where every mother and child will have access to the care and support they deserve,\u201d\u00a0said Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThanks to the vision and unwavering commitment of First Lady Tammy Murphy \u2014 and the steadfast support of Governor Phil Murphy \u2014 we are proud that the Capital City was chosen as the home for this transformative initiative. This Center will not only lead innovation in maternal and infant health, but it will also help close the long-standing disparities that have affected our Black and Brown communities for far too long. It is a promise to future generations that in Trenton, every family has a fair and equitable start in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRutgers is excited to partner with the state in advancing the health of mothers and infants across New Jersey,\u201d\u00a0said Rutgers University President William F. Tate IV.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThis center reflects how Rutgers\u2019 innovative research and hands-on medical training are tackling health disparities and strengthening communities statewide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s groundbreaking for the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center is an exciting step forward in this significant effort to deliver much needed clinical, educational, and social services in Trenton,\u201d\u00a0said Al Maghazehe, President and CEO of Capital Health.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cFor over 125 years, Capital Health has cared for the residents of Trenton and we are deeply committed to ensuring access to safe, high-quality care for expectant and new parents and their babies. I want to thank First Lady Tammy Murphy for her vision and commitment and Governor Murphy for his continued support for healthcare organizations like ours. Together, we can significantly improve the health and wellbeing of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Trenton Health Team is proud to represent Trenton’s network of maternal health partners as Lead Multi-Service Organization,\u201d\u00a0said Gregory Paulson, CEO, Trenton Health Team.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cTogether, we are committed to ensuring that the many voices and experiences of those giving birth in our community remain at the center of the programs we plan and implement in this Center, as we work to achieve equitable approaches and outcomes for all families seeking services in Trenton and across the State.”<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery day, Rowan University builds partnerships to multiply the strength and effectiveness of our health care experts and innovators,\u201d\u00a0said Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cImproving access and equity through education is at the core of all we do, and we\u2019re so pleased to be in Trenton as part of this work. Our collaborations with the state\u2019s health care leaders improve outcomes for people at every stage of life, so we are thrilled to have a new opportunity to help New Jersey\u2019s mothers and babies get a stronger start through this innovation center.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proud to partner with the NJEDA, Rowan University, and NJMIHIA on this critical Strategic Innovation Center focused on maternal and infant health innovation,\u201d\u00a0said Michael Connallon, Managing Partner at Garden State Venture Partners.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThis initiative reflects our firm\u2019s core belief that early and later-stage capital, when aligned with clinical insight, academic research, and community impact, can drive meaningful breakthroughs. By investing in medical technologies developed within this collaborative ecosystem, we aim to help eliminate disparities in care and improve outcomes for mothers and infants across New Jersey and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2022, I had the distinct honor of being entrusted by the First Lady and NJEDA to lead a three-year journey on behalf of the Watson Institute to engage the people of Trenton and listen to the voices of mothers and families who have lived the very challenges this Center aims to solve,\u201d\u00a0said Dr. Barbara George Johnson Chair of the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority Board and Vice President of Urban Policy and Research at the Watson Institute for Public Policy at Kean University.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cAs one community member told us:\u00a0\u2018Black women have always had a voice. It’s about somebody hearing what they’re saying – and putting action behind it.\u2019\u00a0That action begins here today on this sacred ground\u2014not just a construction site, but a space shaped by voices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center represents a transformative milestone for families across New Jersey, setting a new standard for equitable care and serving as a national model for improving maternal and infant health outcomes,\u201d\u00a0said Angela R. Starkweather, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, Dean and Professor, Rutgers School of Nursing.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cWe are deeply inspired by the visionary leadership of First Lady Tammy Murphy and Dr. Julie Blumenfeld, Director of Midwifery Programs at Rutgers School of Nursing, whose commitment has shaped a comprehensive, statewide approach to advancing the health and well-being of women and children.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor nearly 60 years, Henry J. Austin Health Center (HJAHC) has stood as a pillar of the Trenton community, providing high-quality, integrated healthcare to individuals and families across the city,\u201d\u00a0said Charles L. Davis, II, CEO, Henry J. Austin Health Center.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cOur deep roots in the neighborhood have allowed us to build lasting relationships based on trust, compassion, and service. As maternal health continues to be a growing concern, HJAHC remains committed to working alongside community members and partner organizations throughout Trenton and across New Jersey to improve outcomes and ensure equitable care for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

“The startling fact that New Jersey has the fourth highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, with even the state capital of Trenton having no place for women to give birth, speaks volumes for the need to resolve this issue\u2014especially for Black women. It is shameful that, regardless of education or income level, Black women in the Garden State continue to die at nearly seven times the rate of White women, and Black babies are three times more likely to die than white babies before their first birthday,\u201d\u00a0said First Lady Rosalee Boyer, Co-Founder of Salvation and Social Justice.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe time is now to tackle this issue head on, prevent further unnecessary deaths, and to create better outcomes for our Black mothers. That said, the creation of this Innovation Center, and its location, are key first steps toward making these outcomes a reality.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Since 2022, the NJEDA and the\u00a0John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University\u00a0have led…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":83740,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[56852,56851,3153,18572,210,1141,1142,29673,12356,56853,52767,635,15747,290,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-83739","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-care","8":"tag-break","9":"tag-first-lady","10":"tag-governor","11":"tag-ground","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-health-care","14":"tag-healthcare","15":"tag-infant","16":"tag-jersey","17":"tag-maternal","18":"tag-murphy","19":"tag-new","20":"tag-nj","21":"tag-state","22":"tag-united-states","23":"tag-unitedstates","24":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114898057570216868","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83739\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}