A Healthy Start for Every Baby
Not every mother and baby enjoys the same opportunities for good health. Health equity discussions explore the societal, environmental, economic and other factors that lead to inequities in care and disparities in outcomes.
The long history of racial injustice in the United States – and in our healthcare delivery system – produces disparate health outcomes for people of color. A Black baby born in New Jersey today is more than 3 times more likely to die before its first birthday than a White infant. NJHA examines the biases that drive these disparities in this video on-demand course. It breaks down the conscious and unconscious biases within all individuals; describes their impact on healthcare access and treatment for Black and brown women; and explores interventions to defuse them. This course is complimentary, and provides continuing education credits, thanks to a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maternal Infant Health Branch, State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives. Register for the Reducing Implicit Bias in Maternal and Child Health course
New Jersey's First Lady Tammy Murphy has made public an initiative that places statewide awareness on reducing infant and maternal mortality and morbidity; eliminate disparities; and ensuring equity in care and in outcomes for mothers and infants of all ethnic groups. The work is devoted to serving every mother, every baby, and every family, and includes a multi-pronged, multi-agency approach to improve maternal and infant health among New Jersey women and children.
The goals of the Administration’s Nurture NJ focuses on improving collaboration and programming between departments, agencies, and stakeholders to achieve its goal. This work is supported by a five-year strategic plan with an 11-year vision for creating a 'cultural ecosystem' of high-quality care for moms, babies, and families. Download the Nurture NJ Strategic Plan here »
Now in its third year, NJHA’s Patients, Prejudice and Policy series brings together thought leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders for some frank talk on implicit bias, structural racism and health disparities and inequities. Recent guests have included N.J. Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, RN, on maternal health and equity, and N.J. Sen. Cory Booker on racism and social determinants of health.
For more information, please visit: www.njha.com/healthy-communities/social-determinants/patients-policy-prejudice »
Patient and Family Engagement
Engaged and empowered women are essential partners in successful birth outcomes. That’s especially so when addressing health disparities, when the diverse voices of women across age, race, socioeconomic, faith and cultural groups must be heard. Efforts to advance patient and family engagement include:
NJHA’s virtual panel on the Centering-Pregnancy model in partnership with The Burke Foundation and Centering Healthcare Institute.
A new video series featuring New Jersey women sharing their birth experiences and lessons learned in growing their Patient and Family Advisory Councils.