Rutgers selected to co-lead New Jersey’s new maternal and infant health center

Rutgers University has been chosen to help lead the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton, a new hub for maternal and infant health services and research. The center’s goal is to enhance access to healthcare and social services during pregnancy and up to a year after birth. It is also focused on addressing racial disparities, particularly the fact that Black individuals are nearly seven times more likely to die of a maternity-related complication than white individuals.

The initiative, which is part of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ strategic plan, is a $75 million project of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Rutgers, along with Capital Health and Trenton Health Team, has been named as “anchor tenants” to drive operations at the innovation center. Rutgers’ School of Nursing will lead research efforts into health disparities and ways to make care more equitable. The university will collaborate with other academic institutions to expand training opportunities for midwives, nurses, doulas, lactation professionals, and community health workers.

Julie Blumenfeld, the director of Rutgers’ nurse-midwifery program, will lead Rutgers’ initiatives at the innovation center. She believes that expanding and diversifying the perinatal workforce will ultimately improve care and outcomes for women and pregnant individuals in New Jersey. Rutgers will partner with Mercer County Community College, Stockton University, The College of New Jersey, and Thomas Edison State University to achieve these goals.