Nurture NJ is the state's initiative to improve maternal and infant health through policy and programmatic investments with a vision to make New Jersey the safest, most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby. Over the past seven years, Governor Murphy has signed over 70 pieces of maternal and infant health-related legislation to support the goals of Nurture NJ, including some of the most revolutionary maternal health policies in the nation.
As part of a broad evaluation of Nurture NJ, the Rutgers School of Public Health compiled a list of 73 legislative policies and assembly resolutions designed to improve maternal and infant health since 2019. They summarized the scientific underpinnings for those actions in Following the Science: New Jersey's Policy Approaches to Improving Maternal and Infant Health.
The Rutgers team, led by Leslie M. Kantor, professor and Chair of the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health, found that the majority of the legislative policies were supported by strong or emerging scientific evidence and categorized the policies into six key focus areas:
- Maternal and child health care delivery and access
- Parental and child supports
- Family planning and fertility services
- Education, programs and resources
- Legal agreements and safeguards
- Data, surveillance and quality improvement
The research team then reviewed the scientific literature associated with each policy and compiled the findings into the report.
The researchers found Nurture NJ policies with the strongest evidence base for improving maternal and infant health outcomes include policies aimed at reducing early elective deliveries (e.g., those without a medical reason), increasing access to family planning services, and creating universal home visiting programs for new mothers and infants. Many of these policies derive from recommendations outlined in the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan.
Policies grounded in emerging evidence reflect the innovative approach of the Nurture NJ initiative in areas such as shared decision-making during labor and delivery and efforts to improve the quality and reduce the cost of care during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, such as the Perinatal Episode of Care program.
"We were gratified to see that New Jersey's legislative efforts are solidly based on existing evidence," said Kantor. "We hope other states will benefit from New Jersey's leadership in crafting strong policy responses to improve maternal and infant health."
The researchers said the analysis highlights the importance of using science and evidence to guide legislation, strategically direct future investments in maternal and infant health, and evaluate both intermediate and long-term outcomes in New Jersey and the U.S.
"I applaud the Rutgers School of Public Health for their commitment to measuring the effectiveness of policies in New Jersey to improve maternal and infant health," said First Lady Tammy Murphy. "Over the past seven-plus years, through the Nurture NJ initiative, my office has worked collaboratively with our partners across sectors, including in the State Legislature, to implement policies to address the health crisis facing the moms and babies of our state. I am heartened that this study showcases the research-based policies driving our collective work to make New Jersey the safest, most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby."
