Trenton is set to become home to a new hub for maternal and infant health services and research, as Rutgers University has been selected to play a key role in its establishment. The Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center aims to improve access to healthcare and social services for pregnant individuals and up to a year after childbirth, with a particular focus on addressing racial disparities in maternal health care.
As part of First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ strategic plan, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority has allocated $75 million to this project. Rutgers, Capital Health, a local health system, and Trenton Health Team, a community health nonprofit, have been designated as anchor tenants to lead operations at the innovation center.
Rutgers’ School of Nursing will lead research into health disparities and efforts 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. By diversifying the perinatal workforce, this project aims to enhance care and outcomes for women and pregnant individuals in New Jersey.
Julie Blumenfeld, the director of Rutgers’ nurse-midwifery program and a clinical assistant professor in the nursing school, will lead Rutgers’ efforts at the innovation center. The university will also work with other schools such as Mercer County Community College, Stockton University, The College of New Jersey, and Thomas Edison State University on this important initiative.