Tomorrow is Maternal Health Awareness Day, established to highlight the urgent need to improve maternal health outcomes, address persistent racial and ethnic disparities, and ensure that every person who gives birth receives safe, high-quality, and respectful care — before, during, and after pregnancy.
At the Quality Institute, we have invested significantly in building alliances, developing strategic plans, and advancing policy and practice changes to improve maternal and infant health. This far-reaching work has required sustained collaboration across State agencies, health systems, community organizations, and advocates. Through our efforts and the work of so many others, New Jersey has made meaningful progress. At the same time, more work is needed to ensure these efforts translate into lasting, equitable outcomes for families across the state.
NurtureNJ, the state’s comprehensive initiative to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity — led by former First Lady Tammy Murphy — has shaped the progress we’ve seen in our state. We are pleased the Sherrill Administration has reaffirmed this commitment through the reappointment of the Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA) leadership and a clear focus on advancing maternal and infant health policy and systems statewide.
The recently published Rutgers School of Public Health and Quality Institute report, “Turning Policy into Progress: How New Jersey Is Advancing Maternal and Infant Health,” summarizes substantial impact to date, reviewing the implementation of 72 maternal and infant health laws and highlighting progress. It also outlines opportunities to close gaps and further strengthen systems of care across the state.
At the center of our work is the Quality Institute’s Maternity Action Plan (MAP). The MAP brings stakeholders together to identify priorities, advance solutions, and support implementation. It’s structured around four core pillars:
- Strengthening the maternal health workforce
- Improving data collection, transparency, and accountability
- Reforming payment to promote quality and equity
- Addressing the social and structural factors that shape maternal and infant outcomes
As we move forward, we want your input.
We want anyone engaged in maternal and infant health in New Jersey to complete our brief MAP survey to help guide our priorities, work sessions, and collective focus for the year ahead. Please share the topics you would want featured; identify areas where collaboration is most needed; and indicate whether you are interested in serving as a featured expert or presenter.
Your input will directly shape the agenda and direction of our maternal health work in 2026.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Quality Institute will continue advancing maternal and infant health in close partnership with the State and many other committed organizations. The work ahead includes:
- Ongoing Maternity Action Plan education sessions and convenings,
- Expanding our work with hospitals and communities to develop Perinatal Community Advisory Boards (P-CABs),
- Improving provider-patient communication and quality through and Team Birth NJ and other quality improvement efforts, and
- Supporting policies that strengthen and sustain the maternal health workforce, including establishing a board of midwifery.
Together with our partners, the Quality Institute remains committed to advancing equity, improving outcomes, and supporting families across New Jersey at every stage of pregnancy and beyond.