Rutgers Health researchers have assessed not only the direct effects of Nurture NJ – the statewide initiative launched in 2019 by First Lady Tammy Murphy to improve maternal and infant health and reduce racial disparities in health outcomes – but the indirect effects as well.
According to the researchers, direct effects stem from policies and programs, indirect effects emerge from shifts in awareness, collaboration and engagement across sectors. These changes can influence how organizations work together, whose voices are heard, and how quickly progress is made.
As part of the evaluation of Nurture NJ, members of the Rutgers School of Public Health conducted an analysis to explore these broader, indirect effects and detail findings in their new report, “Ripple Effects: Exploring the Indirect Influence of Nurture NJ.”
The researchers found that Nurture NJ significantly has shaped the maternal and infant health landscape in New Jersey, extending its impact beyond direct policy and programmatic efforts.
Insights gathered from researchers through interviews with leaders from community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and funders highlight how Nurture NJ has generated momentum for change while validating and amplifying existing efforts to improve maternal and infant health.
The initiative also has strengthened organizational partnerships to foster a culture of collaboration and expanded the decision-making table to include new voices and perspectives.
“Nurture NJ has done more than implement policy and programs – it has helped spark a broader shift in how groups in the state approach maternal and infant health,” said Laura Lindberg, a professor in the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health and lead author of the report. “Nurture NJ’s ability to elevate maternal health on the public agenda and foster new partnerships is transforming New Jersey into a national model for maternal and infant health equity.”
Findings from this analysis underscore Nurture NJ’s impacts beyond direct program investments and legislative policies by energizing stakeholders across sectors to focus on shifting the landscape of maternal and infant health in New Jersey.
The initiative’s power to convene stakeholders, increase the visibility of maternal and infant health, inspire collaboration and focus on sustainability helps move New Jersey closer to its goal of being the safest and most equitable place to have and raise a baby, researchers said.
“When Nurture NJ first officially launched in early 2019, we set out to change the landscape of maternal and infant health in New Jersey,” said Murphy. “Our progress over the past six years includes enacting over 70 pieces of legislation to strengthen our system of supports for new mothers and their babies, launching groundbreaking and innovative programs, and establishing the nation’s first state agency dedicated to the health and well-being of mothers and babies, the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority.”
Murphy added, “I am incredibly proud that – beyond our direct impacts to improve outcomes for moms and babies – we have also elevated maternal health to a matter of great public concern, encouraging engagement and building bridges across disciplines and industries. To truly move the needle on this issue, we are bringing all voices to the table.”
This analysis is part of a broader evaluation of Nurture NJ conducted by Rutgers researchers, led by Leslie Kantor, a professor and chair of the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at the School of Public Health.
Previous reports include:
- “Progress in Increasing Access to Paid Family Leave in New Jersey, An Evidence-Based Strategy for Improving Maternal and Infant Health”
- “Following the Science: New Jersey’s Policy Approaches to Improving Maternal and Infant Health”
- “Progress in Reducing the Low-Risk Cesarean Birth Rate in New Jersey: An Examination of Data from 2016–2023.”
