Date and Time
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023 | 2 PM ET/11 AM PT | VIRTUAL
Speakers
Kate Shamszad
MS, MPH, Director of Policy, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
Armonie Pierre-Jacques
MPH, Community Health and Policy Associate, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
Jessica Nugent
MPH, Program Officer, The Burke Foundation
Event Description
A Black woman in New Jersey is seven times more likely to die of pregnancy or birth issues than a White woman. These intolerable racial disparities contribute heavily to the state ranking 47th in the US in maternal health outcomes. Though midwives are the standard providers of maternal and newborn care in much of the world, their use is far less frequent in the US; midwives attend fewer than 10% of births in New Jersey.
To develop ways to make midwives a bigger part of the birth experience in New Jersey, the Burke Foundation, partnering with the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, released Delivering Better Care: Midwifery Practice in New Jersey, an in-depth review of midwifery practice in the state. The report was informed by available literature; interviews with experts, key stakeholders, advocates, and those working at the community level; and a convening of over 40 midwives, healthcare professionals, and maternal care policymakers in New Jersey.
To work toward implementing the report’s recommendations, the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and the Burke Foundation have launched the Maternal Infant Health Hub as a policy and learning collaborative to strengthen midwifery practice and promote birth equity and justice in New Jersey. The MIH Hub convenes midwives, advocates, and MIH stakeholders to create a shared learning space and provide educational resources focused on maternal health policy. These activities are intended to advance the midwifery profession in New Jersey and increase public awareness and availability of the services midwives provide. Please join us to learn more.