The New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance was launched to support the implementation and impact of Nurture NJ — an initiative with goals to eliminate disparities and reduce maternal mortality. By 2026, the state had signed over 70 maternal and infant health bills into law, 80% of Nurture NJ policies had been operationalized, and the state had risen from 47th in the nation in maternal mortality to 25th.

This summary distills findings from a Princeton School of Public and International Affairs’ Policy Task Force. Raquel Mazon Jeffers and Wendy McWeeny were part of a team from CHAP that led the task force, which examined Nurture NJ’s multi-pronged effort to make the state the safest place in the nation to give birth and raise a child, specifically by centering the goals of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA).

Narrative two-page overview and sample invitation to join for the SOBE project.

This report reflects on progress towards birth equity made by funders and partners in nine states and insights process-gleaned insights on the value of collaboration.