As New Jersey works to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce racial disparities, NJ Spotlight News recently published a comprehensive feature on new opportunities for midwives — spotlighting the critical role they play in delivering equitable, patient-centered care. The article highlights the findings of Burke’s influential 2022 report, Delivering Better Care, and features several of the Foundation’s key partners, including the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI), Rutgers School of Nursing, and Nurture NJ.
The piece underscores how midwives — who often provide more holistic, continuous, and culturally responsive care — are uniquely positioned to address gaps in maternal health outcomes. As demand for midwifery services grows, advocates are calling for investments in workforce training, expanded reimbursement models, and regulatory reforms to allow certified midwives to practice to the full extent of their training.
New Jersey’s maternal health crisis remains urgent: Black women in the state are nearly seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Policymakers and advocates agree that expanding access to midwifery care is one of the most promising strategies to close this gap — and one that aligns with the state’s broader maternal health innovation agenda.