The N.J. Economic Development Authority took its next step toward developing the Trenton-based Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center by issuing a request of qualifications for three anchor tenants to lead the center.
The EDA is seeking a health care services provider, an institution of higher education and a Trenton-based multi-service organization.
The EDA said these three lead entities will work collaboratively to provide services to New Jersey expectant and new parents and babies, advance the growth and development of the perinatal workforce, and deliver maternal and infant health policy, research and innovation focused on eliminating racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
Interested parties may only apply for one of the three lead tenant roles. The EDA anticipates issuing a subsequent request for proposals, which will serve as a procurement for these three lead roles. In order to apply for the RFP, applicants for the three lead roles must respond to this initial RFQ. Successful respondents to the RFP will then enter a long-term lease with the EDA for space at the Center.
The RFQ can be found here.
In tandem with the RFQ, the EDA is seeking expressions of interests from organizations that may not meet the qualifications for or are not interested in serving in a lead role but may be interested in providing direct services or establishing partnerships with the center or the selected lead partners.
The expression of interest form can be found here.
The three lead roles break down as follows:
The lead Healthcare Clinical Services Provider. It will offer clinical care to Trenton residents focused on maternal and infant wellbeing and health equity. Services the health care provider will be expected to provide include prenatal and postpartum care, newborn and pediatric care, mental and behavioral health care, doula services, family planning services, and home visitation services. The Healthcare Clinical Services Provider must be a New Jersey-based birthing hospital or maternity hospital or healthcare system containing one or more of these hospitals licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and approved to accept Medicaid by the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Respondents should provide culturally competent care with specialized approaches for Black and Brown women, teenagers, and individuals with limited English proficiency.
The lead Institute of Higher Education. It will provide world class research on maternal and infant health with a focus on innovative models of care, data processing and health equity. The IHE also will serve as a hub for growing and training the perinatal workforce, such as community doulas and certified midwives. Additionally, the higher education tenant may offer pre-college programs in clinical and behavioral science, allied health programs for high schools, college programs that incentivize minority students to study health sciences, and graduate medical education support for cultural competency and equity training. Institution of Higher Educations licensed by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, including senior public institutions, county colleges and independent New Jersey-based public-mission institutions, may apply.
The Trenton-based Multi-Service Organization. It will focus on providing services that directly impact social determinants of health such as food insecurity, housing, and transportation – issues that severely impact the daily lives of Trenton residents, especially those of color. Services offered by the MSO may include case management, transportation assistance, assistance enrolling in public benefit programs, linkages to food and housing programs, or exercise and yoga classes. An MSO interested in submitting a response must be headquartered in Trenton, provide direct services within Trenton, be a 501(c)3 organization, and have at least 33% of their revenue come from governmental sources for the past two IRS 990 filings. The center is central to first lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative. The creation of the center is a key recommendation from Nurture NJ’s Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan, which is a roadmap to reduce the state’s maternal mortality rates by 50 percent over five years, and to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes. The center is intended to catalyze new innovations to drive improved maternal and infant health outcomes and to serve as a central hub for New Jersey’s stakeholders dedicated to improving the health of New Jersey’s babies and mothers.
“The Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center, through cutting-edge research, data analysis and innovation, will truly be a one-of-a-kind hub for developing groundbreaking solutions to our maternal health crisis,” Murphy said. “At its core, this center is designed to create innovative models of care and policy that will transform maternal health care locally in Trenton, across our state, and simultaneously serve as a resource for any and all communities across our nation looking to tackle similar disparities.
Maternal deaths in N.J.
New Jersey ranks 36th in the nation for maternal deaths and has one of the widest racial disparities for both maternal and infant mortality. A Black mother in New Jersey is nearly seven times more likely than a white mother to die from maternity-related complications, and a Black baby is three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday.
“Importantly, the center will be able to continue our vital work long after the Murphy administration, and we look forward to sharing our best-in-class policies, programs and innovations to better support every mother and baby in our state and country.”
EDA CEO Tim Sullivan said the impact of the center will be vast.
“This first-of-its kind Center dedicated to maternal and infant health innovation will ensure Trenton moms and newborns receive the high-quality care and services they need to thrive,” he said. “But beyond the health care implications, the Center will spur development, create good-paying jobs, support families, and generate economic activity.
“New Jersey has put this cause at the core of its mission of building a more equitable state. When we invest in families, we invest in communities’ long-term growth and prosperity.”
