New Jersey awards $1 million in grants to strengthen maternal and infant health organizations statewide
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority has awarded funding to 15 community-based organizations through its new G.L.O.W. Program, a $1 million initiative aimed at expanding maternal and infant health services across the state.
The Grant for Lasting Outcomes in Women’s Health Program combines $750,000 in direct grant funding with up to $250,000 in mentorship, leadership development, technical assistance and organizational capacity-building through the NJMIHIA Academy.
The initiative drew interest from 42 organizations, with 27 submitting completed applications. Fifteen organizations from North, Central and South Jersey were selected following a review process.
“The G.L.O.W. Program reflects New Jersey’s continued commitment to advancing equitable maternal and infant health outcomes by investing directly in the organizations and trusted messengers closest to the communities they serve,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said. “These organizations are strengthening the support systems that families rely on every day, and their work will help build a more connected, responsive, and equitable maternal health ecosystem across our state.”
Funded projects include artificial intelligence-powered maternal health technologies, digital care coordination platforms, doula workforce development, paternal engagement initiatives, perinatal mental health services, lactation support, occupational therapy, maternal health education and culturally responsive community outreach.
The awardees are:
Northern region
- A Work of Heart Counseling
- Baby, Please Birth Services
- Bloom Baby LLC
- Healthy People Worldwide
- Reimagined Mind
- SmartBody LLC
- Take Care of You
Central region
- Hey Black Dad
- Medifvu LLC
- Stateam LLC
Southern region
- Abounding Love Doula
- Across the Spectrum Doula
- Aim Habonim, Inc.
- Hey Mama Lactation
- The WOW Center
“The G.L.O.W. Program and NJMIHIA Academy represent far more than a funding opportunity. They are an investment in the organizations, leaders, and trusted community partners helping shape healthier futures for families across New Jersey,” said Lisa Asare, president and CEO of NJMIHIA. “Each of these organizations brings deep community trust, lived experience, and innovative ideas to improving maternal and infant health. Through funding, mentorship, and capacity-building support, we are helping build stronger organizations, stronger community partnerships, and a stronger maternal health ecosystem where every mother and baby has the opportunity to flourish.”
Barbara George Johnson, chair of the NJMIHIA Board, said the program addresses funding challenges faced by smaller community organizations.
“Community-based organizations are often the first to identify solutions and the last to receive the sustained investment needed to grow them,” George Johnson said. “Small organizations face significant funding challenges despite delivering trusted, community-rooted interventions that improve outcomes for mothers and babies. By providing not only financial support but also ongoing capacity-building and technical assistance, the G.L.O.W. Program helps these organizations strengthen their infrastructure, expand their reach, and scale the solutions that communities need most.”
According to the authority, the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee has found that more than 80% of pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths are at least partly preventable, with many influenced by factors including mental health conditions, discrimination, food insecurity, transportation barriers, housing instability and gaps in access to care.
“Community-based organizations are true impact players in the mission to improve maternal and infant health. They bring both deep connection to the families they serve and a grounded understanding of challenges and opportunities we face,” said Dr. Raynard E. Washington, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health. “The G.L.O.W. Program represents an important investment to make care easier to get, strengthen the perinatal workforce, and deliver more culturally responsive support for moms, babies, and families across our state.”
Three of the organizations selected for G.L.O.W. funding previously received grants through the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology’s Maternal and Infant Health Research & Development Grant Program.
“At CSIT, we believe that bold ideas and innovative solutions have the power to transform maternal and infant health across New Jersey,” said Judith Sheft, executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. “It is especially rewarding to see several recipients of NJMIHIA’s G.L.O.W. Program recognized after previously receiving support through CSIT’s Maternal and Infant Health Research & Development Grant Program. Their continued success demonstrates the importance of investing in innovation from early-stage development through implementation and reinforces the value of strong partnerships that help bring promising solutions to the communities that need them most.”
Grant recipients will begin implementing their projects in the coming months while participating in the NJMIHIA Academy’s yearlong capacity-building program.
