Funders

Thank you for joining us as we work to achieve Nurture NJ’s mission to make New Jersey the safest, most equitable place in the nation to deliver and raise a baby. On this page, you will find recommended activities and associated resources to aid you and your fellow funders in implementing the plan.

Click on the STEP below that represents where you are in the process of supporting Nurture NJ.

If you are just beginning, click on Step-1.
If you have been implementing your NNJ action areas for more than three months, click on Step-2.
If you are more than six months into implementation, click on Step-3.
Finally, if you have been working on Nurture NJ initiatives for more than nine months, click on Step-4.

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

These recommendations apply to you if you are one of the following:

Philanthropy
Business and private donors
Government (public)

We are thrilled to work in community with you. Welcome aboard!

Recommendation 2.1

State departments and agencies, in partnership with the private sector, non-profits, community leaders, and funders, should develop infrastructure for community-level power- and knowledge-building in communities with high Black infant and maternal mortality.

Activities to begin in support of 2.1

Funders should collaborate closely with a funders collaborative focused on eliminating racial disparities in the health of New Jersey’s women and infants to seek learning about the issues of racial equity and best practices for dismantling racism in all sectors.
Funders should conduct equity capacity assessments and seek training accordingly.

Tools

Nurture NJ Companion Document: A Deeper Dive into Data and Key Concepts., Article II.5, “Community Engagement, Power-Building and Power-Sharing: A How to Guide.”

Recommendation 3.2

A funders collaborative in support of and focused on eliminating racial disparities in the health of NJ’s women and infants should provide a Nurture NJ Coordinator to direct implementation of the Nurture NJ Strategic Plan.

Activities to begin in support of 3.2

In order to ensure that sectors collaborate to implement the strategic plan, a funders collaborative should support a Nurture NJ Coordinator to oversee implementation of the Strategic Plan and promote multi-sector collaboration and accountability.

Recommendation 4.2

Through a statewide communications campaign, promote a fundamental shift in ideology around the role of life course experiences, and environmental and social exposures on the health of women and infants.

Activities to begin in support of 4.2

Collaborate with contracted communications firms to develop state-of-the-art marketing methods across multiple platforms to influence and move societal attitudes from not only valuing women’s health during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum care, but to fully realize whole-life approaches to health

Recommendation 2.1.4

Fund development of infrastructure for community-level power- and knowledge-building in communities with high Black maternal and infant mortality.

Activities to begin in support of 2.1.4

Conduct a series of meetings with community groups to develop an opportunity to organize a grassroots campaign around Nurture NJ, including developing messaging, organizing tools, and accountability metrics.
Based on the results, partner with the private sector to fund ongoing community forums to enhance readiness and effectiveness to critically analyze community needs and engage in decision-making processes.

Tools, Resources and Models

GNOF.org. The Greater New Orleans Foundation is an example of a funders collaborative where all the funders work synergistically to address community needs in a specific geographic location.

Recommendation 8.1

Regional health hubs should work collaboratively with state departments and agencies, private funders, community/grassroots groups, and academic leaders on a landscape analysis in the state’s Black maternal and infant health hotspots. This work will inform the development of the place-based pilots described in Recommendation 3.1.

Activities to begin in support of 8.1

Partner with state departments and agencies and community groups to identify geographies with high Black maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and begin to conduct community meetings to develop the framework for a landscape analysis.

Recommendation 4.2

Activities to begin in support of 4.2

Assess the impact of a continued campaign using state-of-the-art marketing methods across multiple platforms to influence and move societal attitudes from not only valuing women’s health during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care, but to fully realize whole-life approaches to health.

Tools

“Moving the Race Conversation Forward” is a report by Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation that features case studies and profiles of recent interventions and initiatives advanced by the racial justice field to challenge mainstream discussions of race and racism.