By Tasnim Oyshi
Staff Writer
Mercer County is facing a maternal health crisis that outpaces both state and national averages. While New Jersey’s preterm birth rate sits at 9.4%, Mercer’s has climbed to 10.4% — a gap that represents hundreds of families at higher risk for complications every year. Women and babies of color are disproportionately impacted by preventable complications and deaths because of deep inequities in the maternal health system.
In New Jersey, Black, non-Hispanic women face a pregnancy-related mortality ratio 7.2 times higher than White women, and Black infants experience higher preterm birth rates (13.0% compared to 8.0% for White infants). These outcomes are driven by structural factors like healthcare bias, housing instability and transportation barriers; in Trenton over 11% lack access to a vehicle, making access to prenatal care challenging.
To bridge this gap, the NJ Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority is constructing Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in 1 Pennington Avenue, Trenton, expected to be completed in 2027 with $86.7 million from the state and federal aid. Originally part of former First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ Initiative, plans for the center have been carried out with assistance of the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research.
At its core, the facility offers a clinical care model through a partnership with Capital Health, social support led by the Trenton Health Team, which operates as a Multi-Service Organization to help families secure public benefits, mental health support and vital non-clinical resources in a single visit.
The center will also be a hub for the future of maternal health through an on-site Innovation Incubator, launched in collaboration with Rowan University and Plug and Play Tech Center, which will develop cutting-edge digital health tools and doula support models specifically designed for equity-centered care.
A higher education consortium — led by the Rutgers School of Nursing, the College, Mercer County Community College, Thomas Edison State University and Stockton University — will utilize the center to promote perinatal workforce education and training. This will also advance policy research, data collaboration and program evaluation that can eventually be applied statewide.
“This included interactive dialogues with Trenton stakeholders through surveys, community events, focus groups, and webinars,” wrote representatives of NJMIHIA. “This engagement has shaped key decisions on the center’s location and services, with NJMIHIA committed to continued community involvement throughout construction and beyond.”
“She has appointed NJMIHIA President & CEO [Lisa] Asare to her Cabinet, signaling continued alignment,” NJMIHIA states. “By strengthening community-based care and supporting evidence-based programs, the administration is advancing a more equitable health system that benefits all New Jersey residents.”
This will especially provide frequently overlooked demographics with better access to proper care and resources. At the moment, the county’s population consists of about 18% Black residents and 25% Hispanic residents countywide. Trenton, in particular, has over 46% of residents who identify as Hispanic and more than 35.7% speak a different language at home.
In addition to potential language barriers for minority populations, NJMIHIA reports that there are significant economic disparities for some communities in the county despite the average household income being $100,000.
Community focus is emphasized by the center’s plans to include and learn from local perspectives. “We have sought to capture community voice through various platforms including our Innovation Roundtables,” NJMIHIA states. “Our Doula Town Hall series, which aims to coordinate the state’s perinatal workforce… launched last January. Since its launch, nearly 200 doulas have attended our town halls.”
Students will have opportunities to contribute through fall internship opportunities, attending community events and the center’s plans to collaborate with the College. “Students can also get involved by pursuing a career in the perinatal workforce through NJMIHIA’s Community-Based Doula Program,” states NJMIHIA.
The 8-week training program includes 70 hours of instruction with CPR and HIPAA certification, NJDOH cultural competency training and hands-on birth experience sessions, which will prepare students for the maternal health workforce and give graduates eligibility to enroll as NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid) providers.
While construction is in progress, NJMIHIA is supporting Trenton through different programs, including the Community-Based Doula Program. “Since its inception in September 2025, the program has trained nearly 30 doulas and has plans to expand training to additional counties throughout the state,” reports NJMIHIA.
The Community Health Worker Pilot is another program, partnered with Trenton Health Team and Capital Health to place Community Health Workers in a Capital Health OB/GYN practice to observe risks, navigate resources, support care and improve communication between patients and providers.
According to NJMIHIA, “Early results show fewer missed prenatal visits, improved maternal and infant outcomes, and stronger coordination of care, with 59 participants connected to 217 services.”
In addition, the NJMIHIA Rides Program was launched December 2025 to give free, zero emission rideshare transportation to pregnant and postpartum individuals and those in the perinatal workforce in Trenton. So far, the program has delivered over 700 rides with support from the New Jersey Departments of Labor and Transportation, GOTrenton and Isles.
Being built off Pennington Avenue and Warren Street, the center will sit across from the Battle Monument. Their success will significantly improve maternal and infant health in Trenton and Mercer County. Clinical care, social support and education will conveniently be located in one place, improving access for several demographics.
NJMIHIA’s three-year strategic plan will lead the center’s goals in the short term, while long term goals will target community-driven solutions, expansion of high-quality clinical access
and social care, digital health, mental health and maternal support services. NJMIHIA wrote, “When states invest in preventive care, systems expand access, families engage more readily and outcomes improve.”
