The Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative is one of three designated maternal and child health consortia in New Jersey focused on improving the health of pregnant and parenting families. The Cooperative's Executive Director Helen Hannigan joined Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, President and CEO of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey and Robyn D'Oria, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, to share how the organizations strive for safe births and optimal health.

Last fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing that pregnant women with COVID-19 face an increased likelihood of developing a severe case and complications in pregnancy and in childbirth, such as a preterm or stillborn baby. While omicron tends to be milder on average, unvaccinated women are still in danger.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that an estimated 8,700 postpartum New Jerseyans will be guaranteed to maintain their Medicaid coverage for 12 months after the end of the pregnancy. This important step will help New Jersey to provide pregnancy-related care with the goal of preventing unnecessary postpartum-related illness and death.