Premature babies are at higher risk for health complications like respiratory distress, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and increased mortality. Significant health disparities exist, with Black pregnant individuals experiencing much higher rates of premature birth due to systemic factors including access to healthcare and racial bias in medical treatment. Healthcare providers and community-based organizations dedicated to providing care to mothers and babies must work together to address these issues.

Led by a multidisciplinary panel, we seek to increase awareness of strategies to reduce preterm birth and improve outcomes for families across New Jersey. This ECHO will address key topics related to prematurity, maternal and infant health, strategies for prevention and intervention, and tools to address healthcare disparities in Black birthing individuals who are at greatest risk of premature birth in NJ.    

In Year 2, the series will emphasize prevention and management of chronic conditions that are strongly associated with adverse outcomes, including preterm birth, severe maternal morbidity, and low birth weight. In New Jersey, a substantial portion of birthing people have one or more chronic conditions, and counties with higher chronic health burden overlap with higher rates of preterm birth. Pregnancy outcomes are also shaped by behavioral health needs, substance use concerns, and social determinants of health (SDOH)—including access to care, insurance coverage, transportation, housing instability, food insecurity, language access, stigma, and structural inequities. These sessions will provide practical, case-based guidance that participants can apply in both clinical and community settings. 

We encourage all perinatal providers to attend including ob/gyns, neonatologists, midwives and other advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, behavioral health specialists, doulas, primary care providers, nutritionists, dietitians, lactation specialists, public health professionals, patient advocates, peer support specialists, community health workers, and parenting and pregnant individuals and their families.

*The two Community Chats in September will also offer simultaneous Spanish interpretation.