CHERRY HILL, NJ – Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced a $1,144,121 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, a state-licensed health consortium that supports maternal and newborn care in South Jersey. This federal funding will help the organization address and eliminate racial disparities in maternal health among Black and Latina women.

“I’m pleased to see more federal dollars go towards saving lives and cutting down on the racial gaps in maternal health,” said Congressman Norcross. “Improving health outcomes for expecting mothers—especially among Black and Latina women in New Jersey—requires a concentrated effort, and the good people at Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative are well-positioned to continue that work. As a husband, as a father, and as a member of Congress, I remain committed to improving maternal health.”

“On behalf of everyone at Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, Camden Healthy Start and the constituents of Camden who will be the beneficiaries of this continuation funding, I wish to thank the United States Department of Health and Human Services and Congressman Donald Norcross for their unwavering support in our shared goal of achieving greater healthcare equity for all,” said Helen Hannigan, executive director of Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, which administers the Camden Healthy Start grant program. “Since its inception in the 1990s, Camden Healthy Start has launched many successful initiatives to examine clinical risk factors and social determinants that have influenced racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare; as a result of Camden Healthy Start’s pioneering work through community-based approaches, we are confronting disparities in care and continue to make meaningful strides in our efforts to improve maternal health and reduce infant mortality in Camden.”

About the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Healthy Start Initiative

HHS’ Healthy Start initiative began in 1991 to assist communities with infant mortality rates that are at least one and a half times the U.S. national average. The initiative focuses on improving access to quality services for women, infants, and families by strengthening the health care workforce and ensuring reputable services are provided most efficiently. Read more about the grant program here. Read the full list of 2020 Healthy Start grant awardees here.