Mercer Times

First Lady Tammy Murphy recently held the 21st Nurture NJ Family Festival in Vineland, New Jersey. The event aimed to provide essential resources for families, attracting around 1,500 attendees. Participants accessed information on health care, child care, housing support, and food assistance.

“Our Family Festivals have proven to be a powerful tool in connecting New Jerseyans with the resources necessary to help support their growing families,” stated First Lady Tammy Murphy. She emphasized the challenges of raising children and expressed gratitude to partners for their contributions.

Vineland's demographic includes a significant Hispanic and Latino population. Reports indicate that Hispanic mothers face higher risks of maternity-related complications compared to white mothers. Cumberland County has notably high infant mortality and teen pregnancy rates.

Nurture NJ was launched by First Lady Murphy in 2019 to address maternal and infant mortality issues across New Jersey. Since its inception, over 60 pieces of related legislation have been signed by Governor Murphy. The initiative has introduced programs like the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA) and expanded Medicaid coverage postpartum.

The festival was organized with several partners including Senator Michael Testa, Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, Assemblyman Erik Simonsen, Vineland Mayor Anthony Fanucci, local schools, health departments, and community organizations.

Senator Michael Testa remarked on the significance of hosting the festival in Cumberland County: "In these challenging times, this festival served as a beacon of hope and unity."

Assemblyman Antwan McClellan highlighted Nurture NJ's role in improving maternal and infant health: “By raising awareness... we are paving the way for a healthier future.”

Assemblyman Erik Simonsen commented on strategic cooperation: “This collaborative approach is essential for improving health outcomes.”

Mayor Anthony Fanucci appreciated efforts supporting families: “It is critically important that we support families... By doing so, families are stronger.”

Superintendent Alfonso Q. Llano expressed pride in participating: "It's heartwarming to see our community come together."

Bonnie Eggenburg from Gateway Community Action Partnership noted the festival's impact on quality of life improvement.

Meghan Spinelli from CompleteCare Health Network praised connections fostered during the event.

Atiya Weiss from The Burke Foundation reaffirmed commitment to maternal and child health improvements through investments.

Andy Fraizer from Community Foundation of South Jersey acknowledged collaboration efforts for family support.

Helen Hannigan from The Cooperative discussed investments made towards improving community health outcomes through initiatives like Family Connects NJ program.

Amy Mansue from Inspira Health emphasized creating access to healthcare services in underserved areas through collaborative efforts.

Wendy Morriarty from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield highlighted partnerships aiming at providing affordable healthcare access statewide.