Bill Text: NJ S3371 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs DOH to develop standardized perinatal health curriculum for community health workers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-04 - Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading [S3371 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3371-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Directs DOH to develop standardized perinatal health curriculum for community health workers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning perinatal health training of community health workers and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Department of Health shall develop a standardized perinatal health curriculum for training community health workers in their provision of education and support services to women. The curriculum shall include education on factors and behaviors that affect maternal and infant health and childbirth, including, but not limited to: alcohol and substance use during pregnancy; maternal medical conditions that affect pregnancy; premature births and low birthweight babies; caesarean sections and labor induction; labor and delivery; infant mortality; breastfeeding; shaken baby syndrome; and perinatal mood disorders. The curriculum shall further include information on: shared decision making; informed consent; and resources available in the State for women, including, but not limited to, the State Central Intake Program.
The department may, in developing the curriculum, utilize information or resources developed by another state, a professional association with expertise in maternal and infant health, or an agency of the federal government.
The department shall promote and share the curriculum as best practices for community doulas and child birth educators in the State, in order to increase access by women to current information on perinatal health.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Department of Health to develop a standardized curriculum concerning perinatal health for the training of community health workers who provide education and support services for women. The curriculum is to include education on factors and behaviors that affect maternal and infant health and childbirth, including, but not limited to: alcohol and substance use during pregnancy; maternal medical conditions that affect pregnancy; premature births and low birthweight babies; caesarean sections and labor induction; labor and delivery; infant mortality; breastfeeding; shaken baby syndrome; and perinatal mood disorders. The curriculum is to further include information on: shared decision making; informed consent; and resources available in the State for women, including, but not limited to, the State Central Intake Program.
The bill provides that the department may, in developing the curriculum, utilize information or resources developed by another state, a professional association with expertise in maternal and infant health, or an agency of the federal government.
The bill further provides that the department is to promote and share the curriculum as best practices for community doulas and child birth educators in the State.
