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The Family Festival Series Has Now Reached 14,950 Families Across 11 Counties

ORANGE – First Lady Tammy Murphy marked her 22nd Nurture NJ Family Festival in Orange today, gathering 1,100 attendees to receive valuable state, county and local resources for expectant and new parents, including health care, housing support, food assistance, child care and more.

“Over the past seven years, our Family Festivals have provided support and resources to countless mothers and families across the Garden State. There are incredible resources available to Ó£»¨ÊÓƵans and – with help from our partners – we are putting them within reach in every community we visit,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Communities like Orange represent the very best of Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ. However, we know that communities of color experience significant disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. That is why I look forward to continuing our festival series in targeted cities as we work to make Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ the safest and most equitable place in the nation to have a baby and raise a family.”

In a city like Orange, with large Black and Latino communities, the consequences of Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ’s maternal and infant health crisis are unmistakable. In Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ, a Black mother is nearly seven times more likely and Hispanic mothers are three and a half times more likely than white mothers to die of maternity-related complications. Orange ranks sixth among our cities that experience high rates of Black infant mortality.

Launched by First Lady Tammy Murphy in 2019, Nurture NJ is a statewide initiative committed to addressing our state’s maternal and infant health crisis. Since its inception, Nurture NJ has seen over 65 pieces of maternal and infant health legislation signed by Governor Murphy. The initiative has also developed and implemented groundbreaking programs and policies, such as the first-of-its-kind in the nation Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA), which is tasked with overseeing the groundbreaking Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center based in Trenton, and will be the arm of government that continues the vital work of Nurture NJ past the Murphy Administration.

Under First Lady Murphy’s leadership, Nurture NJ has made significant policy achievements including: developing the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan – of which over half of its more than 80 recommendations have been started or completed; becoming the second state to expand Medicaid coverage to 365 days postpartum; establishing Medicaid reimbursement for doula care; increasing all perinatal Medicaid provider reimbursements to 100 percent of Medicare rates; and launching the most robust-in-the-nation universal nurse home visitation program so that every new parent is visited by a nurse in their home for free within two weeks after bringing home a new baby. Through these innovative policies and more, Nurture NJ has positioned Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ as a national leader in the fight against the maternal and infant health crisis.

The Orange Family Festival was hosted in partnership with the Office of First Lady Tammy Murphy, Nurture NJ, Senator Britnee Timberlake, Assemblywoman Carmen Morales, Assemblyman Mike Venezia, County of Essex, City of Orange, Orange Public Schools, Essex Pregnancy and Parenting, Greater Newark Health Care Coalition, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ, Newark Community Health Centers, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, Perinatal Health Equity Initiative, Prevent Child Abuse NJ, Programs for Parents, RWJBarnabas Health and The Burke Foundation. 

"Partnering with First Lady Tammy Murphy for the Family Festival in Essex County, Orange, NJ, was a true privilege. This event united families and provided invaluable resources, aligning perfectly with my legislative priorities around children and families. My gratitude goes to the First Lady, the City of Orange, and all other organizers and partners for orchestrating such an inspiring and impactful event,” said Senator Britnee Timberlake.

"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to First Lady Tammy Murphy for her unwavering support and dedication to our communities. I am thrilled to welcome the family festival to Orange, NJ. This investment not only enhances our community but also creates opportunities for our residents. Together, we are building a brighter future for our families and ensuring that the Oranges have all the resources and support that our families deserve,” said Assemblywoman Carmen Morales.

"I’m proud to support First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Family Fun Day in Orange, which provides critical resources and services to our families in a warm, community-centered setting. This event exemplifies our commitment to ensuring all Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ families have access to the support they need to thrive,” said Assemblyman Mike Venezia.

“If there is anything that we learned from the COVID pandemic, it's that promoting public health and reaching out to the community to make health care more accessible are most important. Events like the Family Festival enable us to connect with underserved and hard to reach communities and provide a one-stop location where residents can begin their journey to wellness. Working with the state, health agencies and community partners, we are Putting Essex County’s Health First,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

"The core of family health is ensuring that every family, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to the care and resources they deserve. Through this event, we celebrate the incredible collaboration between the NJDOH, RWJBarnabas Health, and our community partners, working together to bridge the gaps in health equity and empower families across Essex County.