Bill Text: NJ A4940 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Directs DOH to develop standardized perinatal health curriculum for community health workers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-18 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A4940 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-A4940-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4940

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 17, 2019

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  JOANN DOWNEY

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblyman  JAMEL C. HOLLEY

District 20 (Union)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Murphy, Lampitt, Vainieri Huttle and Chaparro

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Directs DOH to develop standardized perinatal health curriculum for community health workers.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on March 18, 2019, with amendments.

  

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 ¹[their] the¹ provision of education and support services to women ¹of childbearing age¹.  The curriculum shall include ¹[education on] basic educational information and materials concerning¹ 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; ¹[caesarean] cesarean¹ sections and labor induction; labor and delivery; infant mortality; breastfeeding; shaken baby syndrome; ¹[and]¹ perinatal mood disorders ¹; and the signs, symptoms, and risk factors most commonly associated with maternal and infant mortality and mobidity¹.  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 ¹[State Central Intake Program] resources and referrals available through the county central intake agencies¹.

     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 ¹, nurse home visitors,¹ and ¹[child birth] childbirth¹ educators in the State, in order to increase access by women to current information ¹[on] concerning¹ perinatal health.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.