AJR60

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Pintor Marin and Morales

SYNOPSIS

Designates April 11 of each year as "Black Doula Day."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Joint Resolution designating April 11 of each year as “Black Doula Day” in New Jersey.

Whereas, Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a mother before, during, and after labor and childbirth, to help her to achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible; and

Whereas, There are over 14,000 certified doulas across all 50 states and in over 50 countries globally; and

Whereas, Research has found that doulas reduce cesarean section frequency, help to prevent low birth weight and premature labor, decrease epidural use, and, overall, produce better outcomes for birthing mothers and their children; and

Whereas, Hospitals and birthing centers in New Jersey are required to maintain policies that allow doulas to accompany patients before, during, and after labor and childbirth; and

Whereas, New Jersey is the third state to cover doula care through Medicaid and the first to require doulas to be community-trained, ensuring culturally competent care, to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement; and

Whereas, New Jersey ranks 25th in maternal mortality at 26.0 deaths per 100,000 live births in the United States, with a rate that is above the national average of 23.2 deaths per 100,000 live births according to the most recently available data; and

Whereas, A Black mother in New Jersey is more than seven times more likely than a white mother to die from maternity-related complications, and a Black baby is over three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday; and

Whereas, Since 2024, Global Black Doula Day has taken place annually on April 11 to protect, push, and uplift the Black doula profession and ensure sustainability in Black maternal health efforts; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper, and within the public interest, to designate April 11 of each year as “Black Doula Day” in New Jersey; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. April 11 of each year shall be designated as “Black Doula Day” in New Jersey.

2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing April 11 of each year as “Black Doula Day” in New Jersey.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution designates April 11 of each year as “Black Doula Day” in New Jersey to coincide with Global Black Doula Day. Doulas are professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during, and after childbirth. Doula care is expanding field found across all 50 states and 50 countries globally. Doula care can improve birth-related outcomes including lowering the rate of cesarean sections, low birth weights and premature labor, and decrease epidural use. New Jersey was the 3^rd state to cover doula care under Medicaid, however ranks 25th in maternal mortality with Black mothers being more than seven times more likely to die from maternity-related complications than white mothers.