Nurture NJ Evaluation Policy Reports and Briefs (Role: Principal Investigator)
Link to evaluation website: here
· Kantor, L., Perez, A.L, Desir, M., Shamszad, K., Blumenfeld, J., Lindberg, L., Rokicki, Dogbey-Smith, M.C., Merchant, E., Won, S.H, Eliason, E., Schwimmer, L. (2026). Turning Policy into Progress: How New Jersey Is Advancing Maternal and Infant Health. link
· Muchomba F.M., Lindberg, L, Dogbey-Smith, M.C., Kantor, L. (2026) Tracking the
Progress of Connecting NJ: Linking Families to Services. (Policy Brief). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
· Muchomba F.M., Lindberg, L, Dogbey-Smith, M.C., Kantor, L. (2025) Tracking Family
Connects NJ in Action: Advancing Maternal and Child Health and Expanding Equity Statewide. (Policy
Brief). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
· Rokicki, S. Lindberg, L. Blumenfeld, J. Dogbey-Smith, M.C., Kantor, L. (2025) Assessing the Availability of Maternity Care Services at NJ Hospitals: Access to Midwives, Doulas and Lactation Consultants. (Policy Brief). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
· Lindberg, L., Dogbey-Smith, C., Blumenfeld, J. Kolios, K., Kantor, L. (2025). Ripple Effects: Exploring the Indirect Influence of Nurture NJ. (Brief Report). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
· Rokicki, S. Lindberg, L. Blumenfeld, J. Dogbey-Smith, M.C., Kantor, L. (2025) “Progress in Reducing the Low-Risk Cesarean Birth Rate in New Jersey: An Examination of Data from 2016–2023”. (Policy Brief). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
· Kantor, L., Blumenfeld, J., Lindberg, L., Rokicki, S. Dogbey-Smith, C., Merchant, Won, S.H., Eliason, E. (2025). Nurture NJ Evaluation. Following the Science: New Jersey’s Policy Approaches to Improving Maternal and Infant Health. (Report). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
· Rokicki, S. Lindberg, L. Dogbey-Smith, M.C., Kantor, L. (2024) “Nurture NJ: Progress in Increasing Access to Paid Family Leave in New Jersey, An Evidence-Based Strategy for Improving Maternal and Infant Health”. (Policy Brief). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
· Agnello, F., Kantor, L. M., Alspaugh, A., Lindberg, L., Dogbey, M. C., Adams, C., Akhimien, C., Allibay Abdulkadir, F., Battle, C., Oluwayemi, M., Salimon, O., & Ibitoye, M. (Under review). “We are also human beings, and we deserve the same equal treatment”: African immigrant women’s perinatal health experiences.”
· Muchomba, F. M., Alspaugh, A., Oluwayemi, M., Battle, C., Abara, C., Akhimien, C., Allibay-Abdulkadir, F., Salimon, O., Dogbey-Smith, M. C., & Kantor, L. M. (under review). “Geographic inequities in the birthing experiences of Black and Latina women in New Jersey.”
Peer reviewed scientific articles
(* indicates student author)
1. Kantor, L. M., Adams, C., Akhimien, C., Allibay Abdulkadir, F., Battle, C., Oluwayemi, M., Salimon, O., Won, S. H., Ibitoye, M., Dogbey, M. C., & Alspaugh, A. (2026). Women of color’s perinatal experiences: New insights from a large qualitative study in New Jersey. Behavioral Medicine, 53(2), 1-13. link
2. Kohler, R. E., Wagner, R. B., Greene, K., Btoush, R., Kantor, L., & Jimenez, M. E. (2026). Developing an mHealth Intervention to Increase HPV Vaccine Confidence Among Black Families. Behavioral Medicine, 52(1), 28–38. link
3. Ofrane, R., Rokicki, S., Kantor, L., Blumenfeld. J. (2025). Barriers to Birth Center Integration Into the Perinatal Health System in New Jersey: A Qualitative Analysis. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. link
4. Ofrane, R., Kantor, L., Blumenfeld, J., Rokicki, S.(2025). Comparison Of Medicaid Financing for Birth Centers: A Nine-State Policy Analysis. Frontiers in Health Services. link
5. Ofrane, R., Rokicki, S., Kantor, L., Blumenfeld. J. (2025). Financial Barriers to Expanded Birth Center Access in New Jersey: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. link
6. Kohler, R. E., Wagner, R. B., Vega, J., Rivera, Y. M., Kantor, L., & Greene, K. (2024). HPV Vaccination Information Access, Needs, and Preferences Among Black and Hispanic Mothers. Journal of Health Communication, 29(9), 566–579. link
7. Kohler, R. E., Wagner, R. B., Careaga, K., Btoush, R., Greene, K., & Kantor, L. (2023). Mothers’ perceptions and attitudes about HPV vaccination initiation among 9-and 10-year-olds. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 19(3), 2270842. link
8. Kantor, L., Cruz, C., Adams, C., Akhimien, C., Abdulkadir, F. A., Battle, C., Oluwayemi, M., Salimon, O., Won, S.H., Niraula, S., Lassiter, T. (2023). Black Women’s Maternal Health: Insights from Community Based Participatory Research in Newark, New Jersey. Behavioral Medicine. link
9. Cruz, N.*, Adams, C., Akhimien, C., Abdulkadir, F. A., Battle, C., Oluwayemi, M., Salimon, O., Lassiter, T., Kantor, L.(2023). Keeping the 'C' in CBPR: Exploring Community Researchers’ Experiences with Human Subjects Protection Training Requirements. Behavioral Medicine. link
10. Kohler, R. E., Wagner, R. B., Careaga, K., Vega, J., Btoush, R., Greene, K., & Kantor, L. (2023). Parents’ intentions, concerns and information needs about COVID-19 vaccination in New Jersey: A qualitative analysis. Vaccines, 11(6), 1096.link
11. Lindberg, L., & Kantor, L. (2022). Adolescents' receipt of sex education in a nationally representative sample, 2011-2019. Journal of Adolescent Health 69(6). link
12. Kantor, L. (2021). Expanding evidence-based sexual health programs in the U.S. new findings on a parent-teen program for rural families. Journal of Adolescent Health. 69(3), 359-360. link
13. Rokicki, S., Nguyen, P., Sharpe, A., Taylor, D., Spernal, S., Raghunath, A.*, Kantor, L. (2021). Racial disparities in prevalence, determinants, and impacts of COVID-19 in pregnancy: Protocol for a study using data from New Jersey hospitals. medRxiv /2021/257672. link
14. Kantor, L., Lindberg, L., Tashkandi, Y.*, Hirsch, J., Santelli, J. (2021). Sex education: broadening the definition of relevant outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health. 68(1), 7-8. link
15. Lindberg, L.D., Bell D.L., Kantor, L. (2020). The sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Perspectives in Sexual and Reproductive Health, (52)2. link
16. Kantor, L., & Lindberg, L. (2020). Pleasure and sex education: The need for broadening both content and measurement. American Journal of Public Health, 110(2), 145-148. link
17. Simons, H. R., Leon-Atkins, J., Kohn, J. E., Spector, H., Hillery, J. F., Fager, G., & Kantor, L. (2019). Contraceptive counseling practices and patient experience: results from a cluster randomized controlled trial at Planned Parenthood. Contraception, 101(1), 14-20. link
18. Kantor, L., Levitz, N. and Holstrom, A. (2019). Support for sex education and teenage pregnancy prevention programmes in the USA: results from a national survey of likely voters. Sex Education. 20(2), 239-251. link
19. Santelli, J., Grilo, S., Lindberg, L. and Kantor, L. (2019). Ideology or evidence? examining the population-level impact of US government funding to prevent adolescent pregnancy. American Journal of Public Health, 109(3), 356-357. link
20. Levitz N., Wood E., Kantor, L. (2018). The influence of technology delivery mode on intervention outcomes: analysis of a theory-based sexual health program. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(8), e10398. link
21. Kantor, L. & Levitz N. (2017). Parents’ views on sex education in schools: how much do democrats and republicans agree?PLoS ONE, 12(7). link
22. Santelli, J., Kantor, L., Grilo, S., Speizer, I., Lindberg, L., Heitel, J., Schalet, A., Lyon, M., Mason-Jones, A., McGovern, T., Heck, C., Rogers, J., & Ott, M. (2017). Abstinence-only-until-marriage: an updated review of U.S. policies and programs and their impact. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(3), 273-280. link
23. Santelli, J., Grilo, S., Lindberg, L., Speizer, I., Schalet, A., Heitel, J., Kantor, L., Ott, M., Lyon, M., Rogers, J., Heck, C., Mason-Jones, A. (2017). Abstinence-only-until-marriage policies and programs: An updated position paper of the society for adolescent health and medicine. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(3), 400-403. link
24. Steinke, J.*, Root-Bowman, M.*, Estabrook, S., Levine, D., & Kantor, L. (2017). Meeting the needs of sexual and gender minority youth: formative research on potential digital health interventions. Journal of Adolescent Health. 60(5), 541-548. link
25. Simons, H. R., Leon-Atkins, J., Spector, H., Fager, G., Kantor, L., & Kohn, J. E. (2017). Associations between contraceptive counseling practices and patient satisfaction. Contraception, 96 (4), 285-286. link
26. Guilamo-Ramos, V., Lee, J., Kantor, L., Levine, D.S., Baum, S., & Johnsen, J. (2015). Potential for using online and mobile education with parents and adolescents to impact sexual and reproductive health. Prevention Science, 16(1), 53-60. link
27. Kantor, L. (2015). Parental influence on adolescent sexual behavior: A current look at the role of communication and monitoring and supervision. Dissertation, Columbia University. link
28. Friedman, A., Brookmeyer, K., Kachur, R., Ford, J., Hogben, M., Habel, M., Kantor, L., Clark, E., Sabatini, J., & McFarlane, M. (2014). An assessment of the GYT: get yourself tested campaign: an integrated approach to STD prevention communication. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 41(3), 151-7. link
29. Cushman, N*., Kantor, L., Schroeder, E., Eicher, L., & Gambone, G*. (2014). Sexuality education: findings and recommendations from an analysis of 10 United States programmes. Sex Education, 14(5), 481-496. link
30. Kantor, L., Rolleri, L., & Kolios, K. (2014). Doug Kirby’s contributions to the field of sex education. Sex Education, 14(5), 473-480. link
31. Giorgio, M., Kantor, L., Levine, D., &, Arons, W. (2013). Using chat and text technologies to answer sexual and reproductive health questions: Planned Parenthood pilot study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(9). link
32. Kantor, L. (2008). Abstinence-only education: violating students’ rights to health information. Human Rights, 35(3).
33. Santelli, J.S., & Kantor, L.M. (2008). Human rights, cultural, and scientific aspects of abstinence-only policies and programs. Sexuality Research & Social Policy, 5(3). link
34. Raymond, M.*, Bogdanovich, L.*, Brahmi, D.*, Cardinal, L.J.*, Fager, G.L.*, Frattarelli, L.C.*, Hecker, G.*, Jarpe, E.A.*, Viera, A.*, Kantor, L., & Santelli, J.S. (2008). State refusal of funding for abstinence-only programs. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 5(3). link
35. Kantor, L., Santelli, J., Teitler, J., & Balmer, R. (2008). Abstinence-only policies and programs: an overview. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 5(3). link
36. Kantor, L., & Bacon, W. (2002). abstinence-only programs implemented under welfare reform are incompatible with research on effective sexuality education. Journal of the American Medical Women’s Association, 57(1), 38–40. link
37. Kantor, L., & Haffner, D. (1996). Opposing opinions on abstinence programs for adolescents. abstinence-only: negative position. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 9(3), 166–168. link
Accepted papers currently in press
Rokicki, S. Won, S.H., Kantor, L. (2026). Measuring Clients’ Satisfaction and Trust in Community Health Workers: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey. J. Prim. Care Community Health.
Additional Policy Briefs, Reports, Monographs and Chapters
1. Kantor, L., Abara, C., Akhimien, C., Allibay Abdulkadir, F., Battle, C., Oluwayemi, M., Salimon, O., Dogbey-Smith, C., Merchant, E., Alspaugh, A., Won, S.H., Andrews, T., Francis, E. (2025). CenteringPregnancy in New Jersey: Results of a Mixed Methods Evaluation. (Report). Rutgers School of Public Health. link
2. Kantor L., Nguyen A., Lindberg L., Won S., Koller M. The (2024). Perinatal Workforce in NJ: Current Composition and Recommendations. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University.
3. Kantor, L., Pugliese, A.*, Boahemaa, O., Jones, L.* and Halperin, W. (2018). Key Indicators of Public Health in Atlantic City, NJ in Atlantic City: Building A Foundation for A Shared Prosperity. Report to Governor Phil Murphy by James Johnson.
4. Kantor, L., Melchiono, M., & Santelli, J. (2018). Adolescent Sexuality and Sexuality Education. In Emans, S.,Laufer, M., & Goldstein, D. (Eds). Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Seventh Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
5. Kantor, L., & Gambone, G.* (2013). Sexuality and Sexual and Reproductive Health. In Senie, R. (Ed.), Epidemiology of Women’s Health (111–124). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
6. Kantor, L., Melchiono, M., & Santelli, J. (2012). Adolescent Sexuality and Sexuality Education. In Emans, S., Laufer, M., & Goldstein, D. (Eds). Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Sixth Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
7. Kantor, L. (2009). Does Sexuality Education ‘Work’? An Overview of the Research. In Schroeder, E andKuriansky, J (Eds). Sexuality Education: Past, Present, and Future (125–149). Westport, CT: Praeger.
8. Kantor, L., & Shults, K. (2007). Paving the Way in a Virtual Vacuum: Successes and Lessons Learned fromNew York City’s Internet Based Interventions Advisory Group. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
9. Kantor, L. (1999). “Tailoring Pregnancy Prevention Programs to Stages of Adolescent Development” and “Developing Pregnancy Preventin Programs for Girls and Young Women.” Get Organized: A Guide toPreventing Teen Pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Washington, DC.