NACPM Chapters Program
The Value of a Collective Voice for Certified Professional Midwives
NACPM launched the State Chapter Program in 2015! Our purpose is to create a powerful and collective voice for all Certified Professional Midwives. Through the Chapter Program we will strengthen and support excellence in the profession and influence birth health policy to ensure that all childbearing people and babies have a healthy start.
Why Form a State Chapter?
A powerful, collective voice for Certified Professional Midwives enhances our ability to support and strengthen our profession, and to improve health policy nationwide. As our profession grows, a strong national association working with an effective network of NACPM Chapters supports the role of CPMs as primary perinatal care providers for childbearing people and their families in the United States. NACPM appreciates the opportunity to work with you to meet your state’s needs and challenges, to help you share with your peers how you have achieved your victories and addressed your challenges, and to help drive the urgently needed structural changes in the systems that care for birthing people in the U.S. today.
If you would like contact information for the Chapter point person in your state or further information about how to form a Chapter in your state, please contact us at chapters@nacpm.org today! See our growing list of NACPM State Chapters here.
How to Start a Chapter:
Review the Chapter Launch Packet
Complete the Intention to Form a State Chapter
Complete the remaining steps included in the packet – see Chapter Formation Documents
Contact us at chapters@nacpm.org at any time with your questions and suggestions. Our Chapters Project Manager is happy to assist you and walk you through the steps of forming a Chapter.
The Potential for NACPM State Chapters
The promise of a National Association of Certified Professional Midwives is the creation of a collective voice for the profession, the model of care, and the benefits that accrue to birthing people, babies and families from CPM care. Achieving our bold, shared goals of improving the perinatal care system and outcomes for birthing people will require significant change at both the state and national levels.
States have authority over CPM licensing, scope of practice and governance. Federal agencies develop laws and policies guiding health care delivery, access, reimbursement and innovation that impact CPMs at the state and local level. CPMs need an effective, coordinated structure between midwives at the local level and national leadership to be most effective in enhancing our national influence and to supporting progress in the states and territories. There are many examples of the need for national/state partnerships, including:
Supporting licensure for CPMs in all 50 states
Achieving recognition of CPMs as primary birth care providers who are integral to our perinatal care system
Creating opportunities to grow a strong and racially and ethnically representative CPM workforce
Eliminating obstacles to payment and improvement reimbursement rates
While there are many shining examples among the states of well-organized and effective state associations, we still have much to do to create a collective voice for certified professional midwifery. A structure for relationships among the states, and between the states and territories and a national professional association, is a significant missing piece in the development of direct-entry midwifery in the United States. Forming NACPM State Chapters and building a structure for these relationships are critical next steps in advancing the CPM profession.
Specifically, NACPM national leadership and NACPM Chapters work together to:
Build a more cohesive, influential, diverse & effective CPM workforce
Empower, connect & support CPMs across the country
Influence national & state policy about the value of CPMs
Advocate for regulation that supports autonomous midwifery practice
Organize CPMs at national & state levels to promote effective public policy
Share success stories, best practices, resources & learnings
Provide educational opportunities
Increase public awareness about the importance of normal physiologic birth
Benefits of becoming a State Chapter
NACPM is committed to supporting State Chapters by providing resources and tools for state leaders, as well as some financial and operational support.
This includes:
Opportunities to share learnings via regular Chapter Leader Collaboration Calls
State leader toolkits (e.g., sample by-laws)
National and state level policy examples, data and position statements
Legislative, regulatory and technical assistance
Annual financial contribution from NACPM to your Chapter, based on the number of Chapter members
Access to NACPM’s Directors and Officers insurance
Discounts on continuing education opportunities and events
Guidance regarding organizational structure, legal and tax responsibilities
Chapter membership information collected through NACPM’s online portal
Option of creating a State Chapter webpage on NACPM’s website
We welcome your state’s participation in this exciting program to support CPMs and to increase CPM influence on the perinatal care system.
If you are interested in becoming a State Chapter or learning more about our program, please contact us at chapters@nacpm.org today!