In a recent NACPM survey of members, over 90% of respondents included eliminating perinatal disparities and eradicating racism in midwifery as important priorities for NACPM. NACPM is committed to advancing these priorities . Now comes an important opportunity to join with others from around our country and the world to examine challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and to find solutions and identify strategies to work toward a more equitable world.
Please join NACPM in supporting and attending the 15th White Privilege Conference: Building Relationships! Strengthening Communities! Seeking Justice! on March 26-29 in Madison, Wisconsin. Follow the lead of the Wisconsin NACPM Pilot Chapter in promoting social justice in the midwifery profession and reducing health inequities for childbearing women. Read below for opportunities to support and participate.
In recognition of Black History Month in February, NACPM honors the foundational role that African American midwives have played and continue to play in the lives and health of women and babies in the U.S. NACPM honors the role of community leaders around the country for their unflagging leadership in the critical effort to eliminate birth disparities. Please read below for a small sampling of their work. Take a look at Claudia Booker’s Black History Midwife Calendar for a beautiful tribute to many of these national leaders.
With all best wishes,
Mary Lawlor, CPM
Executive Director, NACPM
Join NACPM at the White Privilege Conference
The 15th White Privilege Conference: Building Relationships! Strengthening Communities! Seeking Justice! brings together 1500 people annually for a comprehensive look at issues of privilege including: race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, etc. – the ways we all experience some form of privilege, and how we’re all affected by that privilege.
Participants will include high school and college students, teachers, university faculty and higher education professionals, nonprofit staff, activists, social workers and counselors, healthcare workers, and members of the spiritual community and corporate arena. We are excited to have the opportunity to examine the stubborn problems of equity and disparities in maternity care through this lens, and in the company of others who are thinking about privilege in this country as it impacts education, health care, business and more!
NACPM is a sponsor of the White Privilege Conference and will send three NACPM board members and staff to this important gathering. We encourage CPMs throughout the country to join us in supporting and attending this event – we look forward to seeing you there!
Wisconsin NACPM Chapter Leads the Way to the White Privilege Conference
The Wisconsin NACPM Chapter and the Wisconsin Guild of Midwives are working to promote racial justice in the midwifery profession and reduce health inequities for childbearing women. They are excited that the White Privilege Conference is being held in Madison, Wisconsin – their very own state. To further their racial justice work, together they are co-sponsoring the conference at the $1000 level, sending representatives to this event, and raising money for students to attend.
Wisconsin challenges your NACPM Chapter and/or state midwifery organization to join them in supporting the conference:
Become a supporter
Register for the conference!
Donate for a student to attend. Send a check in any amount, with “WPC/NACPM donation” in the memo line, to:
Tehmina Islam
46 North Lakewood Gardens Lane
Madison, WI 53704
Black History Month
Friday, February 28th, was the last day of the 2014 Black History Month. With roots dating back to 1926, Black History Month is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembering important people and events in the history of the African Diaspora.
In one of many national tributes to midwives during Black History Month, Claudia Booker shared the story of South Carolina nurse midwife, Maude Callen. In 1951, LIFE Magazine published a stunning photo essay of Maude Callen’s life as she delivered babies and educated midwifery students in a 400-mile area crippled by poverty in the 1950s and “veined with muddy roads.” We urge you to view this beautiful photo tribute.
Midwife of Color Initiatives to Eliminate Birth Outcome Disparities
The following are a small sampling of efforts around the nation led by midwives of color. NACPM will feature additional initiatives in future newsletters.
The JJ Way©: Toward Eliminating Disparities
In her blog , Jennie Joseph, CPM, reminds us of “the foundational role that African American midwives played in the provision of maternity care for both Black and White women from slavery on upwards.” The overarching goal of Jennie’s model of maternity health care “is to see that every woman has an opportunity for the healthiest possible pregnancy, birth and postpartum, regardless of the color of her skin or her socio-economic status; a model where babies, mommies, families and communities thrive because the emphasis is on access, connections, knowledge and empowerment – quality care for every woman, every time.”
NABCC: Eliminating Disparities through Birth Centers of Color
The National Association of Birth Centers of Color (NABCC) was founded in February 2012 by a group of CPMs committed to serving all women, but particularly women of color, through community-based maternity clinic and birth center services. With a vision to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes,each founding midwife member has experience working with women of color through her own clinic and/or birth center, and has achieved better health and better care within her population through culturally-competent, evidence-based, comprehensive and cost-efficient midwifery and maternity-care home models.
NACPM is a supporter of NABCC. We urge you to become a member and support the critical work of this organization.
ICTC Leads the Way: Reimbursing Doulas to Reduce Disparities
Thanks in good part to the leadership of Shafia Monroe and the Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC), the Oregon legislature passed a law in 2011 requiring the Oregon Health Authority to investigate how doulas and other community health workers can improve the birth outcomes of underprivileged and underserved women. After a further two-year process with the Oregon Health Authority and the legislature, ICTC recently announced a stunning victory: certified doula services are now reimbursed by Medicaid!
ICTC is an approved Oregon Health Authority training organization. ICTC’s Full Circle Doula Training Program builds on a tradition and history of midwifery practice in the African American community and has trained over 400 doulas of color since 1991. One-third of those trained have continued on to become midwives. Congratulations and many thanks to ICTC and the doulas and childbearing women of Oregon on achieving Medicaid reimbursement for doulas!
NACPM supports ICTC and we urge you to do so as well!
Birth Workers of Color Grand Challenge: Critical Need to Educate Midwives of Color
Spearheaded by Vicki Penwell, CPM, Claudia Booker, CPM, and Jennie Joseph, CPM, the Scholarship Solution and Grand Challenge from Mercy in Actionis a challenge to schools and other birth worker training programs to each offer a scholarship to a woman of color every year. A data base of scholarship and support opportunities for students will be collected and shared with aspiring students of color. Read how you can support and participate.
Please join NACPM in our ongoing work to advocate for quality improvements in national maternity care.
Form a pilot chapter in your state and enhance CPMs’ national influence to improve the maternity care system in the U.S. for all women, and promote, protect and defend the profession. Learn more from our website, and contact our Administrative Assistant for further information and help getting started. Also feel free to download and print the Pilot Project description and policy.
Join or renew your membership, if you haven’t already; invite others to join; and like us on Facebook today to help spread the word.
Sincerely,
Mary Lawlor, CPM
Executive Director, NACPM
Ellie Daniels, CPM
President, NACPM