Chapter Goals and Priorities for 2017
The NACPM State Chapter Program continues to expand with each state honing in on its unique work and projects. We currently have 12 fully formed chapters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Maine, Wisconsin, Washington, Nevada, Florida, and Oklahoma. Several more states are well on their way, and even more have expressed an interest in forming. The most recent Chapter Collaboration Call was an opportunity for chapters to share their 2017 goals and priorities with one another and with NACPM leadership. Here are a few highlights:
Meredith Christie, president of the North Carolina Chapter of NACPM, reported on their NC MERA collaboration with CPMs and CNMs in the state, which recently met and began plans to organize a NC Community Birth Summit modeled after the Home Birth Summit. They hope to facilitate community conversations with various care providers and stakeholders at the summit. They are also working on transport guidelines and hoping to coordinate a “Smooth Transitions” project modeled after WA state.
Christy Santoro, president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of NACPM, shared about their plans to host a forum around questions of equity, race, and access to care in midwifery. This state level exploration in PA is deeply resonant with NACPM’s commitment to addressing these critical issues nationally. NACPM is excited to see the PA Chapter design this forum, and will seek to empower and equip other chapters to bring this important work forward in their states.
Korina Pubanz, founding board member of the Wisconsin Chapter of NACPM, reflected on the value of the Chapter Collaboration Calls saying, “midwifery practice, legislation, and educational opportunities vary from state to state- it is so interesting to hear how the challenges are being met and great work is getting done. When I have participated in conversations or just listened to the work that is being put forward I can’t help but be motivated and also deeply appreciative for the work that has already been done in our state of WI.”
State Home Visits
Mary Lawlor has made several more “home visits” to state chapters and chapters in formation in MN, WA, and CO. Mary makes these visits both in response to crisis, like in Oklahoma last quarter, and more often simply to learn about the unique experience in each state while also sharing about the important work being done on the national level. These visits are vital to maintaining open lines of communication between NACPM and the midwives we serve. Kate Hogan from the MN Chapter of NACPM reported that “the MN NACPM chapter had a wonderful visit from Mary Lawlor this March. We so enjoyed getting to hear what is happening in the national midwifery community, and our local community was able to learn about and get many questions answered regarding US MERA. Our chapter is excited to be a part of working towards the NACPM strategic priorities.”
NACPM Chapter Team left to right: Kirsten Archibald (Office Manager), Susan Smartt Cook (Chapter Program Manager), Mary Lawlor (Executive Director), Jo Anne Myers-Ciecko (Consultant), Joanna Roche (Program Manager)
Would you like to nominate an extraordinary leader in your state? Let us know! We would love to recognize them in our State Chapter newsletter.
Contact Susan at chapters@nacpm.org.
If you are a chapter member or leader of a chapter in formation, please save the date for our next Chapter Collaboration Call on Tuesday June 6th from 1:30-3:00 ET. We will be discussing NACPM’s new comprehensive set of NACPM briefing papers and recommendations, to be released in early June, which describe NACPM’s vision and the emerging landscape and future directions for CPMs. Watch your email for more information.
READ ABOUT AN UPCOMING WEBINAR IN THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER