Learn about our April in-person Board of Directors meeting, our newest NACPM Chapter and our recent Chapter Collaboration call.
Home Visits with NACPM
NACPM provides support for CPMs across the country through home visits. Executive Director Mary Lawlor writes about her meetings with CPMs, written comments on state legislation and conference calls to learn about and lend support to state efforts.
READ ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW NACPM SUPPORT BENEFITS CPMS.
Free Risk Management Webinar
Please join us on Tuesday, May 3 at 2:00 pm ET for the latest in our CPM Practice and Association News webinar series: Best Practices for Risk Management for CPMs.
Benefits of NACPM Membership
Please make sure you read about the great benefits you can take advantage of as a member of NACPM! We are offering subscription discounts to publications for and by CPMs, free listings in our new CPM Directory and a deep discount on insurance through Southern Cross.
READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE BENEFITS.
Our latest Chapter updates
Read about our quarterly Chapter Collaboration calls, the relationship of state chapters with state associations, and visits to state chapters by our Executive Director, Mary Lawlor.
Webinars on MAMA Campaign, US MERA available for free viewing
We invite you to view the following free webinar recordings:
MAMA Campaign: A New Foundation for Federal Recognition of CPMs
Mary Lawlor, Billy Wynne, Jesse Bushman and Jennie Joseph present the legislative efforts NACPM is involved in to bring about a federal bill that will federally recognize CPM and include CMs in Medicaid coverage. The presentations also cover the critical need for Medicaid reimbursement for CPMs and the strategy for moving legislation forward, and opportunities within the current congress to do so.
WATCH THE MAMA CAMPAIGN WEBINAR
US MERA: How To Put It To Use For CPMs
Jo Anne Myers-Ciecko, Ida Darragh, Kristi Ridd-Young, Mary Lawlor and Ellie Daniels present information on the US MERA principles of model midwifery legislation regulation, the Bridge Certificate, the current range of MEAC-accredited midwifery schools, the incorporation of US MERA agreements into a draft federal bill, and the collaboration among multiple stakeholders in Maine to bring about CPM licensing legislation based on US MERA agreements.
NEW Webinars coming next week!
We invite you to join us for two webinars next week:
MAMA Campaign: A New Foundation for Federal Recognition of CPMs
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, ET
Join Marly Lawlor, Billy Wynne, Jesse Bushman and Jennie Joseph and learn about the legislative efforts NACPM is involved in to bring about a federal bill that will federally recognize CPM and include CMs in Medicaid coverage. Hear about the critical need for Medicaid reimbursement for CPMs and learn about the strategy for moving legislation forward, and opportunities within the current congress to do so.
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR MAMA CAMPAIGN WEBINAR
US MERA: How To Put It To Use For CPMs
Thursday, November 19, 2015 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm, ET
Jo Anne Myers-Ciecko, Ida Darragh, Kristi Ridd-Young, Mary Lawlor and Ellie Daniels will present information on the US MERA principles of model midwifery legislation regulation, the Bridge Certificate, the current range of MEAC-accredited midwifery schools, the incorporation of US MERA agreements into a draft federal bill, and the collaboration among multiple stakeholders in Maine to bring about CPM licensing legislation based on US MERA agreements.
Second Virtual Annual Meeting is Online
Thank you to those who joined our second virtual Annual Meeting yesterday! Your questions and comments were particularly appreciated. For those who were unable to join us, please view the video and supporting documents at the link below:
FIND A RECORDING OF THE MEETING, MEETING AGENDA AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS HERE
NACPM Second Virtual Annual Meeting
Please join us for our virtual Annual Meeting webinar next Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET. NACPM members, stakeholders and others curious about the work of the professional association can participate in our second virtual Annual Meeting. This will be an opportunity to meet the NACPM Board of Directors, staff, consultants, and volunteers; to learn about the accomplishments, challenges, projects and collaborations of 2015; and to find out how members and stakeholders will help shape NACPM priorities for 2016.
DETAILS IN FULL NEWSLETTER
Upcoming NACPM webinars in October and November
Join us for “US MERA: How To Put It To Use For CPMs” on October 27 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET. “MAMA Campaign: A New Foundation for Federal Recognition of CPMs” webinar will take place on November 5th. CEUs will be made available.
US MERA Direct Assessment Task Force Webinar
On Monday, October 5, 2015, The US MERA Direct Assessment Task Force took part in a webinar presentation by Charla Long, the nationally acclaimed pioneer in the area of competency-based education.
News from NACPM Chapters
Our latest newsletter welcomes our Pennsylvania and South Carolina State Chapters. Read about reasons for forming a state chapter, the support chapters are receiving from a very generous donor, and meet Susan Smartt Cook, our Chapters Coordinator.
NACPM Members Vote on Board Members and Bylaws
Our recent Board of Directors elections saw the largest ever participation by NACPM members. The membership elected Ellie Daniels, Audrey Levine and Kaye Kanne to serve on our board. In addition, NACPM members voted in favor of amending our bylaws to allow for the formation of state chapters.
NACPM Members Vote on Board Members and Bylaws
Our recent Board of Directors elections saw the largest ever participation by NACPM members. The membership elected Ellie Daniels, Audrey Levine and Kaye Kanne to serve on our board. In addition, NACPM members voted in favor of amending our bylaws to allow for the formation of state chapters.
Infant Mortality: Tragedy and Solutions
In 2012, the U.S. ranked 43rd in the world in infant mortality. A disproportionate number of infant deaths occur in minority communities. Read about the role of racism in infant mortality as well as profiles on a number of individuals and organizations who work to address racial disparities in maternal and infant birth outcomes.
US MERA: What Could It Mean for CPMs – Webinar Recording Available
Watch for Free, 1.5 MEAC CEUs $15
We are thrilled to be able to share with you a very special webinar, presented by Mary Lawlor, Kaye Kanne, Jamie Eidsath, Jo Anne Myers-Ciecko and Sandra Stewart.
This webinar provides an overview of the purpose, history, accomplishments, and next steps for US MERA.
News for CPMs
News for CPMs
Our latest newsletter highlights US MERA, the collaboration with the International Confederation of Midwives and a number of revealing articles that highlight the important role midwives play in improving birth outcomes.
US MERA: What It Could Mean for CPMs
Register Now for our free webinar on September 15, 2:00 – 3:30 pm Eastern Time
We are thrilled to be able to share with you a highly informative webinar on the history, purpose, accomplishments and future of US MERA:
US MERA: What It Could Mean for CPMs.
Join Mary Lawlor, Kaye Kanne, Jamie Eidsath, JoAnne Myers Ciecko and Sandra Stewart to learn more about the US MERA collaboration.
International Confederation of Midwives Report on the 5th Regional Meeting in Suriname
Quick links:
Upcoming Webinars
Annual Meeting 11/12/15
International Confederation of Midwives
Report on the 5th Regional Meeting in Suriname
Midwives traveled from across the Americas Region this summer to participate in a conference sponsored by the International Confederation of Midwives. Midwifery autonomy, advocacy, collaboration, and research were the focus of the ICM Americas Regional Meeting in Paramaribo, Suriname in July. The conference provided a unique venue for knowledge-sharing between midwifery organizations from North America, South America, and the Caribbean. The scientific program featured presentations from Canada, Trinidad, Chile, Jamaica, Argentina, the USA, and many others, addressing the conference theme: “Invest in Healthy Pregnancy: Invest in Midwives.”
NACPM Executive Director, Mary Lawlor, CPM, and board member, Autumn Vergo, CPM, represented NACPM and CPMs at the Regional Conference. NACPM was honored to be accepted as a member of the ICM in 2014 and was privileged to attend our first-ever ICM governing council meeting and the 30th Triennial Congress in Prague in June 2014. NACPM is committed to a robust support for the work of the ICM, and Mary and Autumn were pleased to represent CPMs and visit with midwives from our own hemisphere in the beautiful country of Suriname this summer.
NACPM membership in ICM supports CPM participation in this world-wide community of 121 midwifery associations and over 300,000 midwives from around the world. In our own country, NACPM has led in all aspects of the work of US MERA (link to 2015 US MERA Annual Report). CPMs and CNM/CMs are working together through the US MERA collaboration to strengthen midwifery in our country by aligning with the ICM vision for an autonomous midwifery profession around the globe – for the sake of saving lives and improving the health of women and babies everywhere.
This summer’s Regional ICM meeting featured a discussion based on results from ICM’s first regional survey of the recent challenges and successes of midwifery associations in the Americas. The survey assessed key priorities including advocacy, autonomy, collaboration, research and education. Discussion reviewed challenges and successes in each area, and associations seeking informational or strategic support had the opportunity to learn what had worked for other associations.
We encourage you to explore the vision and work of the ICM and the US MERA collaboration, and to work with NACPM in strengthening midwifery in the U.S. and around the world.
With all best wishes,
Mary Lawlor, CPM NACPM
Executive Director
Midwifery in Suriname
The Republic of Suriname, pop. 566,000, is the smallest sovereign state in South America, and is located on the northeast Atlantic coast. The former Dutch colony opened its first midwifery school in the 1960s, and this year’s regional meeting was attended by many of Suriname’s student midwives. As the host country, Suriname’s midwife-driven successes in the area of maternal-child health were highlighted, including a “zero tolerance” malaria program, a 92% skilled-birth-attendant rate, a significant reduction in mother-to-baby transmission of HIV, and a 35% reduction in infant mortality over the past several years. Challenges in Suriname include care access limited by extremely dense and rugged jungle terrain in the country’s interior, a suboptimal (40%) contraceptive utilization rate, and maternal and infant mortality rates that lag behind the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals
Some of Suriname’s health challenges are shared by countries throughout the Americas region, such as rising rates of chronic disease, like diabetes and hypertension, in women of childbearing age.
About the International Confederation of Midwives
ICM’s global mission is to strengthen midwifery associations and advance professional midwifery worldwide by promoting autonomous midwives as the most appropriate caregivers for childbearing women. The next International Congress and Conference will be held in Toronto, Canada in 2017; the 2020 congress is slated for Bali, Indonesia. Asociación de Obstetras del Paraguay will host the next America’s Regional Meeting and Conference in Asuncion, Paraguay, the first week of October in 2018.
Important Updates for CPMs — Save these Dates!
In This Issue:
Upcoming Webinars
US MERA 9/15/15
US MERA 10/13/15
MAMA Campaign 10/29/15
Annual Meeting 11/12/15
Link to Previous Webinars and CEU Info
CPMs have made significant progress in our efforts to expand midwifery’s impact on maternity care and to achieve state licensure, federal recognition, and adequate reimbursement. But we have so much more to do.
NACPM has been working with other national midwifery organizations in the US MERA collaboration to find a way forward through the many obstacles midwives encounter. We will host two webinars this fall to describe the work of US MERA in more depth and examine how the results of this work can be put to use to support CPMs.
New opportunities to move our agenda for federal recognition of CPMs are also on the horizon and we’d like to share the latest from the MAMA Campaign with you.
Finally, plans are in the works for the 2015 NACPM Annual Meeting, and we look forward to your participation.
Registration information for these webinars will be coming soon. Please contact us with any questions about these or other webinar opportunities.
Mary Lawlor
NACPM Executive Director
Save these dates to learn more!
US MERA: What it Could Mean for CPMs
Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 2:00-3:30 ET
Overview of purpose, history, accomplishments, and next steps for US MERA
US MERA: How to Put it to Use for CPMs
Tuesday, October 13, 20152:00-3:30 ET
Consensus Statement on Principles for Model Regulation and Licensure
NARM Bridge Certificate for CPMs
Innovations in Midwifery Education
Coalition and Consensus-Building in State Licensure Efforts
MAMA Campaign: A New Foundation for Federal Recognition of CPMs
Thursday, October 29, 2015, 2:00-3:30 ET
Introducing a new bill, defining CPMs, building bridges, consumer perspectives
NACPM Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 12, 2015
NACPM hosted our first virtual annual meeting last year. Members tell us they really appreciated having the chance learn more about all facets of our work and to hear from everyone on the Board of Directors and Staff. Please join us on Thursday, November 12, 2015 for our second virtual annual meeting. We are excited to bring you news of our activities, accomplishments, challenges , and plans for next year. See you then!