JOB POSTING: MEAC is hiring for a Director of Operations

About MEAC

The Midwifery Education Accreditation Council’s mission is to promote excellence in midwifery education through accreditation. It creates standards and criteria for the education of midwives. MEAC standards incorporate the nationally recognized core competencies and guiding principles set by the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), and the requirements for national certification of the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). MEAC’s accreditation criteria for midwifery education programs reflect the unique components and philosophy of the Midwives Model of Care.

The purpose of MEAC is to establish standards for the education of competent midwives, and to provide a process for self-evaluation and peer evaluation for diverse educational programs. MEAC is a non-profit organization approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Position Overview

The Director of Operations (DO), in collaboration with the Director of Accreditation, provides leadership to and management of the organization. The DO oversees all of the activities outside of accreditation work, supports the Board in its efforts to facilitate change and growth, and serves as a liaison to other leaders in the greater midwifery community.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any field

• Five years of demonstrated experience in the nonprofit sector at any level

• Two years of demonstrated experience in a management role with responsibility for IT, finance, fundraising, and human resources

• Exhibited fundraising and development experience

• Two years of demonstrated experience using digital communication, project management technologies,

• computer hardware and software, and familiarity with systems such as Google Workspace, Microsoft

• Office systems, Dropbox file hosting service, Quickbooks, online payment systems

Desirable Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent work experience

• Familiarity with higher education administration and/or accreditation

• Familiarity with the direct-entry midwifery profession and perinatal health systems

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Needed

• Budget management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision-making and reporting and

• tracking to keep BOD aware and in alignment with the approved budget

• Bookkeeping knowledge including but not limited to accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking,

• reconciliation, online payment systems, and financial tracking.

• Strong organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, and task facilitation.

• Knowledge of diverse funding streams, such as donor contributions, grants, private entrepreneurships,

• membership fees, etc.

• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills

• Strong leadership skills

• Ability to successfully engage diverse stakeholders and engage in conflict resolution

• Ability to oversee and collaborate with staff

• Ability to work virtually with staff and BOD

• Demonstrable commitment to equity, access, and diversity

Duties & Responsibilities

Board of Directors and Strategic Alignment

• Collaborate with Director of Accreditation to develop working knowledge of MEAC’s role as anaccrediting body of midwifery schools and the role that MEAC staff play in fulfilling the organization’s mission

• In collaboration with the Board and the Director of Accreditation, implement MEAC’s program strategy and ensure progress on key objectives in a timely manner

• Provide information about the organization’s operations and finances to the Board

• Collaborate with the Board around any significant changes concerning personnel or financial conditions

• Support Board in the recruitment of new Board members and provide new Board member governance orientation and training

• Serve as staff liaison to the Board on business and operations committees.

• Support MEAC’s board recruitment and elections

• Ensure compliance with MEAC’s bylaws

Organization Operations

• Ensure implementation of policies and procedures related to business, finance, and operations

• Stay updated on developments and trends in nonprofit management and operations

• Manage a variety of operations functions for staff and Board, including technology, financial management, travel to meetings and site visits to schools, and all business administration issues

• Assist in recruitment of new ARC members (in collaboration with the Director of Accreditation) and CEU Reviewers and provide governance orientation and training

• Collaborate on development and implementation of a comprehensive technology plan

• In collaboration with staff and Board, conduct an annual review of MEAC as an agency including:

  • Strategic Plan progress

  • Programs success, goals, and needs

  • Finance and fundraising success, goals, and needs

  • Evaluation of the co-director structure

• Work with Staff and Board to complete an Annual Report

Staff and Volunteer Management

• Manage and supervise non-accreditation paid staff and consultants

• Collaboratively develop and implement HR improvements related to hiring, performance management, and exiting

• Share the responsibility with the Director of Accreditation and the BOD for the hiring and releasing of accreditation staff and consultants

• Develop a succession plan for management staff

• Promote a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff and volunteer organization

• Support participation by volunteers in relevant areas of the organization's work Financial Performance and Viability

• Responsible for the agency’s financial operations, including accounts payable and receivable, bank account management, and payrollWork with staff and Board to prepare an annual budget

• Oversee the agency’s fundraising and development efforts

• Oversee annual independent reviews and audits as well as year-end bookkeeping procedures and IRS 990 report filings

• Provide recommendations to the Board and Co-Director regarding improved financial management

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local business regulations

• File state annual Reports and Charitable Solicitation with the State of MI, as well as any other required

• state-level reporting for businesses to operate therein

Public and Interprofessional Relations

• Work with staff and Board to communicate with member schools, associated professional organizations and diverse stakeholders

• Collaborate with the Director of Accreditation and other staff on publications, social media releases, and other communications products

• Oversee ongoing management of the MEAC website

• Serve as spokesperson and media coordinator for the agency

• Direct inquiries from interested and affiliated parties to the appropriate staff or Board liaison

Salary Range

$38 - $42 per hour/ 20 hrs per week

Benefits

• Flexible work schedule

• Paid PTO and time off between December 25 and January 1.

• Remote work stipend

• Health stipend

Supervision

• This position is responsible for the supervision and oversight of the Continuing Education Coordinator.

• This position is supervised by the Executive Committee and President of the Board of Directors.

To Apply

Email your CV or resume and a cover letter (1 page) to info@meacschools.org.

Candidates will also need to complete a screening survey to complete their applications:

https://forms.gle/MQipKrjFPKTDKUBt5

National Black Midwives Alliance to hold their first nationwide membership meeting

This week the National Black Midwives Alliance (NBMA) is holding their first nationwide membership meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2022. The meeting will cover organizational status, an analysis of the work that  they’ve done so far, opportunities for current members to join committees, as well an overview of their current goals.

NBMA members can RSVP here : bit.ly/nbmameeting

More information about becoming a NBMA member can be found here. 

Since 2012, NACPM has committed to investing in a strong, racially, ethnically and socially representative Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) workforce to meet the urgent needs of childbearing people and to eliminating unconscionable racial disparities in birth outcomes, especially within Black and Indigenous communities. 

We understand that this work demands collaboration! As an organization, NACPM supports and centers the work of people of color-led organizations and equity initiatives.  NACPM is a proud supporter of NBMA!  

Building on our history of success in providing scholarship support to overcome systemic barriers for student midwives of color, NACPM secured a $15,000 grant from Direct Relief International to partner with the National Black Midwives Alliance to support their Black Midwife Mentorship Program, providing student midwives of color with mentors. This partnership will help grow both the number of students served and the stipend paid to mentors. NACPM was also a proud supporter of Black Maternal Health Week 2022.

As our country has become all too aware, the U.S. ranks 50th in mortality for birthing persons in the world, and 37th in the world in infant mortality.  Black childbearing people are up to 4 times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts, regardless of level of education and income, and their babies are 2.5 times more likely to die in their first year of life. Perinatal mortality is the tip of the iceberg:  approximately 50,000 birthing people annually experience life-threatening complications that too often cause lifetimes of physical and emotional suffering and disability, with Black and Indigenous people affected disproportionately. 

Although a key cause of these disparities is unequal access to care, NACPM recognizes that societal and institutional racism, a system of power based on color, is the root cause.  NACPM is deeply committed to addressing racial oppression within our organization, the profession of midwifery, and the perinatal care system. A recent report on the demographics of the nurse-midwifery profession showed only 6.85%  of CNMs are Black and .58% are Indigenous; although we lack specific data, anecdotal evidence indicates a similar workforce composition of CPMs. 

Recognizing the impact of limited access for people of color to CPM care and the acute lack of diversity in the midwifery workforce, NACPM is committed to investing in the systemic changes needed to open pathways for more Black midwives to enter the profession, and for opportunities for midwives of color to build and sustain their midwifery practices.  

We urge NACPM members to consider supporting NBMA by becoming a member of their organization and attending their upcoming nationwide member meeting. 

You can also make a donation to NBMA here.

Meet NACPM Bigger Table Fund Recipient , Catrice Harris

Catrice Harris, a recent graduate of National College of Midwifery, is one of the most recent recipients of NACPM’s Bigger Table Fund Award.

NACPM’s Bigger Table Fund is a scholarship initiative to help grow a racially, ethnically and socially representative CPM workforce to meet the urgent needs of childbearing people in our country.  

We asked Catrice to tell us a bit about her midwifery journey . She explains, “My midwifery journey began about 6 years ago, after I had been working as a doula for about 8 years. I saw so many hospital processes turn a beautiful birth experience into an unnecessary medical procedure. Far too often, women were not dignified in the process, but were instead treated as if they were broken in many ways and needed be fixed. As a doula my hands were tied, and I wanted very badly to help affect change. After an accidental home birth with a doula client, I realized healthy babies "just get born", and I wanted to be a part of more experiences like that. That began my quest for the right education, and the right mentorship.”

Catrice will be working with all low risk women in the Houston and surrounding areas, with a special focus on improving the morbidity and mortality rates of Black women and babies. She hopes to one day own a birth and education center offering a community and services for pregnant, as well as non-pregnant women. These services will include a variety of classes, and holistic care options.

The Bigger Table Fund provides financial awards for student midwives of color, Indigenous and/or LGBTQIA2S+ student midwives for:

• the initial NARM examination fee

• the fee for retaking the NARM examination when needed

• one-time initial state licensing fees

The goal of the Fund is to remove some of the significant financial barriers faced by students and midwives of color and from Indigenous and LGBTQIA2S+ communities to entering the CPM profession.  This Fund is an NACPM response to direct community requests and feedback and from “Women of Color Entering Midwifery”, an assessment of unmet needs, by Nancy Anderson, MD, MPH, commissioned by NACPM.   Recognizing the impact of limited access for people of color to CPM care and the acute lack of diversity and representation in the midwifery workforce, NACPM is committed to investing in the systemic changes and direct support needed to open pathways for more Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, and other midwives of color to enter the profession, and for opportunities for midwives of color to build and sustain their midwifery practices.  

• $3000 is distributed quarterly, according to a lottery system.  

• The maximum individual award is $1,000.  

To learn more and to apply, visit https://www.nacpm.org/the-bigger-table-fund.

Southern Birth Justice Network has been Nominated For the Weight Watchers Wellness Impact Award!!

Our friends at Southern Birth Justice Network (SBJN) have been nominated for The Weight Watchers Wellness Impact Award!

Please join us in casting your vote for them today!

Each vote will help them win a $15,000 grant to support their birth justice educational programs and birthing communities. Voting closes May 9th, 2022 and winners are announced June 8th, 2022.

SBJN works to narrow the dangerous disparities in maternal health and reduce maternal mortality by improving access to midwifery and doula care for Black mothers. They support these communities throughout the birth cycle, from preconception to postpartum care. 

"At the center of our theory of change is Birth Justice, which is a framework to shift the current obstetric violence culture of birth toward one centered on bodily autonomy and human rights, particularly for marginalized pregnant, birthing and parenting people.”
– Nerlande Joseph, Birth Worker

Happy International Day of the Midwife!

Today, NACPM joins you in celebrating the International Day of the Midwife!  We are marking this special occasion by announcing the launch this year of the Bigger Table Initiative, a scholarship program to help ensure that more Black, Indigenous, and students of color can become midwives. 

New NACPM Scholarship Programs - Tackling Perinatal Health Disparities by Growing a Racially Representative Midwifery Workforce 

This year NACPM is launching a new set of student supports: The Bigger Table Initiative.

Since 2012, NACPM has committed to investing in a strong, racially, ethnically and socially representative CPM workforce to meet the urgent needs of childbearing people and to eliminate unconscionable racial inequities and disparities in birth outcomes for people of color, Indigenous and LGBTQIA2S+ people, and their infants.  In late 2018, NACPM launched the Bigger Table Fund, which has since awarded over $39,000 to 49 students and CPMs to offset costs and barriers to midwifery by paying fees for the national certification examination and initial state licensing fees.  This year, with the generous support of a $50,000 grant from Direct Relief International, NACPM is expanding into the Bigger Table Initiative, to include:

• $30,000 to be awarded in 2022 to launch the new Tanya Khemet Taiwo Scholarship Fund for direct aid to Black and Indigenous midwifery students for tuition and related expenses for education. Watch this summer for more about this fund, applications for scholarships, and how you can help NACPM to grow this fund.

• $15,000 to partner with the National Black Midwives Alliance (NBMA) to support their Black Midwife Mentorship Program, providing student midwives of color with mentors. This partnership will help grow both the number of students served and the stipend paid to mentors.

• $5,000 additional support for the Bigger Table Fund  

100th Anniversary of the International Confederation of Midwives

NACPM, as a member association of the Confederation, today proudly joins midwives around the world in celebrating the International Day of the Midwife and the 100th anniversary of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).  Today, ICM is a global non-governmental organization representing more than 140 midwives’ associations in more that 120 countries and over one million midwives worldwide.  

Focusing and Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity as Core ICM Values

As the Confederation turns 100, ICM will conduct a Listening and Learning Series throughout 2022 and beyond, a collection of conversations to foster and promote inclusivity and diversity, to explore and learn together.  This series will explore issues of identity, race, gender, ability and inclusion, capturing the pulse of the global midwifery community and growing from the diverse perspectives that inform our age-old profession.  

Invitation to a Virtual ICM Party today, May 5, at 2:00 pm ET

Please join ICM and NACPM today at a Virtual Party, a global salute to midwives, with ICM President Dr. Franka Cadée and ICM Chief Executive, Dr. Sally Pairman.  Last year, midwives from around the world showed up and danced with colleagues from every corner of the globe.  Join this year’s celebration today!

NACPM wishes you all a Happy International Day of the Midwife!

National Report on Community Birth Settings Released Today

NACPM is proud to share the newest report from the National Partnership for Women and Families:  Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Community Birth Settings, a companion report to Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Midwifery.  NACPM is one of five national organization that partnered and contributed to both reports, including the American Association of Birth Centers, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Birth Center Equity, and the National Black Midwives Alliance.

The tragic reality is that our perinatal care system fails to provide many childbearing people and newborns with equitable, accessible, respectful, safe, effective, and affordable care.  More people per capita in the U.S. die or suffer severe injuries from pregnancy and childbirth than in any other high-income country in the world.  The system most spectacularly fails birthing people in communities struggling with structural inequities due to racism and other forms of disadvantage, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and those with low incomes or living in rural communities.

The good news shared in this report is that research shows specific models of care, including care provided in community birth settings (homes or at freestanding community birthing centers), led almost exclusively by midwives, makes a concrete difference in improving perinatal care quality and produces better outcomes.

From Khailylah (Kiki) Jordan, CPM, LM, NACPM President: “This report constitutes a powerful case for the critical role for the model, settings, and providers of community birth in addressing overall poor perinatal outcomes in our country, and especially in eliminating the unconscionable disparities and inequities impacting Indigenous and communities of color.”

This report outlines the evidence that supports the unique value of community birth settings across different communities, the safety and effectiveness of care in these settings in improving maternal and infant outcomes, the interest of birthing people in use of birth centers and home birth care, and the current availability of, and access to, community birth settings care in the United States.

From Jamarah Amani, Executive Director of National Black Midwives Alliance: “…The growing demands of Black families for access to community birth reflects a need to develop and expand the workforce of culturally centered, community-based midwives, providers who are trained to ground their practices in respect, dignity and autonomy.”

These settings are an essential part of the solution to the nation’s perinatal health crisis, especially when they offer culturally congruent care to people impacted by racism and other forms of discrimination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more pregnant people are taking control of their birth experience by choosing to give birth in a community rather than a hospital, with a rise of 20% between 2019 and 2020. The greatest increase was for Black parents (30%), Indigenous (26%), and Hispanic (24%) parents – especially striking as these are the communities currently with the least access to community birth.  Factors contributing to this increase like include, in addition to concerns about COVID exposure in hospitals, the desire to retain autonomy during birthing, deciding who will be present, preventing unnecessary interventions and restrictions, and avoiding the disrespect, discrimination, and structural racism that too often occurs in hospitals, resulting in lower-quality care.

From Birth Center Equity co-directors Leseliey Welch and Nashira Baril: "This report offers rich and compelling data to support the wisdom that Black, Indigenous, communities of color have long known: that the best way to ensure safe, culturally reverent, and liberatory birthing experiences is to invest in community-led solutions…”

The report provides two dozen policy considerations for federal and state policymakers to make access to community birthing more accessible and reimbursement more widespread for those services. NACPM looks forward to collaborating to promote these vital recommendations to policymakers and payers to ensure universal and equitable access to community birth and health for all childbearing people and their babies.

Colorado only has one Black Certified Professional Midwife. Here’s what she thinks of the health care system.

This Article, written by By Abigail Beckman on April 12, 2022, is reposted with permission - The original article can be found at CPR.org

Last year, Colorado passed three bills known as the Birth Equity Package. Part of that legislation expands Medicaid coverage for a year after birth. That's the time period with the highest number of maternal deaths in the U.S. 

Demetra Seriki is recognized as the only Black Certified Professional Midwife in the state, working out of Colorado Springs. She said the changes were absolutely necessary. She also said it's not enough.

"The system is just, it's inherently broken—burn it down. Burn it down," she said. "It's just broken. It's broken for anybody that bears any child in their womb."

Seriki says she knows firsthand the barriers people of color face in accessing medical care, whether that be to give birth or addressing other needs. 

"In general, most people of color are suspicious of the care that they're receiving, but they don't really have anything they can say that's concrete medical evidence," she said. "But there's suspicion or trauma that's already been placed on them through the system."

Demetra Seriki owns and operates A Mother's Choice Midwifery in Colorado Springs. (Image by Abigail Beckman/KRCC News)

According to the Population Reference Bureau, a non-partisan group that aims to improve health and well-being, Black women in the U.S. are over three times more likely to die in pregnancy or after giving birth when compared to white women. 

Sometimes, Seriki said, who the medical provider is might make a difference.  

"Statistically, we know that when people of color are cared [for] by people of color, they reduce their incidents of what we call a 'near miss,' meaning you almost died, but you didn't… or death,"  she said.

Research into the relationship between midwifery and birth outcomes shows midwifery-led care can reduce maternal mortality rates. But Seriki is limited in what she can do, assisting only in home births and soon, thanks to another law passed last year, at a birthing center. 

Shelby Irvin is one of her recent clients. She chose to give birth at home, with Seriki's help, after she said she had a traumatizing race-related experience at the hospital during her first pregnancy.

"Color does play a role," Irvin said. "And if we're saying color doesn't, then we're not being realistic. This was a difficult pregnancy for me and I genuinely believe that if [Seriki] was not there, that I would've had a different outcome."

Irvin, who is also Black, works as a doula, focusing on emotional and physical support during pregnancy and childbirth.

"I delivered at home just so that I can be seen and not just be a stereotype and just to have the experience that I deserve to have as a mother birthing," she said.

Last year, a survey from the Colorado Health Foundation found close to half of those polled believe Black Coloradans are more likely to receive poor quality or inadequate health care compared with white Coloradans. 

Seriki said folks are often lost in the system, and her role as a midwife can help.

"Our health care system is a capitalist system so they're turning over OB patients every 10 to 15 minutes. Not in this place, not in this space," she said. "The midwives model of care is a minimum of 30 minutes. So if I have somebody that needs an hour, they get an hour." 

The most recent data for the state of Colorado found outcomes for Black, white, Asian, and Hispanic Coloradans were roughly the same in terms of maternal mortality. Native Americans had a significantly higher percentage of pregnancy-associated deaths. They're nearly 5 times more likely to die than non-Native people who gave birth in the same period. The leading cause of post-partum death was suicide, followed by drug overdose.

"If it's preventable, we have a problem," Seriki said. "We can't continue to blame pregnant people. We have data that tells us different. So why is it that we know better, but we're not doing better? It's a fair, very good question. And nobody's gonna answer that."

Seriki said she's noticed a shift in who is seeking midwifery care, some of which was amplified by the pandemic when people avoided hospitals and health care centers, but her practice is not always convenient.

"So folks now know that they have other options, but there's a barrier. You know, there's a barrier with billable insurance," she said.

Seriki said 95 percent of her clients are BIPOC - Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. She sees folks from Lakewood to Pueblo. Of the 29 providers registered with the Colorado Midwives association, four publicly identify as BIPOC.

Webinar Recording Available : Postpartum Hemorrhage and Third-Stage Management in planned midwife-led home and birth center births in the United States

VIEW SLIDES 

Although postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is always a potential childbirth complication, little is known about the availability and use of uterotonic medication during community birth. Unfortunately, the variability of access to uterotonic medication based on credentials of the midwife or state regulations governing midwifery can present barriers to safe care.

This is the 24th webinar in our Clinical Practice Series, where Dr. Cheney will presents research on midwives and postpartum hemorrhage conducted with her colleagues Elise N. Erickson and Marit Bovbjerg and published in the journal Birth. The research presented is based on data from the Midwives Alliance of North America 2.0 database from 2004-2009. Dr. Cheney’s presentation describes rates of PPH by midwifery credentials and by the presence of regulations for legal midwifery practice, information on PPH incidence in community birth, demographics and clinical characteristics of the studied population, and methods used by midwives to address PPH.

Dr. Cheney is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Anthropology at Oregon State University and an Oregon Licensed Midwife. She is Co-Director of Uplift – a research and reproductive equity laboratory at OSU, where she serves as Primary Investigator on more than 20 maternal and infant health-related research projects. She is the author of an ethnography entitled Born at Home (2010 Wadsworth Press), co-editor of Birth in Eight Cultures (2019, Waveland Press), and has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles that examine the cultural beliefs and clinical outcomes associated with midwife-attended birth at home and in birth centers in the United States.

NACPM is Celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Black Maternal Health Week!

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Black Maternal Health Week, which will be held from April 11-17, 2022! In order to uplift Black women and their families, we at NACPM are joining forces with Black Mamas Matter (BMMA) to center Black women’s scholarship, maternity care work, and advocacy across the full-spectrum of sexual, maternal, and reproductive health care, services, programs, and initiatives. Join us today! Learn more at blackmamasmatter.org/.

Founded by BMMA, Black Maternal Health Week is a week of awareness, activism, and community-building aimed at amplifying the voices of Black Mamas, and centering the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.

BMHW22 is, above all, a week dedicated to educating and advocating for Black Mamas. Through a series of digital events and community engagement, BMHW uplifts Black women-led organizations to focus on

the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, while engaging Black voices to lead immediate conversations around community-driven policies and programs.

The #BMHW22 theme is “Building for Liberation: Centering Black Mamas, Black Families, and Black Systems of Care,” which reflects BMMA’s work in centering Black women’s scholarship, maternity care work, and advocacy across the full-spectrum of sexual, maternal, and reproductive health care, services, programs, and initiatives. Additionally, this theme reflects the critical need for learning about Black Feminist and womanist approaches in strengthening wellness structures within our communities and across the Diaspora as a revolutionary act in the pursuit of liberation, and in the global fight to END maternal mortality.

For a full schedule of events, visit: Blackmamasmatter.org

Webinar: Postpartum Hemorrhage and Third-Stage Management in planned midwife-led home and birth center births in the United States

Although postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is always a potential childbirth complication, little is known about the availability and use of uterotonic medication during community birth. Unfortunately, the variability of access to uterotonic medication based on credentials of the midwife or state regulations governing midwifery can present barriers to safe care.

Please join NACPM and Dr. Melissa Cheney for the 24th webinar in our Clinical Practice Series, where Dr. Cheney will present research on midwives and postpartum hemorrhage conducted with her colleagues Elise N. Erickson and Marit Bovbjerg and published in the journal Birth. The research to be presented is based on data from the Midwives Alliance of North America 2.0 database from 2004-2009. Dr. Cheney’s presentation will describe rates of PPH by midwifery credentials and by the presence of regulations for legal midwifery practice, information on PPH incidence in community birth, demographics and clinical characteristics of the studied population, and methods used by midwives to address PPH.

Dr. Cheney is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Anthropology at Oregon State University and an Oregon Licensed Midwife. She is Co-Director of Uplift – a research and reproductive equity laboratory at OSU, where she serves as Primary Investigator on more than 20 maternal and infant health-related research projects. She is the author of an ethnography entitled Born at Home (2010 Wadsworth Press), co-editor of Birth in Eight Cultures (2019, Waveland Press), and has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles that examine the cultural beliefs and clinical outcomes associated with midwife-attended birth at home and in birth centers in the United States.

Congratulations to the Midwives and Advocates in Washington State!

NACPM heartily congratulations the midwives and advocates in Washington State on their historic victory last week when state legislators passed SSB 5765, granting prescriptive authority to LMs/CPMs for medications and devices needed in normal pregnancies and contraception, a first in the nation. This kind of victory is not the result of one year of advocacy on the part of the Washington midwives but rather of decades of consistent, progressive, purposeful, strategic effort and relationship building with legislators, state agencies, and perinatal provider groups. We celebrate this legislative victory as well as the exemplary history of organized advocacy by the Washington midwives. Once again, Washington midwives lead the way!

Read more at Washingtonmidwives.org

NACPM Honors Mary Lawlor

A Letter from Mary Lawlor

Dearest friends and colleagues,

After 20 years with NACPM, including as a founder of the organization in 2000, ten years as president of the board, and ten years as executive director, I recently submitted my resignation to the Board and will be leaving my executive director position at NACPM early this year.

As you can imagine, I have a strong mix of emotions with this change. It has been the privilege of my life to have had this chance to work with the leaders of NACPM over these years - and with all of you - to help build an organization of ambitious, courageous vision, commitment, and accomplishment in service to our profession and to childbearing people in our country. I am most grateful to all of you and proud of all we have accomplished together since the founding of NACPM. I hold dear all the relationships we have built with each other, within NACPM and with colleagues and leaders of allied organizations, consumers and advocates, policy makers, funders, and more. I am excited to see all that is still to come.

While it is time for me to leave my position at NACPM, I am not leaving midwifery advocacy. I will continue to contribute to the field in these next years and look forward to sharing new ventures and to overlapping paths with you. The Board and I are working together to plan for and ensure a smooth transition for the organization, and I am tremendously excited about NACPM’s present leadership, including the new Board members and officers.

As recently shared, NACPM will soon announce the date for our Virtual Annual Membership Meeting to take place early this year. At the annual meeting, we will take some time to take stock and celebrate all we have accomplished together over these past 22 years.

I am sending love to all of you along with deep and sincere wishes for a truly transformational New Year in 2022!

Mary Lawlor, CPM, LM, MA

Executive Director, NACPM

From the NACPM Board of Directors

With profound gratitude and adoration, NACPM honors Mary Lawlor’s twenty plus years of service. Under Mary’s tutelage and visionary leadership, NACPM, a small but mighty organization, has grown over the years to advance the CPM credential both nationally and globally. Mary has been the compass of NACPM’s values, vision, purpose and commitments to be a powerful, collective voice for Certified Professional Midwives. Because of Mary’s diligence, NACPM has become integral to the development of state and federal policy to strengthen and support the inclusion of CPMs in the perinatal health system.

We ask you to join us in sharing your appreciation and memories to celebrate Mary and her work through this virtual appreciation board.

Mary’s history at NACPM is marked by trailblazing accomplishments. Mary secured association membership for NACPM to join the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) as one of the primary midwifery organizations of the US; was one of the core leaders of United States Midwifery Education, Regulation and Association (US MERA), the historic convening that began consensus-building around midwifery in the US; raised over 2.7 million dollars to support NACPM’s work; challenged NACPM to begin engaging with core principles of justice and equity; mentored many NACPM board members, chapter leaders and staff; and, has worked to build strong collaborative relationships with partner organizations.

Mary Lawlor’s years of service have paved the way for generations of CPMs. Her legacy has birthed the central value of CPMs in serving as trusted primary birth care providers across the US. Above all else, Mary is kind, generous, thoughtful, loving and brings a sense of joy and possibility to all she does, while always centering the importance of meaningful relationships and human connection. We are because of what she has given.

Kiki Jordan, CPM, LM

NACPM Board President

Bidding a Most Fond Farewell

News from the NACPM Board of Directors

We are excited to bring you news about NACPM’s Board of Directors!

The Board of NACPM is currently composed of nine directors with five elected positions and two person of color positions and two public member positions appointed by the Board. Officers of the Board are elected annually each Fall by the Board from among the directors. With the recent resignation of one of the directors who was serving as the Treasurer, the Board will soon appoint a new director to fill out the remaining year of the term, as provided for in NACPM’s bylaws, and the Board will elect a new Treasurer.

Today we bid farewell to our directors who are stepping away. We look forward to introducing you to our new board members tomorrow!

NACPM Board of Directors

Officers

President: Kiki Jordan, CPM, LM (appointed member)

Vice President: Keisha Goode, PhD (public member)

Secretary: Erin Ryan, CPM, LM, MPH

Treasurer: soon to be chosen

At Large

Meredith Bowden, CPM

Jacquelyn Ingram, CPM, LM, IBCLC

Mimi Niles, CNM, MPH, PhD (public member)

Aza Nedhari, CPM, LM, MS (appointed)

Tigist Ejeta, MSN, CPM, LM

Tanya Khemet Taiwo CPM-Ret., MPH, PhD - It is with the deepest gratitude - as well as poignant sadness - that we announce that Tanya Khemet Taiwo is leaving the NACPM Board of Directors, having fulfilled her three allowed terms – nine years - as a director. As NACPM’s longest-serving Black woman on the Board, Tanya’s contributions to NACPM have been historic, and we could not have been more fortunate than to have had her commitment and leadership over this past decade. Along with her national leadership, Tanya contributes to the perinatal health community as an exemplary community health innovator, epidemiologist, researcher, and midwifery educator.

Tanya, who comes from a family tradition of midwives, joined the NACPM Board of Directors in the fall of 2012, following the 2012 CPM Symposium, because of her commitment to bringing the midwifery model of care to the medically underserved and those most at risk for poor birth outcomes. Tanya has an impressive record of leadership and service with NACPM, as Board Secretary from 2012 to 2016, as Co-President from 2016 to 2019, and as President from 2019 through October 2021.

The 2012 CPM Symposium was a watershed event for the NACPM leadership team that set the organization on a journey. It began with a statement of Strategic Intention to Address Racism and Racial Disparities in U.S. Maternity Care, an acknowledgement of systemic racism as a root cause of tragic racial disparities in birth outcomes, and a recognition of the imperative for Black leadership within the organization and midwifery. The Symposium led to a set of commitments developed with NACPM members to address racism and oppression in birth and midwifery in all its forms. Following the approval of a bylaws change by NACPM’s members to secure two permanent board-appointed positions dedicated to people of color, Tanya graciously accepted the first appointment. She has held the space for Black leadership at NACPM for the past nine years, at first as the only Black member of the Board of Directors, all the while supporting the gradual building of trust within the community and capacity within the organization that has led to a majority BIPOC leadership team. NACPM and the CPM community owe Tanya a debt of gratitude for her courage and leadership that cannot be repaid. We thank you and we love you, Tanya!

To hear directly from Tanya about her story and journey with NACPM, listen to this podcast from Shirley McAlpine’s She’s Got Drive with Tanya and Keisha Goode.

Megan Koontz, MSM, LM, CPM - Megan, originally from New Zealand and now of Alaska and a midwifery educator who is passionate about all things midwifery, left the NACPM Board this October after serving a three-year term. Megan holds a Bachelor of Midwifery and a Masters in Midwifery from New Zealand, has worked in homes, birth centers and hospitals, and attended births in New Zealand, England, Alaska, Utah, and California. She serves as Core Academic Faculty and Academic Dean at the Midwives College of Utah. We are most grateful to Megan for serving so ably as NACPM’s Treasurer, including for her innovative initiatives for engaging board members in understanding and holding accountability for the finances of the organization – not a simple task. Megan, we thank you for your service and we wish you all the best!

Jennifer Ross, CPM- Jennifer recently resigned from the NACPM Board after serving two years of her term, including as Co-Treasurer for the past six months. Jennifer continued to serve on the Board, even after relocating this past year from New Hampshire to the Philippines. In addition to her love of midwifery, Jennifer brought to NACPM her previous experience of working overseas for many years as an engineer, manager, and business developer, along with her commitment to autonomy and sustainability for community midwives. She is strongly dedicated to supporting the advancement and expansion of a diverse and representative midwife workforce and to increasing access to high-quality care in homes and freestanding birth centers. Thank you for serving, Jennifer – we wish you all the best!

Wendy Gordon, DM, CPM, to Address the Congressional LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee

Wendy Gordon, DM, CPM, to Address the Congressional LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee Tomorrow

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Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 23rd, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) will hold a hearing of its Appropriations Subcommittee on the U.S. perinatal care system and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs to improve outcomes for all birthing people and their babies.

NACPM is most pleased to let you know that Wendy Gordon, DM, MPH, CPM, LM, and Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Midwifery at Bastyr University, will be one of four witnesses addressing the committee. Dr. Gordon has been invited to speak to the importance of community providers in addressing the maternal health crisis in the United States and the role that Congress can play in increasing access to these critical providers, including CPMs.

The hearing will be from 10AM to 12:30PM ET and will be livestreamed here. The recording will be available after the hearing for anyone not able to listen to the live event.

The panel of witnesses will address the committee to provide overviews of different aspects of the U.S. perinatal health system:

Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO, March of Dimes

Wendy Gordon, DM, MPH, CPM, LM, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Midwifery, Bastyr University

Carol Sakala, PhD, Director for Maternal Health, National Partnership for Women & Families

Lisa A. Asare, MPH, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Family Health Services, New Jersey Department of Health

This is an appropriations oversight hearing, so the goals for the hearing are to:

Identify the reasons why the US lags other wealthy countries in maternal health outcomes

Examine the disparities in maternal health outcomes by race and other factors

Identify opportunities for LHHS programs to improve maternal health in the US.

We hope you will join NACPM is listening to this hearing and the opportunities for improving outcomes for all birthing people in the U.S., especially those now suffering the worst outcomes.

NACPM is proud to endorse the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act includes 12 bills to end maternal mortality and close racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes

NACPM is proud to endorse the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021,a historic legislative package whose introduction was announced today by Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams (NC-12), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. Please join NACPM in celebrating the introduction of this important legislation with the Black Maternal Health Caucus at a virtual introduction ceremony this evening at 6:00 pm ET by joining via this public livestream link.

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 will build on existing maternal health legislation, such as policies to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, with 12 bills to comprehensively address every dimension of America’s maternal health crisis. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act makes investments in social determinants of health, community-based organizations, the growth and diversification of the perinatal workforce, improvements in data collection, and support for birthing people and their babies exposed to climate change-related risks. In addition to direct efforts to improve Black maternal health outcomes, the Momnibus focuses on high-risk populations, including Native Americans, veterans, incarcerated people, and other birthing people of color.

“Rarely do we see legislation where the authors have clearly listened to the community, activists and researchers,” said Tanya Khemet Taiwo, CPM-ret, MPH, PHD, president of NACPM. “This bill goes beyond simplistic solutions that ignore the true origins of maternal mortality and the unconscionable burden borne by Black families and addresses the social determinants of health. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood and the members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus for the first time in history are addressing the system of care that has failed many BIPOC birthing people with a comprehensive approach that includes physicians, midwives, nurses, doulas, social workers, childcare providers, transportation workers, public health workers and others, and challenges us all to surround the pregnant and postpartum family with the respectful quality care they deserve and need.”

“NACPM is deeply grateful to Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams, Senator Cory Booker, and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus for their comprehensive approach to stemming the unconscionable pregnancy-related death rate in the U.S. among Black, Native American and other birthing people of color, and for seeking the solutions described by this legislation directly from communities most affected. We look forward to collaborating with these offices to ensure the passage of these critical reforms,” said Mary Lawlor, CPM, executive director of NACPM.

“As maternal mortality rates continue to drop around the world, they are rising in the U.S., leaving behind devastated families and children who will grow up never knowing their moms. This crisis demands urgent attention and serious action to save the lives of Black mothers and all women of color and birthing people across the county,” said Congresswoman Underwood, co-chair and co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “I’m leading the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Representative Alma Adams, Senator Cory Booker, and other Members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus because no mother should go through pregnancy, labor and delivery, or the postpartum period without the respectful care and comprehensive support they need and deserve. Together, we can – and must – take the bold actions that will be required to save our moms, end disparities, and achieve true maternal health justice.”

“As I’ve said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disproportionate rate of mortality and morbidity among Black women is a crisis within a crisis,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Tens of thousands of pregnant people have contracted COVID-19, the vast majority being Black and Brown mothers. As the pandemic rages on, access to quality maternal care has decreased as the barriers to receiving care have increased. That’s why, in the 117th Congress, I’m reintroducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and the Kira Johnson Act. I’ll continue to work with Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker, and my Caucus co-Chair Representative Lauren Underwood to ensure all everyone has access to high quality maternity care, no matter where they live, how much they earn, or the color of their skin. The Momnibus provides a comprehensive set of policy solutions and a roadmap for addressing maternal health disparities. Black mamas can’t afford to wait.”

“As the rest of the world works to improve maternal health outcomes, skyrocketing maternal mortality rates here in the United States are precipitating a public health crisis — one that puts mothers of color especially at risk,” said Senator Booker. “We simply cannot continue to accept this alarming status quo. This is why I am proud introduce the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Representatives Underwood and Adams that will save moms’ lives and improve health outcomes for all birthing people.”

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is composed of 12 individual bills. The legislation will: Make critical investments in social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition.

• Provide funding to community-based organizations that are working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity.

• Comprehensively study the unique maternal health risks facing pregnant veterans and support VA maternity care coordination.

• Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure every birthing person in America receives maternity care and support from people they can trust

• Improve data collection processes and quality measures to better understand the causes of the maternal health crisis in the United States and inform solutions to address it.

• Invest in programs to expand access to treatments and support for maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

• Improve maternal health care and support for incarcerated people.

• Invest in digital tools like telehealth to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved areas.

• Promote innovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternity care and continuity of health insurance coverage from pregnancy through labor and delivery and up to 1 year postpartum.

• Strengthen programs to improve maternal health during COVID-19 and future public health emergencies.

• Invest in community-based initiatives to reduce levels of and exposure to climate change-related risks for birthing people and babies.

• Promote maternal vaccinations to protect the health and safety of childbearing people and their babies.

Join NACPM this evening to celebrate and launch this critical historic legislation!

Webinar: Maternal stress and timing of delivery: Preliminary cortisol data from Puerto Rico and the mitigating role of midwifery care

Maternal stress and timing of delivery: Preliminary cortisol data from Puerto Rico and the mitigating role of midwifery care

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Maternal stress is associated with nearly half of preterm births globally, however, existing research has yet to determine the best way to measure and sufficiently understand this relationship to be able to devise effective interventions to reduce preterm birth. To gather data for this research, maternal hair cortisol samples were collected across the childbearing year in addition to other maternal stress measures. Horan and Cheyney describe and discuss the possible implications of this data, the role of midwifery care in mitigating maternal stress, and directions for future research. This data was collected as part of a larger, collaborative research project with midwives, doulas, maternity care staff, and physicians in Puerto Rico. Midwifery students also served as research assistants on during this phase of the project. This research is an important piece of the puzzle in demonstrating how midwifery may serve as a model for mitigating maternal stress and reducing preterm birth.  

Holly Horan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Alabama and a birth and postpartum doula. Holly’s research focuses on maternal stress and birth outcomes in Puerto Rico and scaling up maternity care services in Alabama. Holly is a remote member of the research team for the Community Doula Program, a Medicaid-funded program providing doula services to priority populations in three counties in Oregon. She also serves on the Region II Perinatal Advisory Council in Alabama.

Melissa Cheyney PhD, LDM is Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Anthropology at Oregon State University (OSU) and a community midwife. She co-directs Uplift—a research and reproductive equity laboratory at OSU, where she serves as the Primary Investigator on more than 20 maternal and infant health-related research projects, including the Community Doula Project. She is the author of an ethnography entitled Born at Home (2010, Wadsworth Press), co-editor with Robbie Davis-Floyd of Birth in Eight Cultures (2019, Waveland Press), and author or co-author of more than 60 peer-reviewed articles that examine the cultural beliefs and clinical outcomes associated with midwife-attended birth at home and in birth centers in the United States. In 2019, Dr. Cheyney served on the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Birth Settings in America Study and in 2020 was named Eminent Professor by OSUs Honors College. She also received Oregon State University’s prestigious Scholarship Impact Award for her work in the International Reproductive Health Laboratory and with the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) Statistics Project. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care and the mother of a daughter born at home on International Day of the Midwife in 2009.

NACPM Fifth Virtual Annual Membership Meeting 2018

Tuesday, January 8, 2019, 4-6 pm, ET

Our Leadership Team will be sharing higlights and what we have learned over the past year during our Fifth Virtual Annual Meeting. We will include a report and discussion on the 2018 CPM Symposium, the Bigger Table Fund Scholarship Awards as well as our organizational commitments and programs.

COVID-19 and the Imperative to Elevate Equity

If it wasn’t already abundantly clear ,the COVID-19 pandemic is shining a spotlight on the impact structural inequities have on social determinants of health and the disproportionate impact on the health and lives of people of color, especially black and indigenous people. Since economic stability is one of the five social determinants of health, it should be no surprise that the economic shutdown and the mandate for social distancing is drastically impacting our nation’s most vulnerable. While many find ways to balance the privilege and frustration of sheltering in place, many more have no way to stay at home. Some have no home and too many others must negotiate the untenable choice between unemployment or working in jobs that daily expose them to the virus. Disproportionately, this decision has been forced upon marginalized communities, including many of the people we serve.

As CPMs, we are sadly familiar with the uneven impact of health disparities on communities of color but especially on black and indigenous communities. Being black in America means navigating structural racism and we know that the daily experience of racism is in itself is a stress-related health condition with far reaching consequences.The rapid spread of the coronavirus has led to a death toll for African-Americans that is at least two times higher than that of white people. While the coronavirus is novel, health disparities are not a new reality for black Americans. Black Americans are more likely to develop most chronic health conditions than white people, often causing complex and devastating comorbidities with the virus.

*Equity / Equality Image Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2017. Visualizing health equity: One size does not fit all infographic. Retrieved from: www.rwjf.org

Since the inception of public health systems in the US, marginalized communities in the United States have persistently been forced to maneuver fragmented access to services, resources and protections. These communities are at higher risk for illness for a myriad of reasons. Indigenous peoples who struggle with high rates of pre-existing health conditions, making them vulnerable to more serious impact of coronavirus infection, are also facing reduced access to testing, PPE, and respiratory equipment. Xenophobia has led to greater hostility among Asian people seeking healthcare services throughout the US. LGBTQIA2S+ peoples are likely to delay treatment due to deep-seated distrust of the medical community based on a history of discriminatory and abusive practices. These realities, coupled with less in-person access to providers with the increased reliance on telehealth, new restrictions on who can accompany the laboring person, and pandemic-imposed social isolation during the postpartum period, are further exacerbating health inequities. Additionally, decreased access to wrap around services such as childbirth education and lactation support, will likely increase the burden already carried by marginalized communities, including those we serve. As the healthcare system’s weaknesses and limitations are exposed by this pandemic, it is also becoming clear that out-of- hospital / community-based alternatives for perinatal care are vital solutions to addressing the comprehensive needs of childbearing families.

We are learning that in this chaos, the community midwife approach to care becomes even more relevant as people and policy makers are actively searching for ways to invest in services that don’t rely on a strained system that was never created to support the health and well being of communities of color. This moment presents an opportunity for CPMs and other community-based midwives to make evident to the world that we are and always have been essential perinatal care providers. Many CPMs, including those who primarily serve communities of color, have reported an increased interest in our model of care. COVID-19 has forced birthing people and the medical community to “get real” about normalizing pregnancy and birth. Overnight, CPMs have come to be recognized as integral to perinatal care systems, and we are demonstrating the tenacity, coordination and skill to meet the urgent needs of our communities.

While the pandemic presents an opportunity to highlight the value of the profession, increasing our client census to meet increased need is not without risk to CPMs and our families. CPMs find ourselves in the precarious position of stepping forward to fill gaps in care while putting our health, as well as that of our families, on the line, all the while having to cope with uncertainty about adequate compensation, lack of access to PPE and appropriate testing. We are proud that many of us are stepping boldly into our newly-recognized role as frontline, essential community health providers. It is our sincere hope that during this time of rapid change, our expertise in physiologic, community-based birth will serve as a beacon to remind birthing people and the medical community that birth is normal and safe.

In these complex times, NACPM strives to elevate and amplify the community of midwifery leaders and people of color-led organizations working to address inequities in perinatal health care. Additionally, we are committed to continuing to provide comprehensive educational tools and resources for clinical practice, including those specific and relevant to COVID-19, to help keep midwives and our birthing populations safe. As we look beyond this current crisis, let the momentum it creates inspire us toward a deep and lasting cultural shift in making birth care better for all.

Upcoming Webinar: NACPM Presents Student Capstone Projects

NACPM Presents Student Capstone Projects
Thursday, May 28th, 2020 3:00 – 4:30 ET

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Students are the future of the midwifery profession! In alignment with NACPM’s commitment to investing in our workforce, on Thursday, May 28th, we have invited two midwifery students to present their capstone projects to the community. This webinar, the 25th in NACPM’s clinical series, will address issues of clinical relevance for all practicing midwives. Please join us to learn from the next generation of midwives!

**Please note: CEUs are only available at this time for the live presentation. The recorded version of the webinar will be available in the Fall of 2020, and CEUs will be available for the recorded version at that time as well. We will notify the community when the recording is posted later in the year. This webinar qualifies for the Midwifery Bridge Certificate

Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Pregnancy: An Evidence-Based Guideline and Screening Tool for Community Midwives

Olivia Joy Kimble will review the prevalence, risk factors, current standards of care, and impact of pelvic floor dysfunction, specifically stress urinary incontinence, in an otherwise healthy childbearing population. An evidence-based practice guideline and screening tool will be introduced with the goal that attending midwives can learn how to incorporate routine pelvic screening and assessment into their antenatal and postpartum care.

Olivia Kimble is a senior midwifery student at Bastyr University, graduating in June 2020, with experience working at the Sprout Birth Center and Puget Sound Birth Center in Washington State. She has worked in birth since 2014 as a certified birth doula and birth assistant with additional training in supporting parous people with trauma histories and homelessness. Olivia previously held leadership positions in the non-profit sector for a small, private college and a national arts organization. Olivia is currently engaged in opening a home birth practice in southeast Minnesota.

Intimate Partner Violence in a Crisis Situation – What healthcare providers need to know about IPV and the increased incidence in the current Pandemic situation.

IPV is an already deadly global epidemic that is now seeing a more than 30% increase in incidences world-wide as shelter in place orders remain in effect. As healthcare providers, we have a unique opportunity to open a dialogue about creating safer environments for all clients.

Cassandra Aho recently graduated from Midwives College of Utah and is the owner of Midnight Midwifery Consulting in Port Orchard, WA. Cassandra is passionate about advocating for victims and survivors of domestic violence and creating a dialogue about systemic change by providing educational lectures to healthcare providers about intimate partner violence and its effects pregnant people, families and communities. She was awarded the Harris-Braun Outstanding Poster Award for Research at MANACAM 2017 for research on Sharing Sexual Responsibility.
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Grappling with Clinical Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Grappling with Clinical Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Fri, Apr 17, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
MEAC CEUs applied for

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New guidance and shifting information on safety considerations for pregnancy and birth is emerging almost daily during the current public health crisis, some based on hard evidence and some on professional opinion, challenging community midwives as they strive to mitigate risk to themselves and their clients while protecting the hallmarks of midwifery care that result in our good outcomes. In many situations, there are no clear or hard and fast solutions, and often mitigating rather than eliminating risk is the only path available. This webinar’s speakers will address several of these clinical situations, examining evidence, guidance and practice considerations to help midwives develop practices and protocols that meet their needs and those of their clients during these troubled and complicated times.

Keeping Waterbirth Safe During COVID-19
Barbara Harper, RN, CKC, BET
Founder/Director Waterbirth International

Access to hydrotherapy in labor is a standard and important vital comfort management practice globally and in the U.S. and is beloved by birthing parents and midwives for its comforting and beneficial effects. With many hospitals closing off access to their waterbirth tubs during the pandemic, community midwives are grappling with questions about waterbirth safety, offering water birth to their clients and how to address and mitigate risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barbara Harper will examine and discuss evidence and practical considerations and modification of protocols during this public health crisis. Barbara is an internationally recognized expert on waterbirth who teaches within hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery and medical school worldwide. Her award winning book and DVD, Gentle Birth Choices, has influenced hundreds of thousands of parents and professionals and has been translated into nine languages.

Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen – Considerations for Use During COVID-19
Michael Civitello, Sales Manager at Porter Instruments
Nitrous oxide has long been considered safe for pain relief in labor around the world and increasingly in the U.S. As more birthing people want to avoid transfer from community settings to the hospital during the coronavirus public health crisis, its use has taken on new relevance for pain management in community settings. Recently, the Society for Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) recommended against the use of nitrous oxide for pain relief during labor, citing safety concerns related to COVID-19. Michael Civitello will discuss Porter Instruments’ response to SOAP’s statement and concerns about lack of evidence for their recommendation. He will address best practices for infection control including issues regarding instrument cleaning, filtering and aerosolization. Michael is the Sales Manager for Porter Instruments, responsible for sales of nitrous oxide and oxygen systems globally. He participated with a group of professionals – midwives, nurses, doctors and anesthesiologists – to make nitrous oxide and oxygen available within the labor and delivery space.

Protecting Midwives and the Use of Masks
Mary Lawlor, CPM, LM
Although community midwives are only caring for pregnant people who are not overtly ill with the novel coronavirus, recent studies reveal that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic and can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. In light of this new evidence, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings wherever social distancing is difficult to maintain, which for midwives includes necessary in-person prenatal and postpartum visits and labor. It is critical for community midwives to be protected against the virus, but with the severe shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including approved N-95 and surgical masks, community midwives are left without adequate protection. The limited research on cloth face coverings does not show them to be very effective, but new research in light of COVID-19 suggests they can be constructed to perform better. Mary will share the findings of this new research and options for midwives to better protect themselves. Mary is a long-time home and birth center midwife in southern New England and a founder and executive director of NACPM.

Enhancing Safety and Mitigating Risk During the Pandemic
Jennifer Ross, CPM
Across the country, pregnant parents are worried about the virus and exploring their options for birth, and, in increasing numbers, choosing home birth midwives and birth centers for their care. Although their fear is of COVID-19 in the hospital, the reality is that the real spread of the virus is in the community, putting community midwives at risk of contracting the disease and of spreading it. While there are overlapping safety concerns and practices protocols between birth center and home birth, the home birth setting involves special challenges. While there is no official guidance for homebirth midwives, Jennifer Ross will share homebirth protocols and practices she has collected and curated to support midwives to enhance safety and mitigate risk. Jennifer, an NACPM board member, is a former engineer, manager and developer who lived and worked overseas for 17 years. She graduated from the Midwives College of Utah and is licensed in CA and in NH where she currently has a homebirth practice.

Please join!

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Midwives and the U.S. Census: Making Sure Every Child Counts

Midwives and the U.S. Census: Making Sure Every Child Counts
Thursday, April 23, 2020 1:00-3:00 ET

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Very young children, from infants to four years old, are historically the population at greatest risk of being undercounted in the U.S. Census, with an estimated one million uncounted in the 2010 Census. Many federal programs, that support young children, families and communities, such as nutritional assistance, Head Start and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, rely on accurate data about where young children live to provide foundational services for children. The 2020 Census will dictate the distribution of more than $675 billion dollars of federal programs, and the Bureau is making a concerted effort to address this issue by creating community partnerships.

NACPM is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to provide information and support to midwives across the country so they can help ensure an accurate count of newborns and young children. Claire Ross, Account Manager of the National Partnership Program at the U.S. Census Bureau and this webinar’s keynote presenter, believes that midwives can play an essential role as trusted voices in reaching out to parents and caregivers to remind and encourage them to include babies and children in the 2020 Census.

We are most pleased that Micaela Cadena of New Mexico and Rhonda Lee Grantham of Washington State, both long time advocates for birthing people, babies and families, will join the webinar to present about their communities’ context and challenges with counting young children in the Census. Micaela Cadena is the Research Director of Bold Futures (formerly Young Women United) and a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Rhonda Lee Grantham, a cultural anthropologist, is an Indigenous Midwife from the Cowlitz Nation and the founder of the Center for Indigenous Midwifery.

Please join us for this important webinar so you can do your part to ensure inclusion of babies and children in the federal programs that matter so much to families and communities.

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