The commitment of the NACPM to our Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) certification begins with our midwifery students. We must recognize that the strength and future of our profession are deeply rooted in the education and nurturing of our future midwives. This year, I am dedicated to advancing these collective resolutions, understanding that they are vital not just to the individuals involved, but to the broader health and wellbeing of the communities we serve.

Today, the importance of perinatal and infant health in the United States is more evident than ever before. The momentum we have seen this year, fueled by advocates, community-based partners, policymakers, and others, clearly indicates the collective will to address this issue as a national community.

At NACPM, our daily endeavor is to weave community midwifery into the fabric of options for consumers and the field of perinatal healthcare. This mission, ambitious in its scope, is made achievable by your unwavering partnership and support.

On December 18th, we joined hundreds of thousands of viewers across the United States in watching  “Homebirth Journey: Saving Black Moms” on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. In her report, CNN anchor Abby Phillip delves into the persistently high maternal mortality rates for Black women, exploring the reasons behind this alarming disparity and those dedicated to instigating change.  Abby connects with mothers who are choosing alternative paths, opting out of conventional hospital births.

Among the individuals awarded a total of  $30,000 in direct aid by The Tanya Khemet Taiwo Midwifery Scholarship Fund in 2022 is Chanté Perryman, a midwifery student at Mercy In Action College of Midwifery. Chanté's aspirations extend beyond personal achievement; she envisions establishing a freestanding birth center in Kentucky, providing crucial support to Black and Brown families. Her dedication to midwifery stems from a profound commitment to bridging gaps within the healthcare system, offering steadfast support, education, and advocacy during the pivotal and vulnerable moments of childbirth.

Beyond its deep roots in cultural traditions, midwifery has inspired various art forms, including literature, painting, music, and film. This recognition by UNESCO would not only reflect the historical contributions of midwifery but also its ongoing role in society

NACPM believes in ensuring safe, high-quality, respectful care for all women and childbearing people and opposes their oppression and subjection to war and violence. We join the voices of protesters across the nation in the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. NACPM, a member association of the International Confederation of Midwives, stands in solidarity with midwives around the world in the demand for safety for all Israeli and Palestinian midwives, mothers, and babies.

In 2022, with support from Direct Relief International, NACPM  launched The Tanya Khemet Taiwo Midwifery Scholarship Fund in response to the stark underrepresentation of Black and Indigenous midwives in the Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) workforce. At the heart of this initiative, NACPM is  dedicated to elevating outcomes for all individuals and infants during childbirth, fostering a CPM workforce that reflects diverse backgrounds, and working towards essential changes within the current U.S. birthing care systems.

The Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council is Hiring a Director of Accreditation (DA).

The Director of Accreditation (DA) oversees the accreditation aspects of the organization and supervises the accreditation team, including Accreditation Coordinators, volunteers, and consultants. This role stewards new and ongoing relationships with member schools and manages the process of continuing recognition as an accrediting agency with the USDE.  

Here we see Star guide Raven, who is expecting her first child, through her last month of pregnancy, from prenatal visits to the intimate experience of giving birth on her kitchen floor. Through observational black-and-white footage, the film documents an act of defiance and radical self-empowerment by Black women – mothers and midwives.

NACPM is in an exciting time of transition and expansion. We are reimagining our future, assessing what has worked for us and learning about ways that we can be more supportive to the CPM community. We are building a board that will identify the next  steps in our strategic approach and our new Executive leadership. Serving on the NACPM board is exciting and rewarding work, providing opportunities to contribute to the profession and to develop leadership skills.

The Executive Director of NACPM leads the association towards achieving its vision, purpose, values and commitments. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall management of NACPM including all personnel, operations, financial management, strategic planning, project development, marketing, and fundraising efforts of the organization, to support and implement the mission. Additionally, the Executive Director holds primary responsibility for developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with stakeholders, and serving as a policy advocate for the integration of CPMs in the maternity care system.

The Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) has launched a national learning series addressing the essential elements of midwifery business case development to provide services to Medicaid enrollees. The project utilizes an interactive virtual, salon-style format, bringing together Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) focused, Medicaid-serving midwives and midwifery practices with national experts in business development, Medicaid, and midwifery.