August 2025 Newsletter - Access : Midwives in Rural & Underserved Communities

Access : Midwives in Rural & Underserved Communities

͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

Access : Midwives in Rural & Underserved Communities Lisa Peña Midwives are essential, helpful, and cherished in rural and underserved communities, and simultaneously, face enormous challenges. In rural areas of New Mexico, and many other states, it’s not unusual to drive up to 100 miles to provide midwifery care. Often, midwives who serve multiple counties or clients in rural locations will coordinate such that they are able to see multiple families in a “travel day,” which can sometimes mean seeing 2-4 clients in a couple to a few hundred mile radius, roundtrip. Obviously, this puts additional stress on the midwife, and their vehicle, as they will have to plan accordingly for any appropriate and timely lab testing if provided in or out of the home, as well as coordinating with clients, not to mention their own families. Many will also have to consider external and… Continue Reading New Advocacy Stance on Collaborative Agreements & Interprofessional Relationships The NACPM Board is proud to release a new advocacy stance addressing collaborative agreements and interprofessional relationships. This statement centers the impact of forced contracts on client choice, equity, and systemic trust, while affirming that Certified Professional Midwives should be recognized as autonomous primary care providers. It calls for removing mandatory collaborative agreements—which can undermine midwifery autonomy and limit access to care—and instead building integrated, respectful care systems that prioritize client-centered collaboration. Read About It Here Seeking Information on Private Insurance Reimbursement for CPMs We are gathering essential data on how private insurance companies reimburse Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). This includes insights on how the reimbursement is structured—whether through state mandates, gap coverage, direct contracting, or other mechanisms. If you have experience or knowledge in this area, please help us strengthen our understanding and advocacy by sending any relevant information to Cassaundra at executivedirector@nacpm.org Your contributions are invaluable in shaping a clearer path toward better insurance access for CPMs and the communities they serve. Protecting Pregnancy in a Warming World Extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s a growing health risk for pregnant people and their babies. As climate change drives more frequent, intense, and prolonged heat waves, the stakes for maternal and newborn health are rising. Even a single day of extreme heat can increase the risk of dehydration, preterm birth, or serious complications. APHA’s new resource, Climate Change: Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Health, outlines the science, the risks, and the practical steps individuals, communities, and policymakers can take to protect pregnant people during high-heat events. It includes actionable tips for staying cool and safe, along with policy recommendations to make sure no one is left vulnerable. Download Handout Global Midwives Survey on Climate Change: Share Your Voice NACPM is excited to share an important research opportunity for midwives worldwide. A team of researchers is conducting a study to better understand midwives’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding climate change and environmentally sustainable healthcare. Your participation will help highlight the unique role midwives can play in advancing climate-conscious care and strengthening global health systems. This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee at Griffith University (GU Ref No: 2025/198) and ratified by the UTS Human Research Ethics Committee (REF NO: ETH25-10788). Survey details: Takes only 10–15 minutes to complete Completely anonymous, with no identifying information collected Available online until 30 September 2025 Your voice matters. By participating you’ll be helping to ensure midwives from every region and practice setting are represented in this important research. Together, we can amplify midwifery’s leadership in creating sustainable, equitable healthcare systems. #MidwivesForSustainableHealthcare #ClimateChangeAndMidwifery Global Midwives Survey on Climate Change The NACPM Newsletter is a trusted source of information, updates, and opportunities for Certified Professional Midwives, students, educators, and allies across the country. With a highly engaged readership, our newsletter provides sponsors with a unique opportunity to connect directly with midwives, maternal health professionals, and advocates who are deeply committed to improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Why Sponsor Our Newsletter? Direct Reach: Engage with a nationwide audience of midwives, students, and supporters. High Engagement: Our readership values the resources, events, and updates we share, making this an ideal channel to highlight your organization. Mission Alignment: Showcase your commitment to supporting midwifery, maternal health, and birth equity by aligning with NACPM’s values and vision. By sponsoring the NACPM Newsletter, you are not only increasing visibility for your organization but also directly contributing to the advancement of midwifery and the health of families across the United States. Visit our sponsor page for more information.  We invite you to take the Birth by Birth Pledge—a commitment to support NACPM’s legislative and advocacy work with a donation of just $10 for every birth you attend this year. Whether you’ve attended five births or fifty, your work has ripple effects beyond the birth room. Every pledge fuels campaigns that expand access, protect your right to practice, and ensure midwives have a voice in shaping the future of care. Take the Pledge. Support the Movement. Birth by Birth. Take the Birth by Birth Pledge Now We are excited to announce the launch of an annual National Workforce and Compensation Survey designed specifically for midwives who have passed the NARM exam. Whether you attend one birth a year or serve a full client load, your experience matters deeply—and we need your voice to build a clear, accurate picture of our profession. Why This Survey Matters The goal of this study is to collect comprehensive data on the work structures, compensation models, and lived experiences of LMs and CPMs across the United States. With your input, we’ll be able to: Advocate for fair pay and sustainable workloads Improve public policy and reimbursement models Identify disparities and opportunities in midwifery employment Plan for the future of a strong, community-rooted CPM workforce This survey is detailed by design. Every data point brings us closer to understanding what it really takes to do this work—and what it will take to make it sustainable. Learn More and Complete the Survey This Month’s Auction Item: Supporting Families in Their Birth Choices A message from NACPM’s Treasurer, Catrice Harris: As a board member and community midwife, I have seen firsthand how NACPM’s work impacts our profession and communities. One area I’m especially passionate about is supporting families who never thought a home birth—or even a truly supported birth—was possible. Every family deserves to feel welcome and empowered to make their own informed choices about care. Birth impacts society in profound ways, and having even a small share in improving these experiences gives life real purpose. This month, NACPM is excited to feature three separate auction items in our monthly auction! A beautifully curated Pregnancy Gift Box, a Pregnancy Essentials Kit & Mama Natural Birth Course Bundle. 🌿 Pregnancy Gift Box – A hardcover leather journal and matching pen for capturing thoughts and dreams, a ceramic coffee mug with coordinating coaster, a premium chocolate bar, and a soothing blend of fine tea—perfect for quiet moments of reflection and nourishment. 🌿 Bestselling Pregnancy Essentials – Organic Prenatal Multivitamins (whole-food, one-a-day formula, 100% organic) Prenatal Probiotics (supporting a healthy microbiome for mama and baby) Multi Collagen Protein (unflavored, mixes easily into coffee or smoothies) Birth Comb (a natural acupressure tool for labor support) Pregnancy Affirmation Cards (daily encouragements to feel grounded and confident) 🌿 Mama Natural Birth Course – Led by Genevieve Howland and CNM Maura Winkler, this award-winning course is the most comprehensive natural childbirth education program available online. Perfect for home, birth center, or natural hospital births, the self-paced modules cover labor stages, comfort techniques, partner support strategies, postpartum recovery, and newborn care. ✨ Whether each item is auctioned separately, or all bundled together by a special winner, it is sure to offer inspiration, comfort, and empowerment for every step of the pregnancy and birth journey. Please help us spread the word—share this opportunity with your clients and community! All proceeds directly support NACPM’s mission to advance equity, access, and sustainability in midwifery. Place your Bid Now NACPM  invites you to our Midwifery Student Social Hour—a space for student midwives to connect, share experiences, and discuss the unique challenges and opportunities within midwifery education and practice. Date: September 17th, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM PST | 5:00 PM CST | 6:00 PM EST Learn more & register: NACPM.ORG/MIDWIFERYSTUDENTSOCIAL This is your opportunity to engage with NACPM leaders, voice your concerns in a supportive space, and build a strong network of peers. We look forward to seeing you there! Calling All Student Midwives! Careers In Birth Centers Tuesday, September 16  (2:00-3:30 ET/1:00 -2:30 CT/11 am PT Click here to register! Are you a student midwife thinking about your future? Are you wondering what a birth center career pathway would be like? Are you an advocate or donor wanting to learn more about growing the midwifery workforce? Please join us for this interactive workshop where midwifery educators, birth center leaders, and midwifery students will share information and experience about what it means to prepare for, transition into, and work as a birth center based midwife.  Speakers: Darian Thomas, Student Midwife Birth Detroit (Detroit MI) Lisa Kane Low or Ruth Zeilinksi, University of Michigan School of Nursing (Ann Arbor, MI) Nikkia Grayson, CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health (Memphis, TN) Sara Ceiba Flores,  ReClaim Midwifery & Healing Services (Oakland, CA) Facilitator:  Gianna Fay, Midwifery Innovation Director, Birth Center Equity Arkansas Chapter Update The Arkansas chapter continues to gather on the first Thursday of each month. In July, members held peer review, and in August, they met to listen to educational sessions planned by CPMs. The chapter also revisited recommendations submitted by the midwives’ committee to the state Department of Health, recommendations that, despite nearly two years of waiting, have yet to be acted upon. Arkansas Licensed Midwives continue to face significant challenges with the state’s management of their licenses. NACPM is in the process of considering the application of the Oregon based organization Oregon Midwifery Council (OMC) to become a State Partner with NACPM. Part of our process of considering Partner applications is requesting public comment. Public comments provide an opportunity for our community to inform the NACPM Board's decision making process and allow NACPM to benefit from our community's expertise and perspective. Through a public comment a member of the public can assist NACPM in making the best informed decision when considering State Partner Applications. Please provide any additional facts, information, or opinions you think NACPM should know when considering the partner organization on our form linked below. Comments will be accepted until the end of day September 5, 2025.    Public Comment Form: Partnership Application for the Oregon Midwifery Council Level Forward, the award-winning production company founded by Abigail Disney, in partnership with Population Media Center, is seeking submissions for a new series of narrative short films: Black Motherhood: Real Outcomes/Future Visions. This series will explore both the current realities and possible futures of Black motherhood in the United States, offering a powerful look into lived experiences and aspirations across diverse socioeconomic, geographic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Given the deep research behind the Beloved Birth Black Maternal Health campaign and Camara’s own filmmaking, we are excited to share this opportunity with our community. Please feel free to spread the word widely. We’re putting together new materials to share the powerful impact of Certified Professional Midwives and community birth—and we’d love to feature images from our members that reflect the depth, diversity, and beauty of this work. We’re especially seeking high-quality photos of midwives in action—during prenatal visits, births, and postpartum care. We welcome images that show community-based settings (home, birth center), culturally congruent care, and the rich racial, cultural, and gender diversity within midwifery and the families we serve. If you’re a midwife or photographer with images to share: Please ensure you have permission from anyone pictured. If the photo was taken by a professional, we ask that you confirm their permission as well. We offer compensation as a token of our gratitude for any images used in printed materials or you can choose to donate usage in support of NACPM’s mission. Credit will be given for all images used in digital materials whenever possible. Thank you for helping us tell the story of midwifery with authenticity and care. Your images make our collective work visible. Questions? Contact Communications at admin@nacpm.org. Submit your photos here Inspire Change, Educate Communities, and Build the Future of Care Midwifery changes lives. Whether you are a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), student midwife, client, or advocate, your story can help raise awareness, inspire change, and strengthen our collective movement for equitable access to midwifery care. Midwifery is more than a model of care—it’s love, trust, resilience, and transformation. Every birth, every challenge, every moment of connection tells a story that can change hearts and minds. When you share your story, you help others see the beauty and impact of midwifery—and why it must be accessible to all. Your voice can inspire, educate, and ignite change. We’re listening. By sharing your experience, you help: ✔ Educate the public and policymakers about the impact of midwifery. ✔ Advocate for legislation that expands access to CPM care. ✔ Support the next generation of midwives and birth advocates. We want to hear from you! Tell us how midwifery has impacted your life, the challenges you’ve faced, or why you believe in the power of CPM care. Your story can be featured on NACPM’s website, newsletters, social media, and advocacy campaigns to help grow awareness and drive meaningful change. Share Your Story Now VIEW OUR EVENT CALENDAR HERE If you or people in your network/community are hosting relevant events, or events that offer CEUs to midwives, please share this form with them so that we can feature their event on our calendar. SUBMIT YOUR EVENT HERE Thank you for helping us showcase the incredible work happening in the midwifery community! EXPLORE NACPM’S RESEARCH AND CURRENT EVENTS PAGE If you come across relevant research or news you'd like to share, we’d appreciate hearing from you. Please send suggestions to communications@nacpm.org. NACPM is proud to be supported by hundreds of individual donors and these visionary foundations. © 2025 NACPM 8120 RESEARCH BLVD STE 105 PMB 140 If you do not wish to receive further communication like this, unsubscribe here.

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