| | How Do We Make Teachers of Our Students?By: Autumn Cavender, CPM |
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| “It is always our goal to make teachers of our students.”
In 2016, less than two years into my independent midwifery practice, I began apprenticing with the Dakota master quillwork artists David and Merna Lewis. The pair had spent years revitalizing the art: learning from their own elders, looking at old books, combing through museum archives, trying to figure out how certain techniques were done by our ancestors. In other words, they had done a lifetime’s worth of revitalization work so that their students wouldn’t have to. So that their students could go farther than they had.
So, like every good birth nerd, I immediately rerouted what David said into birth, babies, and midwifery.
Without students, there is no legacy for midwifery. Without more of us who are insane enough to choose this lifestyle, with all its ups and downs, triumphs and heartbreaks, glories and frustrations, there isn’t a midwifery to continue. And as more and more cases of student mistreatment, exploitation, and abuse come to light, it is up to us to take a hard look at ourselves, the legacy that came down to us, and the legacy we want to pass on. As teachers and midwives, how do we do some work so that our students do not have to? How do we make sure that our students can go farther than we can now?
How do we make teachers of our students?
To be clear here, I do not have the answers. I do not know how to teach people to function at back-to-back births in rural places where you may not have backup without keeping someone awake 48+ hours, 72 if you can sneak catnaps in. I do not know how to teach the humanity required without scrubbing feces and vomit from someone’s carpet. I do not know how to teach humility without the practice of giving firm and blunt feedback, not all of it good.
But I do know that our divorce rates are too high. That our adrenal (and overall) health is usually quite terrible. That many of us will die of the same reproductive cancers that we screen for, or else by car accidents because we were just too used to driving while tired. And I know that our students, our future midwives, deserve better than that.
They deserve generosity with our knowledge and experience. They deserve compassion. They deserve support. They deserve leniency (at least to a point). They deserve it from us because the work of midwifery will not give it to them. |
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| Precious Arrows is a woman-owned business that has served midwives and their clients for over 20 years. What began as a home-based venture has grown into a trusted provider of midwifery supplies, offering a wide range of products with a focus on affordability and customer service.
Founded by Kelley O’Briant, a former doula and midwife’s assistant, the company draws inspiration from a deep sense of purpose and care for growing families. Her personal experience in birth work continues to shape the way Precious Arrows supports the midwifery community through both heart and business.
Learn more at PreciousArrows.com. |
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| Annual Members’ Meeting Recap |
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| Did you miss this year’s Annual Meeting on March 17? No worries! Watch the recording!
We reflected on the past year’s progress and looked ahead to the future of the CPM profession. We were honored to welcome our guest speaker, Dr. Melissa Cheyney. |
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| Additionally, the NACPM Board and staff presented the 2025 Impact and Progress Report, highlighting key achievements, advocacy efforts, and the ongoing work to advance midwifery care.
Not yet a member? Now is the perfect time to join the NACPM community. Become a member today. We offer opportunities for professional development through our continuing education webinars. In addition, there are numerous membership benefits, such as listing your practice in our national directory, as well as discounts on journals and professional liability insurance. |
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| Our Workforce Report is Here! |
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| After hundreds of hours of work, collaboration, and careful analysis, NACPM is proud to release the FIRST-EVER national Workforce and Compensation Report for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs).
This report, based on 2024 data, offers one of the clearest pictures we have ever had of the realities of CPMs in the United States — how these midwives practice, the structure of our workforce, and the compensation and economic conditions that shape sustainability in the profession.
Inside the report, you’ll find data on: Workforce demographics and years in practice
Practice settings and organizational structures
Compensation models and reimbursement patterns
On-call labor and workload realities
Education pathways and workforce trends
We are deeply grateful to the midwives who completed the survey and to the volunteers who helped us design and refine the questions for this inaugural report. Our goal is to make this an annual report so that the CPM community — and the policymakers who shape healthcare systems — can track workforce trends over time.
Get Involved Read the report, explore the data, and share it with colleagues, legislators, and partners. Become an NACPM member! Membership helps make work like this possible. Participate in the 2025 Workforce Survey, which will be released in the coming months. The more participation we have, the stronger and more accurate our understanding of the profession becomes. Subscribe for updates at NACPM.org to ensure you receive emails about survey participation.
Community midwives provide essential, relationship-centered care across the country. Documenting the workforce behind that care is a critical step toward building systems that support all midwives — and the families who depend on them. Thank you for being part of this work! |
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| Help Wanted for State Legislation Project |
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| We’re in need of a short-term volunteer for a small state legislation project. The project consists of setting up an account to get notified on any babies, birth, and midwifery related bills. We’re estimating approximately 10 hours of work total. Multiple volunteers are okay. Interested? Contact us! |
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| | | Board and Executive Director Travels |
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| In March 2026, NACPM Executive Director Cassaundra Jah took three trips with the purpose of advocating for the midwifery profession, strengthening relationships with funders, and establishing relationships for further collaboration. Take a look… |
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| NACPM, Uplift Lab, and BCE Gathering |
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| Cassaundra Jah and Uplift Lab Co-Director Melissa Cheyney met with Birth Center Equity Co-founder & CEO Leseliey Welch, alongside the BCE team, to talk about coordination of efforts between Beloved Birth 50 By 50 and the Think Big Initiative. These two midwifery-led projects center midwives as the solution to the perinatal healthcare crisis, focusing on healthy birthing families having access and ability to choose where and with whom they give birth. |
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| 2026 National Black Midwives Alliance Conference |
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| The 2026 National Black Midwives Alliance Conference was held in mid-March in Hampton, VA. This year’s powerful theme was “Rooted in Legacy. Rising in Power.” The conference brought together Black midwives, students, birth workers, and allies for learning, connection, and collective advancement.
Executive Director Cassaundra Jah and Board President-Elect Tigist Ejeta presented on “Workforce, Compensation, and Practice Trends Among NARM-Examined Midwives: Preliminary National Data.” |
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| National Strategic Medicaid Maternal Health Coalition 2026 Convening |
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| The National Strategic Medicaid Maternal Health Coalition Convening took place in Chicago on March 25 & 26. This convening centers on the work of advancing maternal health and birth equity in Medicaid. Cassaundra and others mapped care networks, heard powerful voices in Indigenous birth justice and birth center equity, and worked in Strategy Labs to turn big ideas into action. The work continues! |
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| Join Us at NACPM’s Virtual Conference! |
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| We’re thrilled to announce NACPM’s first-ever virtual conference, “Centering Midwives, Restoring Care,” taking place May 20–21, 2026.
This two-day, immersive, virtual experience will bring together leading voices across clinical care, education, advocacy, research, equity, and systems change. With a strong emphasis on the latest research and evidence-based practice, this conference is designed to support and strengthen midwifery leadership at every level.
What to expect: 2 full days of live, virtual programming 4 learning sessions per day with interactive Q&A 12 MEAC continuing education contact hours (pending)
This conference is for YOU. Whether you are a midwife, educator, student, or advocate, you’ll connect with others committed to advancing perinatal health, racial equity, workforce sustainability, and system-level change.
Together, we’ll foster a supportive birth ecosystem for growth, leadership, and long-term impact in midwifery.
Registration is now open!
Want more savings? Become an NACPM member to receive an additional discount code. CPMs and Friends of NACPM get 20% off; students get 30% off. Discount codes are emailed to members. Contact us if you have any questions!
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| April 2026 Silent AuctionBlind Date With a Book Basket |
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| This month’s NACPM Silent Auction is sponsored by NACPM Board Member Autumn Cavender. Unwind and treat yourself to a blind date with a book! Enjoy a compilation of items from southwest Minnesota: A surprise book, a candle, a card, chai mix, a mug, a hot chocolate spoon, and room aromatics. Starting bid: $40. |
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| | Every bid helps advance Certified Professional Midwives through advocacy, education, and community programs that protect informed choice in birth. Each item you win directly supports access to safe, respectful, and culturally grounded maternity care.
Browse, bid, and share to stand with midwives and the people who choose their care. |
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| | “NACPM works tirelessly to lobby for federal recognition, reimbursement, and inclusion in healthcare legislation—because when midwives are at the table, maternal and infant health improves. Your support of this auction helps us continue fighting for policies like the Midwives for MOMs Act, the BABIES Act, and the federalization of the CPM credential to allow CPMs to work in IHS and FQHC facilities, thereby ensuring that CPMs can serve more families across the country. Let’s come together to support midwifery at every level!” — Autumn Cavender, CPM |
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| | This Joint Commission/NQF publication includes the first update to the Serious Reportable Events List since 2011, reflecting evolving care settings and developed through a rigorous, consensus-driven process with more than 70 experts and public input. The 75-minute webinar covers:
Participant Learning Objectives: Explaining the alignment of Joint Commissions’ Sentinel Events list and the National Quality forum’s (NQF) Serious Reportable Events (SRE) List Identify the four key updates to NQF’s SRE List Use the report to review patient safety events for qualification as SREs.
Webinar approved for 1.25 Credits from ACCME, ANCC, ACHE, California Board of Registered Nursing, and NAHQ/CPHQ. To earn credit participants must: 1. Individually register for the webinar. 2. Complete the entire webinar recording. 3. Complete a post-program evaluation/attestation survey. Survey link to be provided in the slides and post webinar email. |
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| Notice of Public Comment Regarding LCPMs in Massachusetts |
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| The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has approved the CPM Licensing Regulation —274 CMR 3.00: Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Licensure Requirements — for public comment! This regulation will allow the Board to begin issuing temporary licenses for Licensed Certified Professional Midwives.
A public hearing on this regulation will be held on April 23, 2026 by the Board of Registration in Midwifery (“Midwifery Board”). This is an important and long awaited step in the process of implementing the sweeping 2024 Massachusetts perinatal bill, “An Act Promoting Access to Midwifery Care and Out-of-Hospital Birth Options.”
To submit testimony in support of the regulation, please email Regulations. This regulation is the first regulation being proposed by the Board, in order to establish temporary licensure as quickly as possible, while other aspects of licensure are being developed. DPH expects these additional regulations to be submitted in the coming year. |
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| Apply to the Midwifery Policy Collective |
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| Are you passionate about expanding access to community-based midwifery model of care through local policy? Do you participate in a team that supports state-based policy change to improve perinatal health? Would you like support from a network of national partners to advance your policy goals?
If so, then consider joining the Midwifery Policy Collective! We announced back in October our grant with Pritzker Children’s Initiative and partnership of a 15-month initiative that will support a closed cohort of teams in their efforts to promote awareness among the public and policymakers about the value of community-based midwifery.
What’s included? Tailored technical assistance including support for capacity building, communications, engagement strategies, and other consultations Shared learning opportunities (virtual and in-person) In-person, 2-day convening (fall 2026) A suite of curated resources and tools for advancing community-based midwifery Opportunities for peer-to-peer collaboration with other state-based teams Grant funds to support project implementation activities ($50,000–$150,000) And more!
Informational webinars will begin the first half of April (April 2 & 15), with applications due April 27th. |
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| New “Employment” Section Added to Our Website! |
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| Do you have a CPM-related job, fellowship, preceptorship or clinical placement? Post it on our website. We now have a section titled “Employment” on our home page just for this!
This feature is only for NACPM members. Become a member today to get started. Contact us for more information. |
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| Midwives’ Association of Washington State2026 Legislative Update |
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| The cap on midwifery professional licensing fees was preserved. The current annual fee cap of $525 was preserved in the final supplemental budget. Without this cap, licensing fees would be dramatically higher and risk the loss of practicing licensed midwives (LMs). This cap is critical to preserving access to patient-centered, high-quality, cost-effective care with a family’s chosen provider. Under state law, professional licensing fees are required to cover the regulation of the profession; this burdens licenses with a small number of providers. Thank you to legislators for the support on this longstanding provision!
HB 2329, authorizing LMs to hire and direct MAs, did not make it this year. Unfortunately, the bill stalled on the House floor even though it came out of committee unanimously. This was a short, intense legislative session, but we can bring it back in the future! This bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Barnard, would authorize licensed midwives to delegate tasks to medical assistants (within their scope of practice), and continue to collaborate with lactation consultants. The bill would support midwives’ clinical operations, strengthen team-based care, sustainability, and practice growth, and would especially assist rural health care providers. Midwives can already direct RNs and this bill simply adds LMs to a list of provider types that can direct MAs. The ability to direct MAs would also be essential for LMs who wish to work in Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Establishing a cap on birth center licensing fees was achieved. With the passage of an amendment to the state budget, called a proviso, birth center (BC) licensing fees are capped at $998 for fiscal year 2027. Without the cap, licensing fees were scheduled to increase from $731 to $3,000 per year which would have been an increase of over 400%. This cap will especially help our smallest birth centers including those that are rural who are serving maternity care deserts and the underserved.
Looking Ahead…
Sunrise Review We will be asking for a Sunrise Review for licensed midwives to be able to offer routine sexual and reproductive healthcare across the reproductive years. This increased access would improve preventative and interpregnancy care, with emphasis on supporting rural communities & the urban underserved. Midwives already provide this care during pregnancy & postpartum. If you are interested in supporting this effort, consider joining our team!
Other Bills We Supported: HB 2429/SB 6224 — Supporting Children and Youth Behavioral Health (HB 2429 passed!) Restore funding for Perinatal Psychiatry Consultation Line for Providers (Perinatal PCL; PAL was funded!) HB 5906 — SAFE Act. Requires a warrant to access non-public healthcare areas (didn’t make it through) SB 6212 — Creating a families with children benefit pilot program (didn’t make it through)
Want to connect with Midwives’ Association of Washington State? Contact Kristin Effland. |
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| | Our state chapter's treasurer, Shoaf Camp, put together a group of midwives to collaborate with the Step Up Together program with area EMS in February. We have been holding monthly meetings to discuss what's going on in the state and we have peer review quarterly.
We invite Arkansas midwives to join our state chapter! Contact Camellia May. |
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| Hawaii is Now an Official NACPM State Chapter! |
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| We are delighted to announce that the Hawaii Chapter has become NACPM’s newest State Chapter. This dedicated network of midwives joins us in advancing NACPM’s vision of a primary birth care system in which every birthing person has access to a midwife, where birthplace is a family’s choice, and where all childbearing people and their babies have the same chance to be healthy.
State chapters play a vital role in bringing NACPM’s mission to life at the local level. They create opportunities for midwives to connect, share resources, and build collective strength in advocating for the profession. By working together within their states, chapters are able to address unique community needs while contributing to the larger national movement for equity and access in perinatal care.
With their leadership and commitment to community-centered care, the Hawaii NACPM Chapter becomes an invaluable part of this work. Their presence strengthens our unified voice to shape policy, protect our profession, and support healthy beginnings for all families. We are honored to welcome the Hawaii NACPM Chapter and invite those interested in joining to do so here! |
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| Join Us for NACPM’s Midwifery Student Social Hour! |
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| NACPM warmly invites you to our Midwifery Student Social Hour — a space for student midwives to connect, share experiences, engage with NACPM leaders, and discuss the unique challenges and opportunities within midwifery education and practice.
Date: June 10, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM PST | 3:00 PM CST | 4:00 PM EST
Learn more and register. We hope to see you there! |
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| ACNM Health Policy Summit |
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| The American College of Nurse-Midwives is hosting its Health Policy Summit & Hill Day May 4-5, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
The Summit is designed to support the advancement of public policy impacting the midwifery profession and the people midwives serve. The meeting will provide midwives with an opportunity to learn how to effectively communicate the importance of proposed legislation impacting the midwifery profession, including back home at your state capital.
Hill Day allows members and midwifery supporters to engage with congressional offices to discuss their work and share their perspective on how policy impacts the work they do daily and the profession at large. ACNM Hill Day attendees will discuss the association’s federal legislative priorities during the 120th Session of Congress, including support for the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act, the Midwives for MOMS Act, the PRECEPT Nurses Act, and more. We encourage all members interested in moving the policy needle for midwifery to join us. |
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| VIEW OUR EVENT CALENDAR HERE. (If viewing on mobile device, hover over the gray calendar boxes.)
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT 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. |
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| | NACPM is proud to be supported by hundreds of individual donors and these visionary foundations. |
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