NACPM Awarded New Grant to Expand Step Up Together Program Nationwide

We are proud to announce that the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM) has been awarded $150,000 per year for two years in partnership with Primary Maternity Care (PMC) to expand the Step Up Together® program across the country—with a specific focus on Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs).

Step Up Together® is a nationally recognized initiative that strengthens emergency preparedness and transfer coordination between community midwives, EMS, and hospitals. Using interdisciplinary drills, expert coaching, and peer learning, the program improves safety, teamwork, and communication across care settings.

This grant—made possible by generous support from the Skyline Foundation—will allow NACPM and PMC to make these tools more widely accessible and sustainable for midwives working in diverse settings.

What This Grant Will Make Possible:

  • Expand Action Collaboratives: Train up to 48 community-based teams (home birth practices, birth centers, referral hospitals, and EMS) to run interdisciplinary transfer drills over the next two years.

  • Launch Open-Access Courses: Create online training to support midwives and interprofessional teams in using Drill Kits and applying quality improvement tools

  • Distribute Simulation-Based Intermittent Auscultation Training: Provide 350 subsidized licenses for evidence-based Intermittent Auscultation Simulation-Based Education to NACPM professional members nationwide.

  • Embed Tools in CPM Education & Certification: Develop a national strategy to integrate transfer drills and quality improvement into midwifery training and ongoing professional development.

  • Disseminate Results Nationwide: Present outcomes, stories, and lessons learned through webinars, conferences, and digital outreach to amplify impact and inspire replication.

This initiative builds on PMC’s evidence-based model and NACPM’s strong network of CPMs and birth centers. Together, we will improve clinical safety, strengthen collaboration between community and hospital systems, and support midwives in providing high-quality, coordinated care.

We’re deeply grateful to the Skyline Foundation for making this work possible—and to all of you who are transforming maternal health in your communities. We look forward to sharing updates and inviting participation as the project unfolds.

In solidarity,
Cassaundra Jah
Executive Director, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives

Amy Romano
CEO, Primary Maternity Care