 |  | | The year 2025 bringsa shift in leadership at all levels of government and with it, policy changes that may have significant impacts on midwives and the communities we serve. This election ignites many complex issues, evoking a range of emotions as we collectively navigate what these changes mean for ourselves, our families, loved ones, our profession, and our scope of practice. NACPM urges midwives to keep our history in mind. We are a proud and resilient community of healers, leaders, and innovators. Let us stay inspired by the vital |
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| work we do - supporting families through the most transformative moments of their lives - and continue advocating for policies that uphold equitable and compassionate care.
Let us also be inspired that the United States is in the midst of a bold reimagining of how birth is protected. With growing recognition of the pivotal role midwives play in improving maternal health outcomes, the vision for tomorrow’s CPM truly centers on our awareness of our capacity to become the primary maternity care providers for low-risk pregnancies in the United States.
For generations, we have served our communities at the intersection of need, expertise, and intuitive calling. At NACPM, we frequently reflect on how to honor the midwifery legacy that laid our foundation while striving to strengthen the field, enabling us to expand access and achieve a fair and sustainable livelihood.
When we affirm that “everyone deserves a midwife” we must immediately ask ourselves how to grow our workforce in the most sustainable way possible. Professional empowerment, systemic integration, enhanced quality, and the assurance of equitable employment must be shared priorities if we are to achieve the impact we envision. A fully empowered CPM workforce has the potential to transform the entire healthcare system. By leading efforts to address racial and socioeconomic disparities, CPMs will play a central role in achieving safe maternal health outcomes. The CPM model has consistently been proven to reduce cesarean rates, preterm births, and neonatal mortality. Expanding the CPM’s role will magnify these benefits, ensuring that more people—regardless of income, race, or geography—have access to compassionate and skilled care.
NACPM is clarifying our focus to ensure that CPM employability and professional stability remain central priorities. This includes CPM leadership in clinical settings, legislation, research, and beyond. Modern CPMs must be in positions to champion our evidence-based, person-centered care. For CPMs to lead effectively, they must be integral components of the healthcare system. Our vision for the future includes universal recognition of CPMs’ expertise, enabling seamless employment in birthing centers, in community health settings, educational institutions and in independent practice. As advocates and policy influencers, we can push for systemic changes that prioritize equity, access, and respect for all birthing individuals.
Often when we discuss midwifery integration we are talking about how valuable connected midwifery could be in a medical system that is desperate for a revolution. We are courageous in our fight to join a system that was not designed with us in mind and has actively worked to dismiss community midwifery. Let us remind ourselves that integration must go beyond inclusion—it must incorporate advanced training in both traditional midwifery practices and emerging medical technologies. CPMs must continue to harness our commitment to holistic care and knowledge of medical practice.
Equally important is the assurance of professional stability. We have earned—and deserve—access to robust employment benefits, including comprehensive health insurance, paid family leave, and retirement plans. These benefits will not only ensure midwives can sustain long and fulfilling careers, but will also strengthen the profession by drawing in highly skilled, dedicated, and passionate individuals to the profession who can focus on the critical work of improving perinatal and infant health. Here are key focus areas for the modern CPM as we think about advancing our careers, reach and impact: Stay Client-Centered: Continue to prioritize the needs and preferences of the individuals you care for. Embrace Diverse Continuous Education: Keep up-to-date with the latest research and technological advancements while staying connected to traditional, cultural and holistic practices. Commit to Quality and Data-Driven Care: Emphasize continuous quality improvements by collecting and analyzing data to demonstrate outcomes, inform best practices, and advocate for the value of midwifery-led care. Build Strong Networks: Connect with experienced midwives and join professional organizations to gain mentorship and support. Advocate for the Profession: Assert your role and capabilities within interdisciplinary teams with the awareness that we are experts in normal physiologic birth. Outsource: Lean into your expertise as a provider and gather support in the areas where others may have more experience Focus on Resilience and Self-Care: Caring for others requires that you also commit to your own mental and physical well-being as well as rest.
The path ahead comes with challenges, but it also holds immense potential for transformation. As experienced CPMs reconsider the demands of an on-call lifestyle, it's important to recognize that your skills and expertise are equally valuable in the following areas:
Creating Community-Based Programs: Launch programs that integrate wrap around services like education, nutritional support, infant feeding, and mental health support. Participate in Research: Ensure that your practice outcomes are included and collaborate on studies that demonstrate that midwife-led models reduce intervention rates. Champion Equity and Inclusion: Assess and redesign your practice to ensure that it is culturally sensitive and addresses the needs of diverse populations. Strengthen Communication and Public Presence: Share your expertise and experiences through op-eds, social media, and other public platforms to raise awareness, promote midwifery care, and influence public perception and policy Advocacy and Policy Leadership: Learn about local and federal initiatives that drive policy changes to support equitable access to high quality perinatal care.
Collectively, CPMs have the talent to lead a revolution in birth care. We are a diverse community of thinkers with deep connections within the communities we live in and serve. Together, we can advance a healthcare system where CPMs are recognized and supported as essential to the future of perinatal health. By evolving in our capacity as Certified Professional Midwives, we are fostering healthier families, strengthening communities, and shaping a brighter future for maternal care in the United States. |
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| Be on the look out for information about the impact report and the annual meeting next week! |
| |  | Celebrating Five Years of Impact: Mary Lawlor’s Legacy ProjectThis year marks the five-year anniversary of a transformative milestone in midwifery education and equity. Under the leadership of Mary Lawlor, former Executive Director of NACPM, we achieved historic federal funding for midwifery education, paving the way for a more inclusive and racially representative midwifery workforce. Mary’s dedication and vision led to Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) being included in the federal Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program for the first time. Working closely with Congressional champions, Mary advised on the development of critical legislation and raised funds to support midwifery schools in submitting competitive grant applications. In 2020, her efforts resulted in a $3.5 million multi-year grant opportunity for CPM midwifery education programs. The results have been extraordinary: Increased Diversity: In just three years, the percentage of students of color in one awarded school’s program more than doubled. Transformative Support: Schools like Bastyr University in Washington State have awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, easing financial barriers for students from underserved communities.
Federal Policy MilestonesNACPM’s annual advocacy has catalyzed continued growth in midwifery education funding: In the initial application of funding 7 midwifery schools applied and 3 were MEAC institutions! In 2022, Bastyr University received $900,000 in scholarships for disadvantaged students. MEAC-accredited schools now have access to sustainable funding that empowers students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in midwifery.
Building a Future of EquityMary’s work laid the foundation for the ongoing effort to diversify and strengthen the midwifery workforce.Anticipating this opportunity, NACPM called together an Educators Task Force late in 2019 to provide support for MEAC schools to ensure their applications would be competitive. NACPM partnered with the participating schools and with MEAC to hire a DC firm – McAllister and Quinn – with deep experience in supporting institutions of higher education to apply for these SDS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants. All schools were eligible to learn from the services offered by McAllister and Quinn, at no cost to them, regardless of their eligibility, to help build expertise among all of our schools.Today, we continue to advocate for permanent funding through initiatives like the Midwives for MOMS Act, which seeks to expand midwifery training programs and address critical workforce needs. This anniversary is more than a celebration of a past achievement—it’s a call to action. We honor Mary’s legacy by striving for equity, sustainability, and excellence in midwifery education and practice. Join us in celebrating this milestone and recommitting to the mission Mary championed: ensuring that all families have access to skilled, culturally concordant, and compassionate midwifery care. NACPM and thePolicy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery are working to bring professional grant support to schools that apply in this new grant cycle. |
| |  | | Introducing Zev Colsen, NACPM’s New Legislative and Policy Advisor |
| | NACPM is excited to welcome Zev Colsen as our new Legislative and Policy Advisor. This position is pivotal to advancing NACPM’s legislative and advocacy efforts at both state and national levels. Supporting the Executive Director, Zev will play a crucial role in legislative analysis, stakeholder engagement, and developing tools and strategies to advance midwifery care and integration.Zev brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to perinatal health equity and reproductive |
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| justice. As a nonbinary Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) practicing in Boston, MA, Zev views midwifery as a tool for resistance that connects the wisdom of our bodies with the collective health of our communities. Trained in a MEAC-accredited program at Maternidad La Luz, a birth center in El Paso, TX, Zev expresses immense gratitude to the families and preceptors they learned from during their time on the border.
After practicing midwifery in a busy homebirth setting in rural East Tennessee, Zev expanded their expertise through roles with the American Association of Birth Centers and a HRSA-funded project designing a group prenatal care program for Spanish-speaking patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center. In 2024, they returned to Boston, energized by the recent passage of a perinatal health bill creating a licensure pathway for CPMs. Zev now runs a midwifery practice focused on fertility and conception care for queer and trans individuals.
Their background in midwifery practice, advocacy, and program development perfectly aligns with the responsibilities of the Legislative and Policy Advisor role. Zev will be instrumental in supporting NACPM’s ongoing efforts to advance innovation in perinatal health, legislative advocacy, and integration of the CPM profession. We are excited to have Zev on board as we continue to strengthen the midwifery profession and advocate for equitable care for all birthing people and families. |
| |  | NACPM’s New Tiered Membership Program is Here! |
| Starting January 6, 2025, NACPM transitioned to anew membership platform and Green Bottle Membership Model, designed to make membershipmore accessible, flexible, and equitable. You may have already received an email about this exciting change, and we want to make sure you have all the details!
WithZeffy, our new no-cost platform, NACPM is saving$4,500 annually, allowing us to invest more in our members and advocacy efforts. TheGreen Bottle Membership Model offers asliding scale that ensures everyone, regardless of financial situation, can participate.
What This Means for You:✅Current Members: No action needed! You’ll receive renewal details when it’s time.
✅New Members: Sign up today and choose the membership tier that works best for you!
Learn more and explore membership options here:Become an NACPM Member
Thank you for being part of the NACPM community as we continue toadvance midwifery education, practice, and advocacy! |
| |  | Join NACPM as a Student Member!
Are you a student on the path to becoming a Certified Professional Midwife? NACPM is here to support you! OurStudent Membership connects you to the midwifery community, provides access to educational resources, and keeps you informed on advocacy efforts shaping the future of the profession.
Why Join?✅Access to Educational Resources – Stay up to date with webinars, research, and professional development opportunities.
✅Advocacy & Policy Updates – Be part of the movement shaping midwifery legislation and practice.
✅Networking & Community – Connect with fellow students and midwives nationwide.
Through ourGreen Bottle Membership Model, student membership is nowmore accessible than ever with sliding-scale options based on financial need. Plus, some midwifery schools offerfree NACPM membership for students through our sponsorship program.
Explore membership options and join today! :Join NACPM as a Student Member! |
| |  | Expanding NACPM’s Chapter Program: Introducing State/Territory Partners |
| NACPM launched the State Chapter Program in 2015 to create a collective and unified voice for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). Over the past decade, these groups have made significant strides in advocating for midwifery and improving access to care. As with all things, the State Chapter Program has grown and shifted, first making the change to Chapter Program and holding space for new groups to form in US Territories. Once again this program is growing with our recognition that some established state organizations have encountered challenges in becoming chapters due to the program’s structural and legal requirements and we don’t want to lose relationship with these valuable leadership voices and on the ground supports.
To address this and foster stronger connections, NACPM is excited to announce the expansion of our Chapter Program to include a new option:NACPM Partners.
What Are NACPM Partners?
Partners are independent organizations with their own tax status, bylaws, and membership structures. These organizations align with NACPM’s Vision, Purpose, Commitments, Values, and Core Documents through an annual “Partner Agreement.” This agreement outlines how we will collaborate to support and strengthen the CPM profession and advance our shared mission.
Who Should Become a Partner or a Chapter? Partners: Established state or territory organizations looking for flexibility and independence while aligning with NACPM’s vision. Chapters: Newly forming state groups/associations that benefit from closer structural ties to NACPM, including additional advocacy, equity, and leadership support.
Both options share the same purpose: to create a powerful, collective voice for CPMs across the nation. Together, we will continue to strengthen excellence in the profession, advocate for improved birth health policies, and ensure that all childbearing people and babies have a healthy start.
Why This Matters
As our profession grows, it is essential to build a strong national association supported by a network of effective Chapters and Partners. This collaboration amplifies the role of CPMs as primary perinatal care providers, enhances our advocacy efforts, and drives urgently needed structural changes in the U.S. healthcare system.
Learn More and Apply
If you are interested in becoming a NACPM Partner, visit ourChapters and Partners pageto explore program details, understand the differences, and learn how to apply.
NACPM looks forward to working with you to address your state’s needs, celebrate your successes, and tackle the challenges ahead. Together, we can build a stronger profession and create meaningful change for birthing people, families, and communities across the United States.
Please contact Nasima, the Chapters and Partners Program Coordinator, at chapters@nacpm.org if you have questions or would like more information. |
| |  | International Day of the Midwife 2025 Theme Announced: "Midwives—Critical in Every Crisis"
TheInternational Confederation of Midwives (ICM) has announced the theme forInternational Day of the Midwife (May 5, 2025):"Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis."
As the world faces increasing crises—natural disasters, conflict, and climate change—midwives remain essential first responders, delivering lifesaving care with minimal resources. Fromensuring safe births and newborn care toproviding reproductive health services and supporting survivors of gender-based violence, midwives play a vital role in strengthening health systems before, during, and after emergencies.
Yet, midwives are often left out of crisis response planning and lack the resources they need to stay safe and deliver care.This is a critical time to advocate for their inclusion, recognition, and support.
NACPM joins the global midwifery community in celebrating midwives and amplifying their role in crisis preparedness and response.Save the date: May 5, 2025!
#IDM2025| Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis |
| |  | | NACPM’s NEW Online Auction |
| | I am Lisa a midwife in Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US. I am raising funds forNACPM’s initiatives that support growing midwifery. This includes our TKT scholarship and Bigger Table Fund.
Growing midwifery is one of the integral solutions to our maternal and infant crisis and the sustainability of the midwifery profession. As a favorite kindergarten teacher always said-“many hands make light work.” We need more midwives to support families and so we |
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| need to support midwifery students by making scholarships and grants available to cover the costs- Books, transportation, tuition, childcare for students who are parents- being a student is expensive and students need us to show up to help them make the process doable. This kickoff to our monthly auction fundraiser is going to make NACPM fundraising fun, with great stuff, some made by midwives hands, and some incredible offerings that let midwives use their knowledge and skill to connect with their community- near and far.
My donation to the ongoing auction to raise funds is a handmade hot water bottle cover printed with everyone’s first bestie- the hardworking placenta! This hand carved placenta stamp and hand printed linen fabric was put together by midwives hands (your’s truly.) I have also included some herbal goodies including some loose Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, Locally grown and Midwife Made Glycerine Milky Oats Tincture, Wild Harvested Beach Rose Glycerine Tincture from the Atlantic Coast in RI, and a Honey and Oat Herbal Bath Soak with epsom salt. |
| | |  | 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! |
| | NACPM is proud to be supported by hundreds of individual donors and these visionary foundations. |
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