MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Since the passage of SB 1237, we’ve done a lot to implement the bill, eliminate barriers to CNM practice, and increase equitable access to midwifery care (be sure to read below about new resources on our website). And now that physician supervision is no longer an issue, we’re finally able to broaden our focus to tackle so much more!

Looking back, I feel proud of all we’ve accomplished, and the work we’re doing in California is gaining recognition. The CNMA Reproductive Justice and Antiracism Committee has received a lot of attention from ACNM's Affiliate Development and Support team, who recognizes CNMA as a leader and a model for affiliates throughout ACNM when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as Reproductive Justice and Anti-Racism. While we at CNMA know that we still have a long way to go in this arena, it feels good to receive positive feedback! Plus, CNMA was recently awarded the Elizabeth “Betty” Curtis Award by ANA\C (more details below), and our Health Policy Chair, Holly Smith was this year’s recipient of ACNM’s Public Policy Award!

Looking forward, I feel fiercely optimistic as we are moving toward the goals I set at the beginning of my term as President: gaining access to hospital privileges for midwives throughout the state, closing maternity care deserts, collaborating with our LM colleagues to implement programs for smooth transfers from the community to hospital setting, ramping up our continuing education offerings, growing and diversifying our midwifery workforce, and continuing the work of becoming an antiracist organization.

I hope you’ll join me at our ACNM California Affiliate Meeting this Wednesday, 6/2/21 from 12-2 PM (more details below). And if you’re not already volunteering with CNMA, please consider joining our highly productive team: we need volunteers to join our committees and our Board of Directors (again, more details below). Finally, if you’re not a member of CNMA, please join now! Our members dues fund this vital work, and as you can tell, it’s paying off exponentially.

Join us. I can’t wait to see what we do next!

Enthusiastically,

Paris Maloof-Bury, CNM, IBCLC

President, California Nurse-Midwives Association

California Affiliate Meeting

The California Affiliate Meeting will take place on June 2 this year, a full week after the ACNM Annual Meeting. Our Affiliate Meeting is free for midwives and student midwives throughout the state, and we hope to see YOU there! Join us for updates on the upcoming CNMA election, SB 1237 implementation (including tools you can use NOW), guidance on AB 2257, proposed changes to the CNMA bylaws, and more. Plus, there will be a special presentation by Kim Dau, Asmara Gebre, and Angela Sojobi on “Re-diversification of the Midwifery Workforce through Mentorship and Community: a brief overview of California-based efforts to support BIPOC aspiring midwives and current BIPOC students.” Join us on Wednesday, 6/2/2021 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM. Click here to join! We look forward to connecting and being inspired with you!

Join a CNMA Committee!

Continuing Education Committee

The CNMA Continuing Education Committee is responsible for planning and hosting the CNMA Annual Meeting each year, and is now taking on the added responsibility of creating continuing education content that will be available through www.CNMA.org (coming soon!). Please consider joining this small and focused team. The work is targeted and specific, but there’s still plenty of room for creativity. Interested members, please contact jillcauley4@gmail.com.

Midwifery Workforce Development and Education Support Committee

This new committee will focus on building and diversifying the CNM workforce in California, including strategizing to increase the number of clinical placement sites and preceptors in California, establishing and maintaining two-way communication between midwifery programs that have student nurse-midwives in California and the CNMA Board of Directors, and fostering and supporting student mentoring programs. While we hope that at least one representative from each midwifery program that has students in California will join this committee, ideal candidates will be passionate about supporting students and educators, and will work alongside the Student Representatives to the CNMA Board of Directors. Please contact parisbury@gmail.com.

Join the CNMA Board of Directors!

The CNMA annual election is coming soon, but first we need some candidates! If you’re interested in joining our highly productive team (and bulking up your CV in the process), now’s the time to jump in! Thinking about running, but not sure you’ve got what it takes? We’re committed to mentoring new board members in their role and setting you up for success. The following offices are up for election this Summer: President-Elect, Secretary, Central California Representative, and Northern California Representative.

President-Elect (10/2021-10/2025)

During the first year (10/2021-10/2022), the President-Elect is mentored and supported by the current President as they learn the role and prepare to take on leadership of the board of directors (BOD) and the affiliate. Duties include:

Non-voting member of the BOD.
Attend virtual BOD meetings and other committee meetings throughout the month to learn about the structure and inside operations within the association.
Attend 2 in-person meetings annually that alternate between Northern and Southern California.

During the second and third years (10/2022-10/2024) the President’s duties include the following:

Be the face of CNMA. Be prepared to give interviews, help draft legislation and correspondence when needed, advocate for midwifery and birthing people, stay up to date on health policy issues within the association and the state.
Lead all BOD meetings (prepare the agenda, establish a quorum, get approval for the agenda, approve the minutes along with the secretary, make corrections, sign the minutes).
Voting member of the BOD.
Lead the CNMA Annual Meeting (present the awards, introduce speakers, recognize off going BOD members, and welcome incoming BOD members).
Write the CNMA newsletter.
Attend the ACNM Annual Meeting and represent CNMA during the California Affiliate Meeting and Regional Meeting.
Communicate with the ACNM National Office when necessary.

During the fourth year (10/2024-10/2025), the Past President's duties include the following:

Non-voting member of the BOD.
Offer support and guidance to the sitting President.
Serve as a source of continuity with other groups and organizations in California who have associations with ACNM and CNMA.
Ensure historical context for important issues impacting CNMA and the BOD.

Secretary (10/2021-10/2023)

Voting member of the BOD.
Send out the agenda to all the BOD members 10 days before the BOD Meeting.
Attend and take minutes during the BOD meeting.
Send minutes to the President and other BOD members for corrections.
Get signature on minutes once the corrections have been made.
Send out final minutes to BOD members.
Store minutes on Dropbox and keep Dropbox files organized.
Two year term, may serve up to two consecutive terms

Northern California Representative (10/2021-10/2023)

Voting member of the BOD.
Attend monthly virtual BOD meetings.
Develop relationships with the members of the region.
Establish two-way communication with regional chapter chairs and members to update them on affiliate issues; and bring chapters’ and members’ issues, comments, needs, and requests from regional members to the BOD.
Should attend their own chapter meetings.
Help lead and organize in-district visits and advocacy efforts.
Stay involved and participate in events in their region as a representative of CNMA.
Two year term, may serve up to two consecutive terms.

Central California Representative (10/2021-10/2023)

Voting member of the BOD.
Attend monthly virtual BOD meetings.
Develop relationships with the members of the region.
Establish two-way communication with regional chapter chairs and members to update them on affiliate issues; and bring chapters’ and members’ issues, comments, needs, and requests from regional members to the BOD.
Should attend their own chapter meetings.
Help lead and organize in-district visits and advocacy efforts.
Stay involved and participate in events in their region as a representative of CNMA.
Two year term, may serve up to two consecutive terms.

Nominating Committee Members (10/2021-10/2024)

Three positions are open: one from each region of the state (Northern California, Central California, and Southern California). This committee is mandated by ACNM Affiliate Bylaws, but we have not had this committee in place in prior years. Our goal is to fill the three positions and then determine specific duties with feedback from the Reproductive Justice and Antiracism Advisory Group.

Three positions are open (as described above).
The nominating committee members’ duties will be determined more specifically in the future, but broadly speaking, the members of the committee will help to run the CNMA elections in the future as stated in the ACNM Affiliate Bylaws: “Compose an annual ballot and prepare ballots and disseminate them to voting membership no later than 45 days prior to the date of the annual meeting.”
Members of the nominating committee may not run for any other elected office during their term.
Three year term, may serve up to two consecutive terms.

Tools for Scaling up Midwifery in California NOW!

CNMA Position Statement on CNM Admitting and Discharge Privileges in California Hospitals

CNMA is Proud to announce the new CNMA Position Statement on CNM Admitting and Discharge Privileges in California Hospitals! Now that SB 1237 is law, CNMA takes the position that Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) should have full admission and discharge privileges in California hospitals. The CNM’s ability to admit and discharge hospital patients is a critical component of full integration of CNMs into the maternity care system, fostering continuity of care and improving the quality of California’s maternal child health care. No federal, state, or local laws prohibit CNMs from being granted admission and discharge privileges.

Hospital privileges are essential to scaling up midwifery in the state. For those CNMs who attend birth in the community setting, having your own hospital privileges can make hospital transfers smoother, especially when the patient remains within your scope of independent practice. And for those CNMs who work in private practice and would like to attend births in hospitals that have previously required physician supervision in order to be privileged, we hope that this position statement will help to chip away at the barriers to practice. You can read the full position statement here.

New! Templates and Tools for Implementing SB 1237

CNMA’s resource page www.cnma.org/sb1237 has new resources you can use to implement SB 1237! We’re excited to announce two new tools, including a Template Disclosure Form for Planned Out of Hospital Birth, and Template Policy and Procedures for CNMs caring for moderate risk patients. Of course, you can still access recorded webinars, the Executive Summary, our Quickstart Guide and FAQs, and the Community Birth Provider Checklist.

Independent Contractors

Do you remember AB 5 and the challenges it posed for CNMs who work as independent contractors or who hire independent contractors in California? AB 2257 was the legislative workaround and fix for that law. CNMA now has Guidance for CNMs on AB 2257 and how this new law pertains to you.

New CPCA Webinar on Implementing SB 1237: Integrating Certified Nurse Midwives

The California Primary Care Association webinar entitled SB 1237: Integrating Certified Nurse Midwives is now available On Demand! We urge all midwives and midwifery supporters to share this event with members of leadership in clinics and healthcare systems. This session highlights an example of what midwives have to offer at the clinic level: Eisner Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Los Angeles where midwives and perinatologists provide team-based care and improve outcomes, all while saving money.

CNMA: Award-Winning Work!

The American Nurses Association\California recently recognized CNMA (along with the California Association of Nurse Practitioners) with the Elizabeth “Betty” Curtis Award for outstanding advocacy efforts in the California Legislature.

CNMA.ORG

NEWS

California Nurse-Midwives Association June 2021 | Newsletter

Table of Contents

Message from the President