Spearheaded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), #BMHW21 is a week of education and advocacy around the experiences of Black mamas. Through digital and community events, BMHW uplifts Black women-led entities to focus on the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes while also leaning on Black voices to drive conversations around tangible community-driven policy, programs, and solutions. This year, BMHW coincides with BMMA's Black Maternal Health Conference (BMHC), April 16-17, 2021. This conference creates a space exclusively for discussions about Black maternal health, equity, and reproductive justice. If you cannot attend the BMHC, we encourage you to show your support by participating in BMMA's Virtual Fundraising Day today! The event raises money to support BMMA and its mission of centering Black mamas and shifting the culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.

President Biden signed first-ever proclamation marking Black Maternal Health Week

President Biden’s proclamation calls for all Americans to recognize the maternal health crisis and the importance of reducing our unacceptably high rates of Black maternal mortality and morbidity. Read and share the full proclamation and the fact sheet covering initial actions taken to address the maternal health crisis racism-based disparities in maternal care.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ Video to mark Black Maternal Health Week

ICYMI: Our VPOTUS video can be viewed here!

Record a Video and Show your Support for #BMWH2021

Color of Change is asking you to answer this question: What would a world look like where we protect and prioritize Black maternal health? If you're willing to share your personal experience with the healthcare system, we honor and value your story. But they'd also love to hear from you if you're someone who stands in solidarity with Black birthing people everywhere. Record now!

Petition: Stand in Solidarity with Black Midwives!

This week, Lifetime released “Beware of the Midwife,” a film that depicts a Black midwife hired to assist a couple with the birth of their baby in their home, who then kidnaps the child. The movie casts midwifery, especially home birth midwifery, in a detrimental light, and its release during Black Maternal Health Week is especially harmful due to its negative portrayal of Black midwives. We oppose this film and the harmful messages it communicates. Maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high among Black mothers, often due to lack of adequate care and racial disparities that create gaps between health care professionals and patients. Midwifery and Black midwives specifically have played a critical role in improving birth outcomes in the Black community. This film’s biased message is detrimental to efforts to expand midwifery care and foster trust among our patients and health care colleagues. Please sign the Change.org petition to have the movie removed from Lifetime and encourage others to sign as well.

California Health Policy

SB 65 (Skinner) - California’s Momnibus!

CNMA is a proud co-sponsor of SB 65 (Skinner), the California Momnibus. SB 65 was heard in the Senate Health Committee on 4/14/21, and passed through committee unanimously and with bipartisan support! Next step will be the Human Services Committee. Learn more about this important bill here.

Virtual Advocacy Day: Save the Date and Register!

Every year, CNMA meets with state representatives to discuss pressing issues and active legislation with the goal of promoting midwifery and maternal health care in the state. This year, Advocacy Day will be virtual! The big event will take place on May 20th, with advance training taking place on May 11th. Register here!

This is your chance to urge legislators to pass SB 65, the "Momnibus" bill, which will – among other things – increase funding to midwifery education programs. Like lobby days of the past, we will assign you to a group of midwives with the same Senator and/or Assembly Member, and we will arrange for a short session with these legislators (but this year via Zoom!). Since the time of your visit will not be known until shortly before Advocacy Day, please keep your schedule clear for May 20th, just like you would for an in-person event. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but we have included suggested donations for your Advocacy Day ticket. Don't miss out on an important opportunity to be a part of this historic bill!

National Health Policy

Congressional Hearing: Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis

On March 23, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing to address the maternal health crisis in this country. As one of CNMA’s members shared, “It was inspiring to hear congressional members address maternal morbidity and mortality issues, and to hear that growing midwifery and birth centers is part of the solution!” Watch the recorded hearing here.

Education, Trainings, and Webinars

Screening for Human Trafficking in a Health Care Setting

The health care team is a vital partner in addressing the human trafficking situation in the U.S. and around the world. This presentation takes on the extraordinarily hidden and complex challenge of screening for human trafficking in the health care system. Included in this presentation is the identification of the multiple trafficking types, behaviors and dynamics which play out in these situations, as well as "red flag" warning signs. This webinar takes place on April 19th, from 4 PM - 5:30 PM PST, and offers 1 (one) CEU. Members: $24.99 | Student Members: $14.99 | Non-Members: $49.99. Register here.

Symposium on Fostering Cultural Respect: A deep dive into racial health disparities, implicit bias, and the maternal mortality crisis

The Santa Barbara/Ventura County and LA Valley AWHONN chapters invite you to a dynamic symposium for health equity. Speakers from the fields of Nursing, Psychology and Midwifery will present a multi-faceted understanding of Racial Health Disparities and the Maternal Mortality Crisis affecting our country. Participants will examine numerous factors contributing to racial health disparities and consider how education is the first step toward change. Diversity Uplifts, Inc will lead us through a journey of learning about Historical Trauma and Implicit Bias. This will not be your typical nursing symposium! It will be thought provoking, reflective and transformative! Please join us on Saturday, April 24 from 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM as we examine the complexities of current social dynamics in healthcare, self-reflect and learn ways to Foster Cultural Respect. Registration includes 4 CEUs.

Indigenous Lens - Promoting Equity in Hospitals: Birth as Social Justice

Free! April 28, 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM PST, 1 CE and FREE! Register Here

Implementing SB 1237: Integrating Certified Nurse Midwives

The California Primary Care Association is hosting a webinar on May 6 from 1-2:30 PM to educate clinics and healthcare systems on how to integrate nurse-midwives and implement SB 1237, the Justice and Equity in Maternity Care Act. We urge all midwives and midwifery supporters to share this event and invite care team leadership members to attend. This session will highlight 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. Learn more and register here.

Objectives:

What is a certified nurse-midwife?
Current state of maternity care in California
What SB 1237 does and what compliance means
Steps clinics can take to integrate midwives, improve outcomes, and save money
Midwifery as a strategy toward health equity

Register:

To register for any CPCA event, you must first be logged in to your account. If you do not have an account, you can create one. Please email training@cpca.org for additional support.

Please share this EXCELLENT outreach opportunity with clinic systems near and far!

Understanding the Preeclampsia Safety Bundle: Implementation and Outcomes

May 6, 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST. Members: $24.99; Student members: $14.99; Non-members: $49.99. Register Here

Giving Birth during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The National Perinatal Association launched a free one-hour online course titled "Giving Birth During the COVID-19 Pandemic." The course covers how to support the mental health of pregnant and birthing women through the COVID-19 pandemic with the use of trauma-informed care. Additional CE courses are also available through the program. The Coping with COVID-19 Program will provide frontline maternity, NICU, and newborn providers with essential skills to support parents, families, and staff during this unprecedented time of heightened stress.

Updates on Medi-Cal Rx

Medi-Cal Rx is the name the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has given to the collective pharmacy benefits and services that will be administered through the Fee-forService (FFS) delivery system by its contracted vendor, Magellan Medicaid Administration, Inc. (Magellan). All Medi-Cal Rx providers, including pharmacies, prescribers, and their staff, will need to complete secure web portal registration in order to access education and outreach training calendars, training course enrollment, and resources located in the Medi-Cal Rx Learning Management System (LMS), Saba. Transition Resources and Training, FAQs and other materials such as job aids and computer-based tutorials (CBTs) are available to walk users through the registration process. The Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drug List, a summary of Changes to the Contract Drug List, as well as the complete April Bulletin are now available.

Volunteer Opportunities within ACNM

ACNM's Clinical Standards and Documents Committee

The ACNM Clinical Standards and Documents Committee, under the Division of Membership and Publications, is seeking volunteers. The committee provides expertise, guidance, and writing skills for creating and updating clinical documents; and aims to maintain a diverse and inclusive committee comprised of representatives of differing ethnic, cultural, and gender backgrounds. Application deadline is April 29th. For more info contact leadership@acnm.org.

Liaison to ACOG Committee for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Health

We're seeking an ACNM liaison to the ACOG Committee for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Women's Health Care. This 22-member multidisciplinary committee includes USPH commissioned and non-commissioned OB/GYNs, pediatricians, midwives, and nurses invited by the Department of Interior, Indian Health Services (IHS) to perform rotating evaluations of six IHS areas, Oklahoma, Navajo, Phoenix, Alaska, and the Great Plains. Members develop and present an annual IHS educational conference including the ALSO course and a bi-annual production for the International Indigenous Women's Health Conference with members of the Society of Canadian Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The liaison needs to be a member of ACNM, not an employee of the IHS, and possess an understanding of the IHS and the Native communities it serves. Our current representative, M. Susan Stemmler (Chahta Tribal member), has offered to be available for consultation or coaching regarding this role. If interested, submit a letter of interest and CV to Jewel Saunders at jsaunders@acnm.org by April 30th.

ACNM Division of Membership and Publications Chair

This position provides overall direction regarding ACNM governance policy and process. The position facilitates the ACNM Membership and Publications functions by working with the chairs of the following committees: Clinical Standards and Documents; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Membership and Marketing; Midwives of Color; Publications; and Students and New Midwives. Division chairs are expected to participate in monthly calls with all the division chairs, along with the ACNM Vice President and Chief Executive Officer. Application deadline is April 23rd. For more info contact leadership@acnm.org.

Committee for Advancement of Midwifery Education (CAME) Chair

This committee falls under the Education Advancement Subdivision of ACNM's Division of Advancement of Midwifery. The purpose of the committee is to increase the number of practicing midwives in the United States by strengthening the education of current midwives, new midwives, and student midwives. It also supports the work of the Core Competency Subcommittee. The chair leads and facilitates committee work and uses the Board liaison and staff liaison as a sounding board to advance committee work and objectives. The chair is responsible for developing and submitting reports as required by the Board in collaboration with the staff liaison. Application deadline is April 23rd. For more info contact leadership@acnm.org.

Job Opportunities

Santa Rosa Birth Center

The Santa Rosa Birth Center is hiring a full-scope CNM to join our team! We are celebrating our 28th anniversary of full-scope reproductive health, prenatal, postpartum and lactation support within several different clinical environments. Our busy, collaborative practice attends births at our free-standing, fully licensed and CABC accredited birth center and at 2 local hospitals. Our population is primarily publicly funded, with ~80% of all clients receiving MediCal.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a joint, in-and-out of hospital setting and promote midwifery to the community. New grads with strong clinical skills are welcome to apply, but be prepared to hit the ground running. Willingness to relocate to Santa Rosa preferred. Position includes medical, dental and vision benefits and paid time off. Please send a letter of interest and CV to esmith@santarosabirthcenter.com AND rdettloff@santarosabirthcenter.com.

Midwife Crush Mondays!

Do you know an amazing Midwife who is doing revolutionary work? We want to feature them on our social media platforms!

CNMA is looking for submissions for our new social media series “Midwife Crush Monday” where we highlight the stories of trailblazing midwives across the industry who are making a difference in the midwifery profession. You can even submit yourself!

Here’s what we’re looking for:

Midwife’s name (include pronouns)
Affiliated organization(s)
Why you became a midwife (and anything awesome you’d like to brag about)
Headshot/Photo if available
Bonus: Please include social media handles for tagging!

Please send submissions to sm@cnma.org for consideration!

Job openings to share?

If you have a job opening, please post it at www.CNMA.org/jobs! We will happily share your listing in our newsletter and on social media.

Questions? News? Want to get involved?

Email us at info@cnma.org

That's all for this month's issue. Catch you next time!

-CNMA MEDIA TEAM

Visit us at cnma.org

This newsletter will be archived on our website atcnma.org/news

NEWSLETTER

CNMA.ORG

California Nurse-Midwives Association

April 2021 | Mid-Month April

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Black Maternal Health Week