Apr 4, 202215 min read

CNMA Newsletter: April 2022

Message from the President

There is so much good happening in April!

As you’ll read in this month’s newsletter, we’re looking forward to both Reproductive Freedom Week and Black Maternal Health Week, and there are plenty of ways for you to get involved.

I also want to take a moment to call attention to some of our state’s superstars. Please be sure to congratulate Katherine Schott, DNP,MS, CNM, who was recently elected to serve on ACNM’s Nominating Committee AND inducted into the ACNM Fellows! Katherine also serves on CNMA’s Health Policy Committee and we are very proud of her. We’re also thrilled to celebrate our very own Kathleen Belzer’s induction into the ACNM Fellows! Kathleen is also Founder and President of the California Nurse-Midwives Foundation and Past President of CNMA.

As always, I’m available by email at parisbury@gmail.com and by text at (805) 415-2553.

In the spirit of service,

Paris Maloof-Bury, CNM, IBCLC

President, California Nurse-Midwives Association

California Health Policy

Reproductive Freedom Week

Reproductive Freedom Week is here again! When Spring rolls around, thoughts at CNMA turn to Lobby Day. For our 2022 lobbying efforts we will be supporting and uplifting the work of our allies and partners at the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom (CCRF) during Reproductive Freedom Week (RFW) April 11-15, 2022. This statewide advocacy event (think Lobby Day for a whole week, but in small chunks you can manage from your home) will bring together advocates of reproductive and sexual health rights and justice in virtual meetings with legislators to discuss legislation important to their constituents, the communities we serve. This year, more than ever, it is critical for California to protect and uphold the integrity of our policies for reproductive freedom. Please join us for all or part of our lobbying work. CNMA will join others from CCRF on Zoom calls that will last 15-20 minutes. You are invited to join as many calls as your schedule allows.

Trainings and lobbying schedule:

April 5, 5:00-6:00 PM - CCRF Legislative Training Webinar (will be recorded so you can register and watch anytime after April 5th)
April 7, 2022 5:00-6:00 PM - Bill Docket Webinar: learn more about the reproductive freedom bills we are advocating for this year!
April 11-15 Reproductive Freedom Week (RFW): a week of coordinated advocacy opportunities with many 30-60 minute opportunities to do virtual advocacy, so it should work well for most schedules!

This year’s Reproductive Freedom Week bills:

AB 2085 (Holden): Child Welfare Intervention Reform: Would narrow the funnel of families reported to the family regulation system. AB 2085 would amend California’s mandated reporting law by removing “general neglect” from the categories that mandated reporters are required to report to child welfare agencies.
AB 2223 (Wicks): Reproductive Health: will protect patients that self-manage their abortion and protect people from prosecutions and criminalization of abortion or pregnancy loss (such as the two cases in Kings County where two separate women faced murder charges for stillbirths which occurred at the same hospital; one (Adora Perez) is still serving an 11 year sentence).
AB 2199 (Wicks): Birthing Justice for California Families Pilot Project. This bill would establish a 3-year grant program to provide grants to community-based doula groups, to provide full-spectrum doula care to members of communities with high rates of negative birth outcomes who are not eligible for Medi-Cal and to incarcerated people
SB 1142 (Skinner/ Caballero): Commission on the Status of Women and Girls: Would create a website with information about abortion services and how to access abortion care in California and provide direct funding for practical supportSB 1234 (Pan): STI Coverage Fairness Act: Will expand FPACT for to the LGBTQ+ community for STI care. Family PACT is California's comprehensive family planning services to eligible low-income (under 200% federal poverty level) residents.

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION AND MORE INFO.

AB 2529

CNMA'S bill, AB 2529 (Davis/Calderon) has been referred to the Assembly Health Committee. Keep watch on our advocacy page for how you can support and be involved! This bill would allow midwifery education programs to apply for funding under the Song Brown Act, something our physician, PA, NP, and RN counterparts have long been able to do.

Future of Abortion Council

CNMA participated in the Future of Abortion Council last fall. The FAB Council produced a report with various recommendations for legislators in order to expand and ensure access to abortion in California even if Roe is overturned in June. You can find that report here. Since the release of the FAB Council report, to date, 13 bills have been introduced to support the report's recommendations! Check them out here.

National Health Policy

Spring Off-the Hill Advocacy Week

Join us the week of April 18th-22nd to advocate for midwifery! Due to the pandemic, our Members of Congress and their staff have become more accessible through virtual meetings. Engagement with legislators now is crucial to educate about midwifery and to establish us as expert resources to the office on midwifery and more broadly healthcare. Learn more!

Midwives for MOMS

The cost of a midwifery education is a barrier to many aspiring and prospective midwives. Investment in federal grant funding designated solely for accredited midwifery education programs is integral to making midwifery education a viable option for many communities. ACNM encourages members to continue engaging their federal policymakers about existing congressional legislative efforts (e.g., passage of the Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act, H.R. 3352/S. 1697) to increase the number the number of racially and ethnically diverse midwives, thereby diversifying the maternity care workforce with individuals who represent the lived and cultural experiences of the patients they serve. Access ACNM’s online toolkit and help spread the word on social media!

BABIES Act

Co-sponsors are urgently needed to move this important legislation forward. Click here to look up your Representatives and Senators and use AABC's scripts to contact them via phone or email. In particular, we are asking you to make calls to the offices and speak with the healthcare legislative aide to request that the Representative (or Senator) become a co-sponsor of the BABIES Act. After you share your reason for calling, you may need to leave a message, so be sure to leave your name and phone number so they can return your call. The BABIES Act (H.R.3337/S.1716) seeks to promote the accessible and affordable use of freestanding birth centers by Medicaid beneficiaries. It would build off the Strong Start initiative by creating a demonstration payment program under Medicaid and providing guidance to develop a prospective payment system to reimburse birth centers for prenatal care, perinatal care, and postpartum mother and infant care.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants

AWHONN Convention Scholarships

Through the generous support of AWHONN’s charitable giving program, Every Woman, Every Baby, AWHONN is offering 30 Convention Scholarships to members. Members experiencing financial hardship, members of underrepresented groups, and members within the Aurora, Colorado area are strongly encouraged to apply. The application deadline is April 6, 2022, at 2 PM PST. Learn more and apply here.

ACNM Annual Meeting Scholarships

The California Nurse-Midwives Foundation is offering scholarships to cover the registration fee to attend the ACNM Annual Meeting in Chicago. Current and aspiring midwives in California are encouraged to apply. CNMF will prioritize applicants who are underrepresented in the midwifery profession. Apply by April 12, 2022.

Susan A. Hickman Memorial Research Award

The Susan A. Hickman Memorial Research Award is given each year to an individual involved in a scholarly research project that contributes to the field of perinatal mental health. This year Postpartum Support International (PSI) will be presenting two $10,000 research awards. The recipients are selected by the PSI Research Committee among qualified applicants. The full award for each recipient is $10,000, which includes a stipend for travel to attend the annual PSI Conference. The Hickman award will be presented at the PSI annual conference in July 2022. Submission Deadline is April 15, 2022. Please contact the PSI main office in Portland, Oregon for further questions. Call 503-894-9453 or send an email to psioffice@postpartum.net.

CHCF Health Care Leadership Program

The CHCF Health Care Leadership Program applications open on April 20, 2022! This part-time program is for clinically trained health care professionals with at least five years of leadership experience who live and work in California. They seek diversity across disciplines, regions, racial/ethnic groups, and organizations, with a special focus this year on clinicians in the San Joaquin Valley and San Diego area; safety-net providers; Black, Latinx, and American Indian health care providers; and behavioral health clinicians. Learn more and apply here.

2022 National Health Services Corps

The 2022 National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP) is accepting applications now through May 5, 2022 from health professional students studying to become physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants. The Nurse Corps SP provides financial support to students accepted to, or enrolled in, a nursing degree program at an accredited school of nursing in the United States. The scholarship includes payment of tuition, eligible fees, a monthly stipend for living expenses, and other reasonable educational costs. There is special funding reserved for nurse practitioners with a specialty in psychiatric mental health, Certified Nurse Midwives, registered nurses specializing in women's health, and entry-level health professionals such as Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, Medical Assistants, or Licensed Practical Nurses. HRSA will be hosting two Technical Assistance Webinars on April 14 and April 28 at 12 PM PST.

Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color (PMHA-POC)

Postpartum Support International is proud to partner with Perigee Fund on a 2-year grant to build the capacity of the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color (PMHA-POC) as a core program of PSI. This grant will make it possible to hire several staff, including a Director of the PMHA-POC, to support the growth and outreach needed to continue PSI's work to increase equity, inclusivity, and awareness in diverse communities. In addition, scholarships for PSI trainings and PMH certification will also be a key component of the PMHA-POC. If you are a provider who identifies as Black, Indigenous, or as a Person of Color you can apply for a scholarship here.

AABC Foundation

The AABC Foundation has two grant programs to support birth centers:

Changemaker Accreditation Support Grants provide up to 100% of the initial accreditation fee or an accredited birth center’s annual fees. Membership Support Grants provide 50% of AABC membership dues for birth centers that are applying for membership for the first time or birth centers experiencing a fiscal crisis. The AABC Foundation reviews grant applications for both of these programs on a rolling basis.

Education, Trainings, and Webinars

Black Maternal Health Week–Building for Liberation: Centering Black Mamas, Black Families, and Black Systems of Care

BLACK Wellness and Prosperity Center is centering Black voices and working to improve systems of care. Register now to join them for Black Maternal Health Week!

April 11 | 11am-12pm - International Day for Maternal Health and Rights
We’ll reveal the BLACK Birth Plan, present the Black Birthing Bill of Rights, developed by the National Association to Advance Black Birth, provide an overview of doulas and their role, and discuss some critical resources.
April 13 | Listening to Black voices
To guide systems change in Black maternal and infant health and amplify Black voices, BWPC is hosting a circle of trust to create a supportive space for Black women to share their healthcare experiences with stakeholders from our hospitals and insurance plans. This event is closed to general attendance to protect the integrity of our mothers’ stories and ensure their privacy. We invite our partners to read the BLACK Mothers’ and Women’s Perspectives Report, which we will release HERE on April 13 in the afternoon!
April 14 | 11am-12pm - Fatherhood: Presentation of Research Findings
Listen to our findings and learn how you can improve service and program delivery for Black fathers. The final report will be available HERE on April 14 in the afternoon.
April 15 | 10am-2pm - No Cost COVID-19 Testing
We’ve partnered with Central Valley Black Nurses Association to provide no cost COVID-19 testing. We have a special gift for pregnant women who get tested!
April 15 | 4pm-8pm - CELEBRATING Black Women, Mothers, Pregnancy, and Babies! Space is limited!

CMQCC Updated Obstetric Hemorrhage Toolkit

The updated quality improvement toolkit was just released: "Improving Health Care Response to Obstetric Hemorrhage, V3.0.” We invite you to join us for our upcoming toolkit release webinar on Thursday, April 14 from 12-1 pm PST. Formerly published in 2010 and 2015 together with the California Department of Public Health, this is the second update to the Hemorrhage Toolkit to incorporate the latest evidence and best practices. Key changes include:

Expanded guidance on obstetric hemorrhage risk factor assessment to include parameters for continued re-evaluation of risk and an updated Obstetric Hemorrhage Risk Screen Table
Increased emphasis on the importance of assessment for concealed hemorrhage
Updated medication protocols and recommendations on the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) as an adjunctive therapy
Multiple new chapters, including:
- Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Secondary Obstetric Hemorrhage and Readmission
- Implementing and Sustaining Maternal Quality, Safety and Performance Improvement for Obstetric Hemorrhage

2022 Birth Healing Summit: Out-of-the Box Solutions for Postpartum Issues

The Institute for Birth Healing helps physical therapists and bodyworkers to help people heal after giving birth. The majority of their training is focused on anatomy, physiology, and techniques to apply force to the body. While this is an effective way to treat the body, this summit will explore “out-of-the-box” solutions to achieve deeper healing. All 20 speakers will introduce you to a new approach to treating the common postpartum issues that women face. You will learn first hand from the experts how they have successfully decreased the recovery time, reduced pain and discomfort in fewer sessions, and helped women return to a fully functioning body. April 4-14, 2022. Learn more and register here.

Respectful Care while Addressing our Implicit Bias

With so many conversations about implicit bias, how do we take what we’ve learned, address the implicit bias we all carry, and use this knowledge to provide respectful, equitable care for all patients? Join us for a candid conversation tackling topics from the unique family to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging. Presenters: Rose L. Horton, MSM, RNC-OB, NEA-BC and Rebecca Vahle, MA Education. April 13, 2022. 1.5 CNEs Offered. Register here.

How do your revenue cycles compare?

Join the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) Industry Relations Committee (IRC) members on Wednesday, April 20th at 9 AM PST for IRC Office Hours. IRC leaders Arden Schwenker and Laura Wiegand will lead the discussion topic - How do your revenue cycles compare to other birth centers? As always, the session will also include information about AABC tools and resources available to assist members with contracting and payment and an opportunity to brainstorm the issues members are challenged with. Register here.

So you want to open a birth center?

Freestanding birth centers are seeing an increase in interest as childbearing families seek alternatives to delivering in the hospital. The American Association of Birth Centers (AABC), health systems, and national organizations are recommending expanding access to freestanding birth centers for low-risk women in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Join AABC's How to Start a Birth Center faculty, Aubre Tompkins, Brianna Bennett, MBA, and Amy Johnson-Grass for this webinar specifically focused on opening a freestanding birth center. April 27 at 1 PM PST. Register here.

Announcing Loretta Ross and Nikki Giovanni at ACNM Annual Meeting!

Ms. Loretta Ross will be presenting her Keynote Address, Calling In to Be Better Together, at the 67th ACNM Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 21 2022. How do we build a stronger, more united midwifery movement? What techniques can help create more challenging constructive conversations? Learn more about the calling in/calling out continuum, why calling out occurs, and strategies for turning unproductive conflicts into calling in opportunities. Ms. Nikki Giovanni will be presenting her closing keynote address on May 25, 2022: Grits, Greens, and Glow? Healing is storytelling around a table with old-fashioned food. Where would we be without our grandmother? Register here.

Postpartum Support International 2-Day Components of Care and Advanced Training

PSI will be offering online training on August 10-12, 2022 andDecember 7-9, 2022. These dates include the 2-day Components of Care, Advanced Psychotherapy, and Advanced Psychopharmacology.

AABC On-Demand DEI Foundations Training

Access the AABC DEI Foundations Training in the AABC Online Learning Center. The training, led by EnterChange consultants Sarah Hansen and Amanda Neatrour, introduces the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing definitions of each, as well as how they relate to equality, ethics, and social justice. It emphasizes how applying DEI principles will support AABC’s mission and vision. Participants learn about why DEI matters, particularly in workforce and service-based contexts. It also introduces participants to concepts of intersectionality, the cycle of socialization, power and privilege, and implicit bias. his educational offering is approved for 3 contact hours by the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Ohio Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. The course is provided free to AABC members as a member benefit. Guests may register for the course for a fee.

Second Victim: The Perinatal Nurse after an Adverse Event Webinar

Second victim situations may be experienced after participating in an emergent or traumatic event. This on-demand webinar discusses the mental and physical effects that a perinatal nurse (or perinatal health care worker) may experience after an adverse or unexpected event occurs during their patient's care. Discussions include recognizing these effects, coping mechanisms, and wellness techniques for the second victim and methods that peers, the health care team, and health care organizations can use. 0.75 nursing contact hours through 2/17/2025. Purchase this on-demand webinar: $25 members | $50 nonmembers.

Quantitative vs Estimated Blood Loss after Delivery Webinar

There is a difference between quantitative and estimated blood loss on maternal outcomes following hemorrhage. We review the concept of quantifying blood loss during the postnatal period and how it improves outcomes by having clinical and system processes in place to recognize trigger points, respond timely and properly, and report the outcomes for a hemorrhagic emergency. 1.0 nursing contact hour through 2/15/2025. Presenter: Dawn L. Brown BSN, RNC-ONQS, Sharon K. Drakes, BSN, RNC-OB, Tina C. Pennington MNSc, RNC-NIC. Purchase this on-demand webinar: $25 members | $50.00 nonmembers.

Cervical Ripening and Induction and Augmentation of Labor Webinar

The rate of labor induction increased 8% from 2018 to 2019 based on the most recent United States natality data. Evidence-based practices enhance patient safety during cervical ripening and labor induction and augmentation. Each of these concepts is presented in detail during this on-demand presentation. 1.0 nursing contact hour through 12/2/2023. Presenter: Kathleen Rice Simpson, PhD, RNC, FAAN. Purchase this on-demand webinar: $25 members | $50 nonmembers.

To view previously listed educational opportunities, please visit our website at https://www.cnma.org/courses.

Volunteer Opportunities

AWHONN Position Statement Writing Teams

AWHONN is pleased to announce a call for applications from members who would like to join either of the new position statement writing teams: “Use of the LPN/LVN in the Women's Health Settings” and “Screening for Alcohol Use in Pregnancy.” Please complete the application form for the position statement you are interested in. Applications are due Friday, April 8, 2022, at 2 PM PST. Thank you for your consideration in joining a team!

AWHONN Practice Brief Teams

AWHONN is pleased to announce a call for applications for members who would like to join a Practice Brief writing team focusing on Bariatric Surgery. Please complete the application form, due Friday, April 8, 2022, 2 PM PST. Thank you for your consideration in joining this writing team!

ACNM Committees

Membership and Marketing Committee - Chair & At-Large Committee Members - Apply by April 10, 2022.
ACNM Division of Advocacy & Affiliate Support (DAAS) - Chair - Apply by April 15, 2022.
National Government Affairs Committee (NGAC) - Chair - Apply by April 15, 2022.

Learn more and apply!

Postpartum Support International: California State Chapter

PSI State Chapters are often looking for new board members, or individuals to become members at local the local level. PSI State Chapters advance the mission of PSI on the state level and help to build systems that support families while also increasing access to education and treatment for perinatal mental health. Chapter leaders work to raise awareness, create resources, and advocate for change. For more information, contact jen@sugarnightnight.com.

Job Opportunities

Midtown Nurse Midwives

Join our team at Midtown Nurse Midwives in Sacramento, CA. At our beautiful accredited freestanding birth center, you will have the chance to provide full scope midwifery care while having a set schedule. This makes it easy to plan appointments, family events, or just have time to enjoy the beautiful country around Sacramento. We are 1.5 hours from either San Francisco or Tahoe, are surrounded by wine country, and are America's Farm to Fork capital. We attend 10-12 births per month and see 7-9 patients per day in the clinic. Our midwives screen clients for eligibility for birth center care; provide antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care to childbearing clients; perform labor checks and triage; provide primary care to newborns up to 10 days of life; and provide family planning and Gyn care. Hours: 2 call shifts and 2 clinic shifts per week. For more information, please send your resume to bsasaki@midtownbirthcenter.com.

Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek

Per diem CNM position at Walnut Creek Hospital. Independently manages the care of low-risk women during antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods. Co-manages higher risk patients when determined appropriate by CNM and MD. Provides standard maternity care and counseling to women, adhering to the standards of the American College of Nurse Midwives, procedures and instructions regulated by the State Nurse Practice Act and The Permanente Medical Group. Preference for 3 years experience as a CNM; current and valid California Nurse-Midwife furnishing certification (including any needed education in pharmacy); and didactic education and supervised clinical experience in third trimester limited obstetric ultrasound preferred OR to be obtained at midwife's expense within one year of hire. Learn more and apply here.

CNM in Quincy, California

We are seeking a Certified Nurse-Midwife for a beautiful birthing center in Quincy, California. This facility is an independent 16-bed hospital, offering a full range of services, including primary and specialty care, surgery, laboratory, ancillary services, imaging services, respiratory, physical therapy, and more. COMPENSATION: $125,000 - $175,000 + Sign on bonus + Full Benefits Included. For more information, contact Josh Allen at josh@horizonhospitality.com.

Medi-Cal Rx

The Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for April is available. The monthly bulletin consists of alerts and notices posted to the Bulletins & News page on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Sign up for the Medi-Cal Rx Subscription Service to be notified when new information is posted. Additional information is available below:

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!

Questions? Comments? Want to get involved? Email us at info@cnma.org