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CNMA Newsletter – February 2026



Message From the President


Dear CNMA Community,


As we enter February, we take this time to pause, reflect, and celebrate African American History Month. As President of the California Nurse-Midwives Association (CNMA), I am honored to dedicate this month to celebrating the profound, foundational, and often overlooked legacy of Black midwives—our "Granny midwives" and ancestors—whose expertise shaped the very essence of American midwifery.


Long before modern obstetric practices, Black women held the sacred space of birth, passing down generational wisdom, herbal knowledge, and, most importantly, a compassionate, holistic approach to care. From the antebellum South to the rural communities of the 20th century, these healers were the backbone of maternity care, often serving Black and white communities alike with dignity and skill, despite facing extreme systemic oppression and racism.


We must explicitly honor the endurance and expertise of trailblazers like Maude Callen, who served rural South Carolina for 40 years, and Mary Coley, who brought thousands of babies into the world with skill and care.


While we celebrate the past, we must also confront the present reality. Today, Black families in California continue to face disproportionately high rates of maternal and infant mortality, driven by systemic racism and implicit bias in healthcare.


As midwives, we know that the midwifery model of care—centered on respect, shared decision-making, and continuity of care—is a proven solution to improving these outcomes. We are deeply committed to reversing the systematic erasure of Black midwives that took place in the 20th century, and we are working actively to increase the number of Black midwives and students in our state.


In California, we are building a new future that honors this legacy. CNMA is dedicated to:

Advancing Reproductive Justice: Supporting policies that eliminate racism-based disparities in maternal health.

Increasing Representation: Supporting pathways for Black, Indigenous, and people of color to enter the midwifery profession.

Promoting Culturally Concordant Care: Ensuring that families have access to midwives who share their lived experiences and cultural backgrounds.


This month, I urge you to learn more about the history of Black midwives, support Black-led birth organizations in your community, and join us in advocating for a healthcare system where every person is treated with dignity.


Join the CNMA for a virtual anti-racism workshop. Save the date February 21, 2026 from 9am to 12pm. More details are coming soon.


Let us carry forward the spirit of the ancestors—who provided not just care, but fierce love and advocacy—into our practice today.



With gratitude and solidarity,



Amita

Amita Graham, CNM, WHNP, IBCLC

President, California Nurse-Midwives Association (CNMA)


Legislative Action & Advocacy

 

LAAC 2025 Report

LAAC team is proud to share our 2025 report to the CNMA Board of Directors with the CNMA membership. Please click here to see the incredible efforts of our committee in the last year: 2025 LAAC Annual Report for CNMA BOD . 


If you are interested in joining our small but mighty team please reach out to advocacy@cnma.org 


Legislative Efforts

  • We have some important legislative efforts planned for 2026. More information to come soon! 


Budget Efforts

  • Our team is working hard to ensure the state funds AB 836 (Stefani) The Midwifery Workforce Analysis Fact Sheet and SB 520 Caballo 


General Advocacy & Issues we are tracking

Federal Loan Limits for Nurses and Midwives

CNMA organized a sign-on letter with our APRN colleagues and the California Association of Colleges of Nursing.  See the statement here. Share on social media! We are also organizing a sign-on letter of California Legislative Representatives.


Medical Malpractice for Community Based Midwives 

We are aware that liability insurance for community based midwives has become more challenging to access. We are aiming to work with our partners at Midwifery Access California to better understand this issue and address it. If you are having difficulty with professional liability insurance we want to hear from you. Please reach out to advocacy@CNMA.org  


Impact of HR-1 on reproductive health care services and primary care services

We are aiming to work with our partners throughout the state to understand and help mitigate the impact of these cuts. 

If your service or the people you serve are being impacted by these cuts please reach out: advocacy@cnma.org


Kaiser Nurse-Midwives on Strike

UNAC/UNHCP, the union representing all Kaiser midwives in California is striking over Kaiser’s unfair labor practices. The midwives and other health care workers say they will strike until they achieve a contract. The union represents 31,000 Nurses and Health Care providers across California and Hawaii.  Check out the union’s report on Kaiser here https://unacuhcp.org/caregivers/ 


BRN sunset review

The report is out: https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/forms/sunset2026.pdf our team is reviewing and will be making sure the recommendations in the sunset bill are supportive of midwifery practice in the state. 


Midwifery in the News

Click the links below to read these relevant, recent articles.

It is with a sincere wail of grief that we mourn the devastating death of midwife Dr. Janell Green Smith who died from complications of childbirth. We honor the enduring legacy that Dr. Green Smith leaves behind, while acknowledging the unacceptable reality that Black women face disproportionate risks in childbirth in the United States.




Education, Trainings, Webinars, and More


Postpartum Support International (PSI) Trainings


Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care

  • March 4-5, 2026 8:00 AM-5:00PM PT | Sacramento, CA

  • Registration Deadline: February 18

This two-day course, taught by expert and engaging faculty, uses a thorough, evidence-based curriculum designed for psychiatrists, nurses, physicians, social workers, mental health providers, childbirth professionals, social support providers, and anyone interested in building skills for assessment and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. Your registration includes a training manual, handouts, and certification of continuing education credits.


Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy

  • March 6, 2026 9:00 AM-4:30 PM PT | Sacramento, CA

  • Registration Deadline: February 18

This training features an evidence-based curriculum designed for mental health and psychotherapy providers who have previously completed at least fourteen hours of perinatal mental health training. This advanced training covers differential diagnosis, evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches, and advanced therapeutic issues. It combines expert presentation with case studies, group discussion, and practical examples of treatment approaches. This course or an equivalent six-hour advanced training course is a pre-requisite for the Perinatal Mental Health Certification, in the mental health/psychotherapy specialty. Registration includes training manual and certification of continuing education.


On-Demand Webinars and Other Resources 


Announcing the Reproductive Health Services Corps Accelerator Program



In addition to the amazing virtual and in-person abortion trainings offered regularly by CNMA. We wanted you know about another exciting new program TEACH is launching! We're thrilled to announce the launch of the RHSC Accelerator Program @ TEACH, a groundbreaking initiative funded by the Reproductive Health Services Corps grant. This program is designed for existing healthcare providers (MD, DO, NP, CNM, PA) within California seeking to expand their skills and offer comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortion care.

Key Program Benefits:

  • Customized Training: Tailored to your specific needs and goals.

  • Financial Support: Funding available to help you complete your training

  • Comprehensive Curriculum: Access to didactic components for providing medical and procedural abortions, and options counseling 

  • Clinical Rotation Opportunities: Gain hands-on experience in a supportive environment.

  • On-Site Training: We can host training sessions at your practice for your team.

Ready to take the next step?

Rural providers and those who represent and care for underserved communities will be given top priority.   

Bethany Golden & Megan Kumar

Co-Directors Reproductive Health Services Corps @ TEACH. 


ReproHH: Free, On-Demand, Clinician-to-Clinician Support for Reproductive Health


 


We are thrilled to announce the launch of ReproHH: a FREE, confidential hotline for healthcare providers nationwide! Whether you’re a clinician or a community health worker, you can now connect with specialists based out of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to discuss your sexual and reproductive health questions - all by phone. ReproHH’s team of physicians is here as a trusted partner to minimize the need for referrals to specialists, avoid unnecessary treatments, and enhance healthcare outcomes.

Call ReproHH today at 1-844-ReproHH (1-844-737-7644).

ReproHH is available Monday – Friday, 8 am - 4 pm PT (11 am – 7 pm ET), excluding holidays.

Learn more and review our terms of service at reprohh.ucsf.edu. 


Job Opportunities


Birth Center Opportunities for New Grads

Practicing in a supportive birth center alongside experienced midwives can be transformative, building skills and confidence. All of the birth centers listed below (some located in rural areas) offer Fellowships or hiring opportunities for new graduates wishing to practice full-scope midwifery in a birth center setting.  Please reach out for more information. Full disclosure: The listing below is a preliminary draft and does not contain the full information on the possibilities of each site. When you make contact, ask each site lots of questions, such as, 'Is there a stipend?' Do you offer loan repayment? Is the ability to speak Spanish an absolute requirement, or do you also have translators? How flexible is the timing and length of the Fellowship? 

For any questions regarding this list, please contact Melanie Cabezas Phipps at mphippsm@gmail.com.


Birth centers offering Fellowships or hiring new graduates:

Acorn Community Birth and Wellness Center in Fallbrook, CA.  We are a CPM/CNM practice in the process of obtaining CABC accreditation and are always open to new midwives who would like to work at a higher-volume birth center serving a diverse ethnic and socio-economic population.  We are Medicaid providers and, as such, see a greater diversity of immigrant, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and lower socio-economic communities.  Located between San Diego and Riverside Counties.  Contact Cristi Lewis LM, CPM, Executive Director, at midwives@acornbirthcenter.com.


Astoria Birth Center & Family Medicine, a rural practice on the Oregon coast. Contact: Rebeckah Orton


The Birth Center in Newark, Delaware. Contact Julia Paulus


El Rio Health in Tucson, Arizona. Federally Qualified Health Center (FHQC) with a Fellowship program. We attend births in a hospital that has a CABC-accredited Alongside Midwifery Unit adjacent to an L&D unit, a good experience for physiologic birth, water births, newborn care, and early discharge. Contact: Greta Gill at GretaG@elrio.org

 

Full Circle Birth Center in Kasson, Minnesota. Contact: AnneMarie Schwanke


Holy Family Services Birth Center, located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Fellowships are available to new graduates or seasoned nurse-midwives who wish to gain experience in out-of-hospital births and solidify their midwifery training.  We are an HRSA-designated site, which allows eligible staff to qualify for the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. Fellows serve for a minimum of 6 months - 2 years and are provided with stipends and housing. Contact: Brandi Kennedy at 956-969-2538.


The Midwife Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Contact: Emily McGahey, CNM


Nativiti Family Birth Center in The Woodlands, Texas (Houston suburb). We are open to hiring new grads and would love to offer fellowship opportunities (do not have that program at this time but would be open). Contact admin@nativiti.com Jami Hain, CNM


New Birth Wellness Center/New Birth Midwifery in Chaska, Minnesota. Contact: Jennifer Hall


Tender Gifts Birth & Wellness Center in Fort Collins and Grand Junction, Colorado. Contact: Althea Hrdlichka, hello@tendergiftsbirth.com, 866.218.5769


Twin Cities Birth Center + Women's Health Clinic, St. Paul, MN. 9-month fellowship program for CNMs and CPMs. Paid fellowship with health benefits, an education stipend, and paid time off. Contact: stephanie@twincitiesbc.com


To Our California Midwives:

Are you a birth center midwife OR a midwife who works in a rural setting? Do you offer Fellowships or hire new grads?  Midwives at the American Association of Birth Centers and the American College of Nurse-Midwives are compiling a Grand List, which will be distributed nationwide to our students and new midwifery grads who have expressed an interest in pursuing a midwifery Fellowship or working in a birth center, especially those in rural areas. Birth center Fellowships in urban settings are a great resource, too! This is a super opportunity to promote your beautiful birth center to those wishing to gain experience and confidence in practicing full-scope midwifery in a community setting. Please tell us where you are, what you can offer to new graduates, and a little something about your setting to Melanie Cabezas Phipps: mphippsm@gmail.com



CNMA Board of Directors Updates Announcement

The California Nurse Midwives Association is pleased to share updates to the CNMA Board of Directors. The following members have recently stepped into new leadership roles and will support the ongoing work and mission of the association: Margy Hutchison - President Elect

Ali Kanat - Northern California Representative Darcy Stanley - Secretary Sarah Egan - Nominating Committee Member

Sally McNally - Southern California Representative


Open Board Positions

CNMA also has several open opportunities remaining in 2026 and encourages members who are interested to consider applying!


Current openings include:


• Two Representatives from Under-represented Groups positions

• Reproductive Justice Anti-Racism Committee Chairperson position

• Two additional Nominating Committee positions

• Central California Representative position

Interested in joining the Board of Directors?

Please contact the CNMA President for more information:

Amita Graham, (1-415-516-5407), president@cnma.org



Additional Information


Legal Aid at Work: Training on Paid Leave and Accommodations for Pregnant People


Hi everyone,


Thank you so much for joining Legal Aid at Work for our training on Paid Leave and Accommodations for Pregnant People, New Parents, and Family Caregivers in 2025. A recording of our training is available in  English here, and in Spanish here, and the slides are available here.


Please feel free to refer low-paid patients and clients working in California to our Work and Family Helpline at 800-880-8047,  confidential advice on workplace protections related to pregnancy, caregiving, or health conditions. Additionally, providers and community partners may call our helpline for technical assistance, or to request a training.


Email Katie (kwutchiett@legalaidatwork.org) or Natalia (ngottschalk@legalaidatwork.org) with questions or requests..


Here are some of the materials we highlighted:



You can also visit our website for additional factsheets on workplace rights for NICU families, foster parents, LGBTQ+ families, federal employees, family caregivers, dads, those experiencing reproductive loss, survivors of domestic violence, and more. Printed copies of our materials can be requested here.


Our goal is to make sure that families, especially those who are paid low wages, can access the leave and accommodations they need for their health and their family’s health without having to sacrifice their jobs or income. Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything we can do to partner in this work!


All our best,


LAAW’s Work and Family Team


(Franchesca, Julia, Katie, Natalia, Sela, Sharon, Shazzy, and Victoria)


Volunteer Opportunities


Did You Have a Hard Time Finding a Preceptor?


To our new California midwifery grads: CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your midwifery program!  We are so proud and happy for you. Please remind yourself often of the great significance of your accomplishment and give yourself a big hug.  


CNMA’s Workforce Development and Educational Support (Co-chairs Melanie Cabezas Phipps and Kim Dau) are aware that many midwifery students, particularly those in distance-learning programs, have expressed (and continue to express) frustration, delays, and stress in finding preceptors. This is not a new issue, and we are actively working to improve the situation. California is the state with the most midwives of any state in our nation, so our work here impacts the entire profession. Let’s organize to change things so that our current and future students don't have to go through what so many of us did. With your help, we can make a difference. 


Tell us your narratives. If you had difficulty finding preceptors, please share your experience with us by emailing Melanie at mphippsm@gmail.com. What issues did you have? What happened, what could have happened and didn't (or did), what should have happened, what worked/didn't work, how would you like to see things change? Your thoughts, suggestions, and insights are greatly appreciated. All responses are kept in confidence. 



Membership Opportunities


All Things Membership

CNMA’s Membership team is here to support you and help you get whatever you need to be the best midwife you can be.

Do you have any questions about your California Nurse-Midwives Association and/or your American College of Nurse-Midwives benefits? For example,

  • Do you want to know how to become a member and if you are eligible for any discounts? (you probably are) 

  • Are you looking for a specific resource to support your practice?

  • Are you a student trying to figure out the best way to find a preceptor? 

  • Are you interested in publishing your research or getting involved in further research?

  • Are you interested in volunteering at the local, state, national, or global level within the midwifery community?

  • Are you having trouble renewing your membership or updating your member profile information, such as your email address, home address, credentials, or affiliate, or even learning how to add another affiliate? 

  • Would you like to contact the CNMA or ACNM Board? Or, our Region VII Representative Michelle Palmer? Or, even the ACNM CEO Michelle Munroe or ACNM President Jessica Brumley?

  • Would you like to learn what it takes to become an ACNM Fellow?


  • Are you looking for a job? Or, would you like to promote your midwifery practice to others?


... and more! Both the CNMA and the ACNM can sometimes feel like complex organizations, but we also have lots of member benefits. We’re here to help you find them and navigate from A to B. If we can't fix it or don't know the answer, we'll find out for you ASAP and hook you up with those who can. Contact us at membership@cnma.org or call/text (858) 525-5733, 7 am - 8 pm Pacific


Rural Maternal Health now on CONNECT

We've just started a new community on ACNM’s CONNECT networking platform for anyone interested in rural maternal health issues. This is a collaborative space for all those interested in advancing equitable, high-quality maternity care in rural communities. This all-members forum is set up to share resources, identify workforce and access challenges, highlight innovative models of care, and foster professional support among midwives serving rural populations. Please join, introduce yourself, and post your thoughts and questions about any rural maternal health issue you would like to explore. If you currently work in a rural setting, please share with us your day-to-day challenges, struggles, and triumphs, as well as your joyful moments and strategies for providing maternal/newborn care. We’re here to offer support and help you find ways to make your personal and professional life easier. Any questions on how to join, contact Melanie Cabezas Phipps at connect@acnm.org. 


Medi-Cal Rx


Sign up for the Medi-Cal Rx Subscription Service to be notified when new information is posted! See additional bulletins and news updates 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! 


You're receiving this communication because you are a current or former member of the ACNM/CNMA or because you signed up from the CNMA website.

 

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The California Nurse Midwife Association (CNMA) is the professional organization representing Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives in the state of California.

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CONTACTS

 

Questions on continuing education courses, including documentation for tuition reimbursement? Contact CONTINUING ED

 

Questions related to midwifery policy and practice? Contact advocacy@cnma.org.

 

Membership questions? Contact membership@cnma.org.

​

General questions not covered above? Contact info@cnma.org.

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