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CNMA Newsletter – November 2025


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Message From the President


Greetings CNMA family,


It was fantastic to see so many of you in Palm Springs for the ACNM Conference, 2025. I cherished the opportunity to come together in community to learn, celebrate, and network with local and national colleagues. The CNMA host booth was able to raise some funds that will go towards our legislative work. Thank you all for your support! I loved hearing all of the stories and well-wishes from our midwifery community. Thank you for stopping by the booth to say hello and share your support. 

   

It has been a busy year so far with many new developments. In California, the midwifery landscape is shaped by legislative efforts to improve access to care, with new bills addressing education and facility licensing. We are very proud of all of the new legislative developments amid our statewide maternal health crisis. As maternity ward closures continue and racial disparities in birth outcomes are still all too common, we know that the work of CNMA is even more meaningful now than ever. 


CNMA continues to address key issues, including the significant regulatory hurdles facing community midwives and birth centers, persistent challenges with Medi-Cal reimbursement, and efforts to expand midwifery education and diversify the workforce. 


In solidarity,


Amita

Amita Graham, CNM

(She/her)

President CNMA


Legislative Action & Advocacy

(formerly Health Policy)


On October 11th, 2025 Governor Newsom signed four major midwifery bills into law, three of which were proudly sponsored by CNMA!

✨ AB 55 (Bonta): Streamlines outdated licensing barriers for freestanding birth centers, increasing access to safe, community-based maternity care for Medi-Cal and underserved families. Co-sponsored by CNMA.

✨ SB 520 (Caballero): Creates a dedicated fund to establish new nurse-midwifery master’s programs in California, addressing the maternity care crisis and expanding access to high-quality, culturally responsive care. Sponsored by CNMA.

✨ AB 836 (Stefani): Requires the states to perform an analysis to evaluate and strengthen California’s midwifery education pipeline, with a focus on equity, workforce sustainability, and serving communities most impacted by provider shortages. Sponsored by CNMA.

✨ SB 669 (McGuire): Creates an Emergency Standby Perinatal Unit pilot program for the provision of obstetric and neonatal care to patients transferred from a freestanding birth center, or who present to the hospital’s emergency department with an urgent issue. Supported by CNMA. 


These wins represent years of advocacy by CNMA members, partner organizations, and reproductive justice advocates across the state. Together, we’re building a future where midwifery care is accessible, equitable, and sustainable for every Californian!


Other Policy/Legislative Updates


Want to join our team and help be the change in California? Email advocacy@cnma.org to get involved.


Midwifery in the News

Plumas District Hospital Celebrates Passage of Senate Bill 669, Launching 10-Year Pilot to Test Standby Perinatal Units

QUINCY, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of SB 669 moves Plumas District Hospital (PDH) one step closer to addressing the gap left by the loss of Plumas County’s only maternity unit in 2022. The legislation establishes a 10-year pilot program creating a new category of hospital supplemental service—the standby perinatal unit—specifically for California’s Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).

The pilot project will evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and financial sustainability of standby perinatal units as a new hospital supplemental service. The pilot will help shape long-term policy options for rural maternal care access across California. The standby perinatal unit is designed to mitigate the financial burden of maintaining round-the-clock maternity services in low-volume rural hospitals by offering an on-call, standby model of maternity care. The approach is intended to prevent further closures of perinatal units and restore local access to safe, responsive maternity services in regions known as maternity care deserts.


Education, Trainings, Webinars, and More

Attention all nurse-midwives licensed by the California Board of Registered Nursing!


 Have you heard of the Nurse-Midwifery Advisory Council? Through successful CNMA advocacy, the Nurse-Midwifery Advisory Council (NMAC) was codified into law in 2020. According to the law, the NMAC “shall make recommendations to the board on all matters related to midwifery practice, education, appropriate standard of care, and other matters as specified by the board. The committee shall provide recommendations or guidance on care when the board is considering disciplinary action against a certified nurse-midwife.” The NMAC ensures that the BRN has access to expertise on issues related to nurse-midwife practice. For the NMAC function to be robust, it is important that they hear about issues affecting the education and practice of California nurse-midwife. Individuals can reach out directly to an NMAC member, provide public comment at the beginning of any scheduled NMAC meeting, or bring your issue to the CNMA legislative action and advocacy team (advocacy@cnma.org), who regularly monitor the NMAC meetings and make comment.


The most recent NMAC meeting was held on September 23, 2025. The agenda is available here and a recording is available here. The NMAC meets twice a year and the next meeting will be held April 28, 2026. Please note that the agenda is set six weeks in advance and issues should be clearly linked to the BRN’s mission to protect California's health care consumers and promote quality nursing care. 

.

Respectfully submitted,

Kim Q. Dau


On-Demand Webinars and Other Resources 

Announcing the Reproductive Health Services Corps Accelerator Program


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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. 


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


 

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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. 


Upcoming Events

Care Across Borders


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For nearly five decades, the Women’s Health Center has been on the front lines of reproductive and sexual health care in the Appalachian region. From opening West Virginia’s first abortion clinic in 1976 to launching a Maryland site just five miles from the WV border after Roe fell in 2022, WHC has acted when communities needed it—no waiting, no wavering.


On Tuesday, November 18th, from 6 to 8 PM at Pace Prints in NYC, the Women’s Health Centers of West Virginia & Maryland, alongside the incredible group of hosts, kick off year 50 of WHC with Care Across Borders: Leading the Fight for Reproductive Freedom and LGBTQIA+ Rights in Appalachia. 

Support Care Across Borders as an event sponsor to underwrite life-saving care.

Make a DonationEvery dollar you give helps provide direct care and expand access — and your gift is fully tax-deductible.

Spread the WordHelp us reach more people by sharing this event:


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


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 fill out our survey (Spanish version) Your feedback is very important to us and helps us give a better training next time.


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. 



Burnout Among Maternal and Child Health Students and Professionals Survey

The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health is conducting research to understand burnout among Maternal and Child Health (MCH) students and professionals from non-profits, academia, or the private/public sector. 

We invite you to participate in a brief, anonymous survey.

Survey Details:

Eligibility:

  • Individuals 18+ residing in the U.S.

  • Study or work in fields supporting the health and well-being of women, birthing people, children, or families

Your responses are completely anonymous and will help advance knowledge about the factors influencing burnout in the MCH workforce. This research has been reviewed and approved by GW's Office of Human Subjects Research.

Questions?


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


NEW! 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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CNMA.ORG

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 our LEGISLATIVE TEAM

 

Membership questions? Contact MEMBERSHIP

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

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