CNMA Newsletter – September 2026
Updated: Sep 15
Dear Community,
Your membership goes a long way. Thank you for supporting CNMA. Check out the new look of our website at cnma.org. We are working hard to keep an updated resource that helps to keep the midwifery community connected, involved, and up to date with relevant reproductive health news and activities throughout the state. Please take a moment to ensure that your membership is up to date. It’s easy to log on to CNMA Membership page and join today! Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you at the CNMA Annual Meeting on September 19, 2026.
In Solidarity,
Amita
Stay current, stay compliant!
GET YOUR CEUs at
CNMA 2026 Annual Meeting & Retreat
DAY 1 - Main Event
DATE | TIME | WORKSHOP | CEs | REGISTER |
9/19/26 | 7AM -11AM | Innovative Topics | 8 ACNM | |
Shoulder Dystocia and Manual Rotation, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Pelvic Floor, Rural Healthcare, Breastfeeding Medicine, and Mindfulness seminars. | ||||
DAY 2
$100 enrollment fee for each workshop.
Separate registration is required
Choose up to two of the four workshops
Abortion Training supported by the Reproductive Health Service Corps.
DATE | TIME | WORKSHOP | CEs | REGISTER |
9/20/26 | 8AM - 12 PM | Hypnosis for Childbirth Workshop | 4 CEs | |
9/20/26 | 1 PM - 5 PM: | Suturing Workshop | 4 CEs | |
9/20/26 | 8 AM - 12 PM | Virtual Abortion Workshop | 4 CEs | |
The virtual abortion training covers counseling, medication abortion, telehealth abortion, and values clarification. People in California NEED trained abortion providers -- Please answer the call! | ||||
9/20/26 | 1 PM - 5 PM: | Hands-On Abortion Workshop | 4 CEs | |
The in-person training meets the requirements under SB 1375, allowing nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to provide first-trimester manual vacuum aspiration abortion care independently. The virtual training is a prerequisite to the in-person training. | ||||
The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Unit 101, Ventura Friday, September 18, 2026 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM ✨ FREE to attend ✨ Open to BIPOC midwives, Birth Workers & allies ✨ You do NOT need to be attending the CNMA Annual Meeting to join us ✨ Appetizers provided by CNMA ✨ Additional food & drinks available for purchase REGISTER NOW! | |
Come break bread, connect, and build community with BIPOC midwives and Birth Workers from across California and allies. |
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Legislative Action & Advocacy
Your professional voice in Sacramento
Legislative Action and Advocacy Committee Updates |
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Education, Trainings, Webinars, and More
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VIEW MORE INFO:
Pacific's Master of Science (MS) Midwifery is officially accepting applications!
 | Vaginal Breech Training in Oakland, CA.Wednesday, October 21: 8AM - 6PM Tuesday, December 1: 8AM - 6PM |
PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY!Lived Experiences of Burnout and Retention among Hospital Clinicians in Southern California -Dissertation Research Study |  |
CNMA Annual Meeting and Retreat!
This year's meeting will be held on September 19-20, 2026 at the Ventura Buddhist Center - An Lac Mission. Earn up to 16 ACNM CEs while soaking in the beauty and calm of this special location!
10th Annual Reproductive Mental Health Conference
This year's course will include topics on menopause, sexual health, body image, environmental toxins, perinatal Asian mental health and much more.
Date: November 13, 2026
Location: Pritzker Auditorium at UCSF Mission Bay
675 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Onsite and Remote Learning Options
The course will be offered as a live conference. Registrants have the option to attend in person or to tune in remotely via zoom live stream during programming hours (Pacific Time). Login instructions along with the digital syllabus will be shared with attendees before the meeting. You must tune in to the live conference (in person or remotely) to claim CME.
Course Directors:
Patricia A. Robertson, MD, Anna Glezer, MD, Gowri Aragam, MD
Planning Committee Members
Theresia Oklan, PhD, PMH-C, Ali Starling, CNM
Midwifery in the News
Click the link below to read this relevant article.
Aug 10, 2026
Midwives are the closest thing the maternal health crisis has to a solution. So why do we keep getting in their way?
Journal
Aug 4, 2026
Barriers to Medicaid Participation for Community Midwives in California
Podcast
July 31, 2026
Chanda Williams shares about her experiences with midwives and her pregnancy journey.
Membership Opportunities
The newly formed California Perinatal Quality Collaborative (CA-PQC) is seeking diverse leaders to serve on its Advisory Council. Council members will provide strategic guidance to the CA-PQC Executive Steering Committee and help ensure the voices and needs of California mothers, babies, families, communities, and health care partners are represented.
2026-2027 CNMA Open Board Positions |
Interested Candidates, please contact Sarah Egan at sarahegancnma@gmail.com no later than October 1st., 2026. Electronic ballots will be released to membership for voting on October 3rd., 2026 |
CNMA has several open opportunities remaining in 2026-2027 and encourages members who are interested to consider applying!
CURRENT OPENINGS:
Representatives from Under-Represented Groups (two positions open)
Representatives from under-represented groups (including but not limited to BIPOC, disabled, LGBTQ, rural, poor, home birth and free-standing birth center midwives) shall:
Attend monthly BOD meetings
Attend their local chapter meetings, when possible
Ideally have a well-developed understanding of the Reproductive Justice Framework
Ideally be in community and connection with the members of the under-represented community/communities whose voice they are elevating. Bring awareness to the specific needs of these communities to the BOD and act as a voice for the members to the BOD
Take initiative to be involved in events in their region and to develop relationships with the members of the region
Possibly be involved with fundraising to support CNMA aims
Voting Status: They are voting members of the BODTerm: 3 year term: 2 years as Representative from an under-represented group, followed by one year as Immediate Past Representative (the "Immediate Past" role is non-voting)
Regional Representative – Central CA
Regional Representative (one from the Central CA) shall:
Attend monthly BOD meetings
Keep in touch with the regional chapters so the regional director is up to date
Act as a voice for the members to the BOD
Establish two-way communication with regional chapter chairs and members to update them on affiliate issues, as well as bring issues, comments, needs and requests from regional members to the BOD
Take initiative regarding events in their region and develop relationships with the members of the region, including participation at local chapter meetings, when possible
They are encouraged to be involved in fundraising efforts in their region
Take a leadership role in organizing in-district visits when it comes to grassroots advocacy/legislation
Voting Status: Regional Reps are voting members of the BODTerm: 3 year term: 2 years as Regional Rep, followed by one year as Immediate Past Regional Rep (the "Immediate Past" role is non-voting)
Central Region by County:
Alpine Amador Calaveras Fresno Inyo | Kern Kings Madera Mariposa Merced | Mono Monterey San Joaquin San Luis Obispo Santa Barbara | Stanislaus Tulare Tuolumne |
Reproductive Justice Anti-Racism Committee Chair
The Reproductive Justice Anti-Racism Committee Chair shall:
Participate in monthly RJ/AR meetings
Attend monthly BOD meetings and advise the BOD on issues related to Reproductive Justice & Anti-Racism
Provide Quarterly communication with CNMA members regarding committee activity
Interface with American College of Nurse-Midwives and their current committees focusing on racial and reproductive justice issues
Coordinate collaboration with other professional groups on issues related to anti-racism and racism-based health disparities work
Voting Status: RJ/AR Chair is a voting member of the BODTerm: 3 year term: 2 years as RJAR committee chair, followed by one year as Immediate Past RJAR Committee Chair (the "Immediate Past" role is non-voting)
Nominating Committee (two positions open)
It is a 3-year term with a 2-term limit. The time commitment for the nominating committee is limited each year – the responsibilities include finding eligible candidates for all open board positions and conducting the election – creating and sending out ballots electronically, and then counting the ballots. This process will take place in the second half of the calendar year, with the search for candidates to take place before the November 1st date when ballots will be sent out.
Interested in joining the Board of Directors?
Please contact the CNMA Nominating Committee Chairperson
Sarah Egan, sarahegancnm@gmail.com
CNMA Membership: Supporting You, Your Practice, and Your Patients
Whether you're a student still early in your training, recently board-certified and navigating your first year of independent practice, an established CNM with decades of experience, or a midwife considering what comes next in your career—CNMA is here to support you. You can join or renew at cnma.org/membership, and if you have questions about membership or just want to talk through what it offers, reach out to us at membership@cnma.org.
CNMA's membership work is built on a simple idea: California midwives are caring professionals who want to connect with each other, grow in their practice, and make a meaningful difference for the patients and families they serve. That's what CNMA is here to support—at every stage of your career, and in every setting where you practice.
That shows up in concrete ways. For students, it means early visibility into what CNMA does, mentorship connections with practicing midwives, and access to professional development, scholarship, and advocacy resources. For newly certified CNMs, it means a thoughtful welcome, connection to peer community, and clarity about how CNMA is working to shape the legislative and practice environment you're entering. For established practitioners—especially those in rural, birth center, or home birth settings—it means a professional community you can count on, real-time advocacy updates, and the knowledge that CNMA is fighting for the scope of practice, reimbursement equity, and maternal health outcomes your patients depend on. For midwives in transition, it means resources tailored to where you are and membership options that recognize different career paths.
Beyond that, membership connects you to something larger: peer-to-peer learning through ACNM Connect, the CNMA Annual Meeting and the ACNM Annual Meeting—the largest gathering of CNMs and CMs in the country—access to peer-reviewed research, clinical practice guidelines, and a national advocacy platform that reaches the FDA, CDC, NIH, and organizations shaping maternal health policy at the highest levels.
If you've been on the fence, have questions about what membership includes, or just want to talk about what's on your mind as a practicing California midwife, we'd welcome the conversation. Join or renew at cnma.org/membership, or reach out to us directly at membership@cnma.org.
A New Place To Bring Your Questions: All Things Membership on ACNM Connect
The ACNM has a new Community Interest Group built around a simple idea: every midwife should have somewhere to turn when she has a question and isn't sure where it goes.
California midwives carry a particular load — navigating practice in a state with high costs and complex systems, sustaining careers in rural and underserved counties where professional community is hardest to find. And California is home to many midwifery students enrolled in distance learning programs across the country, working toward their credential without a local campus or cohort around them — often searching for preceptors and professional community in the state where they actually live. All Things Membership is a place to bring all of it: a question about funding or scholarships, a workplace situation you're navigating, something that should have an answer at the ACNM and doesn't, or a problem you just need to think through out loud with midwives who understand.
When you post, others can weigh in — and the ACNM Membership Committee is part of the conversation, making sure nothing falls through. If your question needs to reach someone at the ACNM, they'll carry it there and stay with it until you have an answer.
If you're an ACNM member, the group is open to you now!
Job Opportunities
San Francisco Birth Center is seeking a temporary, fulltime staff midwife.
We are an established freestanding birth center in the heart of San Francisco doing approximately 6-10 births/month.
We are looking for an experience community birth midwife who is available for 6+ months as we transition to a new structure. The position may become permanent.
The position will include prenatal care, birth and postpartum care. Our prenatal care includes both private and group prenatals.
The ideal candidate would have community birth experience and knowledge of group prenatal care. Both LM/CPMs and CNMs are encouraged to apply.
Please reach to me if you are interested more information. And feel free to share this with other midwives.
Nancy Myrick, CNM
Director
San Francisco Birth Center
Two Openings at the Black Midwifery Fellowship
We are sharing 2 midwifery fellowship openings for the Black Midwifery Fellowship (BMF) in California. The BMF is a comprehensive full scope post graduate midwifery fellowship open to all with a focus on abortion training. More information about the fellowship, job description, requirements & how to apply can be found on our website here. Questions? submit here!
A few highlights below:
The BMF in California is a one-year non-renewable fellowship recruiting two certified nurse-midwives (CNM) positions as clinical instructors at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. Salary is expected to be $129,850 for 70% FTE effort (average of 28 hours a week). Fellows are paid and eligible for benefits in accordance with university policy. The incoming candidates will provide full scope nurse-midwifery clinical care including antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, family planning services, with a focus in abortion. The BMF is led by exceptional advanced practice providers and features practice-based learning, didactic education, mentorship and scholarly projects. The program is designed for new graduates (within 24 months of program completion) to expand the knowledge and skills acquired during graduate or doctoral training. Throughout the course of the fellowship year, a fellow can expect ongoing mentorship and engagement in self-assessment and performance feedback framed in practice-based knowledge, skills and attitudes. The program is a one-year commitment expected to run from Summer/Fall 2026-2027. Each fellow is expected to complete midwifery-based training with didactic and focused clinical rotations.
The name of our fellowship is a legacy tribute to Black Midwives in the United States. Prior to the Civil War abortion and contraceptive care were legal, and Black Midwives provided community-based care inclusive of abortion care and reproductive health care to all communities. Post legalized enslavement there was a public and national smearing campaign of Black Midwives in the obstetric field as physicians sought capital gain, recognition, and a professional monopoly. These actions excluded the advancement and continued work of Black Midwives in this country as a trusted provider, especially in Black communities. Additionally, midwifery governing organizations barred Black people from membership, further severing Black Midwives from their own communities. With the loss of Black Midwifery, there was also loss of cultural safety, respect, wisdom, truth-telling, and the nurturance that Black midwives provide to communities. Today, less than 9% of US midwives are Black. There is no way to correct the harms of these actions, though there is repair work to be done now. The Black Midwifery Fellowship in California is one form of this.
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
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:
Basic rights for parents: Pregnancy/Parenting +My Job in California (and San Francisco)
Step by step guide for parents: Pregnancy + My Job Roadmap and Guide
Videos: 10-15 minute video for pregnant folks and parents (in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Farsi, Panjabi, and Armenian)
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.
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.
Now Active: Prior Authorization Policy Updates, Effective September 1, 2026
Policy Update for Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Pharmacy Providers, Effective October 1, 2026
Now Active: Updates to the Early Refill Policy, Effective August 21, 2026
Now Active: MMRV Vaccine Reimbursement for Children Younger Than 4 Years of Age
Update: Include ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes on Pharmacy Claims
State of Emergency Override Activation: Submission Clarification Code 13
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.
Copyright © CNMA 2026. 746 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292. All rights reserved. |
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