CNMA member Alise Howe, CNM on Voice of America!

Fall Update from the ACNM National Government Affairs Committee (NGAC)

Hello my fellow California midwives! 

This is your fall update regarding national level policy and advocacy from the ACNM National Government Affairs Committee (NGAC) and how you can get involved in this work.

First order of business: I am actively seeking someone to replace me in my role as your NGAC representative, since I will be transitioning into my new role as CNMA President Elect. Please let me know if you would like more information about this fun and exciting opportunity! 

Fall Updates

National level Advocacy has been hard at work since the annual meeting.

We completed our fourth successful Off The Hill Week. Do you want to join in the next one? Dates are January 6th-10th.

FY 2020 Appropriations are in process the House Bill allots $2.5 million allocated to accredited midwifery education programs under the Title VII scholarships for disadvantaged students program. This funding would enable CNM, CM and CPM students to apply for scholarships through their institution. Eligible entities must establish or have a program in place for recruiting and retaining midwifery students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups.

Out legislative push for the year is the Midwives for MOMs Bill HR 3849. We need midwives writing letters, calling and making visits. This bill allots for an expansion of an accredited nurse-midwifery school or program. The bill also increases the number of preceptors at clinical training sites to precept students training to become CNMs. It prioritizes programs that seek to increase racial and ethnic representation and those who agree to serve in a HPSA. This is how we increase our workforce! More information on this bill is below.

Work is being done on a national level midwifery Privileging bill. More to come on this in the coming months!

Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act (MOMs Act) HR 3849:

Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA) introduced this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 18th  to establish two new programs/funding streams under Title VII and Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. We NEED midwives and student midwives across the country to take action on this legislation by reaching out to their members of congress to voice your support of this bill! You can also take action on voter voice here!

Summary: This bill allots for expansion of accredited nurse-midwifery schools and programs, and also increases the number of preceptors at clinical training sites to precept students training to become CNMs. It prioritizes programs that seek to increase racial and ethnic representation and those who agree to serve in a HPSA. This is how we increase our workforce!

Specifics of Title VIII Program: Establishes a new "Midwifery Expansion Program" for accredited midwifery education programs that train nurse-midwifery students. HRSA may provide grants to Schools of Nursing for: direct support of SNMs; establishment of expansion of accredited nurse-midwifery schools and programs; and securing, preparing or providing support for increasing the number of preceptors at clinical training sites to precept students training to become CNMs. Prioritization will be giving to programs that seek to increase racial and ethnic representation and those who agree to serve in a HPSA.

Specifics of Title VII Program: Recognizes "Midwifery Schools and Programs" as eligible entities to receive grant funding under the Title VII program. HRSA may provide grants to accredited midwifery education programs that are not within schools of nursing (e.g., SUNY, Jefferson & Baystate) for: direct support of midwifery students (CM, CPM and CNM students who are in programs NOT within schools of nursing); establishment of expansion of accredited midwifery schools and programs; and securing, preparing or providing support for increasing the number of preceptors at clinical training sites to precept students training to become CMs, CPMs or CNMs.

Again, prioritization will be giving to programs that seek to increase racial and ethnic representation and students who agree to serve in HPSA.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks!

Paris Paris Maloof-Bury, CNMA President ElectNational Government Affairs Committee Representative to California(805)415-2553

Participants Needed for Birth Certificate Accuracy Survey

Participants Needed for Birth Certificate Accuracy Survey

The Improving Midwifery Birth Numbers California Survey is aimed at estimating the number of CNM/CM-attended births in California in 2017 and 2018. This survey is being conducted in collaboration with the California Nurse-Midwives Association and the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative. 

A similar survey was conducted in Texas by Dr. Erin Biscone et al. in 2017 and demonstrated that CNM-attended births were underreported in the birth certificate data by 65%. As part of an ACNM Division of Research initiative, similar surveys are in process in other states.

The survey asks participants to provide:

1. The number of CNM-attended births in their hospital or birth center in 2017 and 2018. If CNMs do not track their own delivery numbers, we are asking for the number of vaginal births in your hospital for those years.

2. How many CNM FTEs are in the practice site.

3. Identify your facility’s birth certificate policies as to whose name is gets put on the birth certificate; if you do not know, just say so and don’t delay returning your survey. If you find out later, you can email Adrienne or Mary Barger.

The number of births reported by the practice site will be compared to the number of births reported in the birth certificate data. The survey team will use the number of CNM FTEs to extrapolate data if practices do not collect their own birth numbers.

The survey team will disseminate the results to CNMs throughout California in aggregate form. For participating CNM practices, the survey team will generate a report for the practice’s use if a discrepancy is noted between practice-reported birth numbers and birth certificate numbers. 

The survey will remain open until July 5, 2019.

CNMs who are interested in participating in the survey can contact Adrienne Almada at adrie.almada@csu.fullerton.edu or CALL (323) 687-4221.