409 12th St SW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024
In 2023, the Access to Equity in Midwifery Education and Care (Equity) project reached several important milestones. The project completed the research portion of the landscape analysis and held a strategic planning meeting. Additionally, the project successfully established relationships with two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that showed interest in exploring the possibility of establishing a midwifery education program. The research team, which consisted of Alexis Dunn Amore PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, Noelene Jeffers PhD, CNM, IBCLC, Jennifer Woo, PhD, CNM, and Lucinda Canty, PhD, CNM, FACNM, presented two sessions at the 68th ACNM Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Furthermore, in partnership with Global25, the steering committee members and other healthcare professionals presented three informational sessions targeting administrators in higher education and community advocates to promote the diversification of the midwifery workforce and developing a holistic birth team.
ACNM has always maintained a commitment to engaging in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives. Thus, ACNM started the Access to Equity in Midwifery Education and Care project, which was funded by J&J’s Our Race to Health Equity Initiative. The project aimed to advance the understanding of the experiences of students and recent graduates of color, faculty, and preceptors as they navigate midwifery education. Moreover, the project explored the institutional capacity of institutions that cater to marginalized communities to house a midwifery education program.
The lead researchers developed a mixed-method study using focus groups, surveys, and interviews between Fall 2022 and early 2023. The study identified the lack of mentorship for students, the stress of personal financial obligations along with the cost of education, and the lack of formal policies and procedures to address discrimination and racism as the barriers for students to feel safe and continue through their programs.
The results of the study were used to inform a strategic planning session that occurred in March 2023 where the steering committee, ACNM National Office Leadership, and the researchers all gathered to develop a strategic plan. This plan later informed the Equity report’s actionable recommendations that seek to continue pursuing a more equitable and safe experience for midwifery students of color. The recommendations included reestablishing the Midwives of Color Committee (MOCC) mentorship program for student midwives of color, developing the Equity in Midwifery Education Report Card in collaboration with the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, and developing a leadership fellowship for faculty members who are interested in moving to administrative roles within higher education.
To address the expansion of midwifery education to institutions that prioritize students from marginalized backgrounds, multiple informational sessions were held. These sessions aimed to address the history of midwifery in the US and the importance of diversifying the workforce. The sessions targeted decision-makers in higher education, community advocates, and other healthcare professionals to promote the growth of midwifery through program expansion. Also, these sessions educated advocates on midwives’ scope of practice compared to other maternal health birth workers.
The dissemination of the project included two presentations of the research team at the 68th Annual Meeting & Exhibition and exhibiting during the American Public Health Association (APHA) 2023 Annual Meeting & Expo. A full project report will be presented to membership, community advocates, and partner organizations through ACNM’s communication channels.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam vitae efficitur metus, ut auctor odio. Morbi quis eros faucibus, porttitor lacus quis, ornare felis. Phasellus tempor augue massa, quis mollis dolor bibendum at. Nunc vel placerat nunc. Mauris egestas, nisi nec accumsan fringilla, diam quam mattis arcu, ac lobortis magna nunc ac massa. Maecenas sollicitudin eros et arcu ultrices, quis varius odio vehicula. Etiam neque diam, feugiat vel placerat non, sodales eget lacus. Sed dictum tincidunt purus, id tempus risus consequat nec.
Morbi a orci tincidunt, rutrum magna eu, consectetur magna. Donec imperdiet placerat ipsum nec finibus. Proin ultrices vestibulum metus, quis condimentum odio malesuada sit amet. Maecenas ac sapien nec ligula commodo viverra. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Nam ac dolor arcu. Quisque iaculis porta diam eu ultrices. Vestibulum sit amet venenatis tortor. Donec commodo ex id tempus tempus.
Phasellus molestie vel ex non ornare. Cras dapibus placerat metus, et maximus velit vehicula vel. Phasellus non magna rutrum mauris egestas imperdiet. Morbi dignissim velit sed dolor lacinia, eu commodo metus blandit. Nullam luctus ipsum accumsan magna consequat, tristique imperdiet justo eleifend. Vivamus sagittis leo ante, sed lobortis lectus consequat eget. Nunc a justo et tortor hendrerit tempus vel ut turpis. Sed vel tortor nec felis maximus pretium. Sed vehicula fermentum facilisis. Phasellus dictum dolor quis gravida hendrerit. Suspendisse eu dui augue. Etiam vestibulum mauris vel erat ullamcorper ullamcorper. Etiam ac dignissim tellus. Nulla commodo hendrerit sapien in pellentesque. Cras in felis lacinia, fermentum nisi vel, congue turpis. Sed ultricies massa urna, in tincidunt leo cursus et.
409 12th St SW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024