Our program…
Targets aspiring midwives, student midwives and midwives with a focus on underserved communities including BIPOC and Appalachian communities, specific groups that have limited or no access to resources or that are otherwise disenfranchised. Our focus is on individuals and groups who receive fewer healthcare services or encounter barriers to accessing primary healthcare services.
A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) may receive training by a traditional apprenticeship or by attendance at a Midwifery Education Accreditation Council(MEAC) approved college in order to meet requirements for certification. The United States Midwifery, Education and Association (USMERA) joint agreement requires midwives who have trained under the apprenticeship route to undergo a 50-hour continuing education unit called the Bridge Program. This agreement meets with the International Confederation of Midwives’ Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery, standardizing the education of CPMs. Unfortunately, midwives from underserved communities face significant financial barriers to achieving these standards. We solve this by providing grants to student midwives and apprenticeship-trained midwives to cover the cost of the Bridge Program. We also provide mentorship and quality coaching, not just to achieve certification but to produce productive, high-quality healthcare professionals. Completion of the Bridge Program allows midwives to meet requirements for licensure in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
A CPM’s annual salary averages 54,000 per year. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)’s average salary ranges between 63,000 and 150,000 per year. Training for midwives to become IBCLCs boosts salary as well as improve breastfeeding education and their capacity to offer lactation support. The IBCLC training and ultrasound certification for midwives makes the midwives more marketable, for placement in well paying jobs.
Ohio doesn’t regulate Certified Professional Midwives at this time but the state has been working on legislation to license CPMs according to the USMERA and ICM standards. This will be consistent with 35 other states who license CPMs. There is a growing fear and concern from midwives that regulations will create barriers for marginalized communities to access midwifery education and licensure. This program will help mitigate this as well as elevate the education and excellence of midwives in our community by offering these training and workforce development opportunities.
According to the World Health Organization, there is a shortage of over 900,000 midwives worldwide. We chose the bridge program because it meets the International Confederation of Midwives and United States Midwifery Education and Association agreement for education requirements to become a licensed midwife. Midwives Save Lives program provides practicing and aspiring midwives in Cincinnati with workforce development training to become IBCLCs, ultrasound techs, and a pathway to licensure and credentialing as a midwife and IBCLC in the tristate. Midwives Save Lives program includes membership in the African American Chamber of Commerce and career coaching with Tonya Dumas, with her 25 years experience as a woman leader in Cincinnati and Meghan Nowland, experienced midwife, women’s health speaker and lactation consultant.
Fill out the form below if you would more information or to enroll in the program.
