NACPM Georgia is proud to participate in Georgia’s first ever midwifery consensus bill. Midwives from all pathways, including those who do not seek licensure, were included in drafting this language to decriminalize midwifery and give licensure to those that want it.
This historic Unified Statement is an important part of the reconciliation that is needed in the midwifery community. Please read it below.
If you are an organization that would like to be listed as an official endorser, please use the form below to be featured.
You can sign the statement at change.org.
Unified Statement from Georgia Midwives: A Call to Action for Licensing and Decriminalization
We, the undersigned midwives, representing a diverse range of pathways including Traditional Midwifery, Certified Professional Midwifery, and Certified Nurse Midwifery, have come together in solidarity to express our collective voice and advocate for a crucial change in Georgia's policies. As Georgia ranks third in the nation with the highest maternal mortality rate, our shared goal is to submit a bill to Georgia’s legislature that will create a pathway to licensure for all midwives who attend community births, while decriminalizing those that do not seek licensure, thereby addressing the state's disturbing maternal health and perinatal crisis.
Currently, Georgia maintains restrictive midwifery policies that prohibit trained midwives from attending community births. The March of Dimes’ data showing that 61% of women in rural areas across Georgia live more than 30 minutes from a birthing hospital coupled with a severe shortage of obstetrical providers in the state highlights the urgent need for policy reform to reinstate midwifery licensing. This reform is a vital step in expanding access to quality care, improving health outcomes, and reducing the risk of maternal mortality in our state.
Furthermore, we demand that the practice of midwifery be decriminalized in Georgia. Midwifery has been an integral part of our state's healthcare landscape for centuries, long before licensure was an option. Despite this, many midwives continue to face the threat of prosecution for providing essential care to families. We assert that midwives have consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, resulting in remarkable health outcomes, and we should be able to practice our profession without fear of persecution.
The proposed Georgia Licensed Midwife Bill introduces a comprehensive framework for licensing midwives, designed to ensure that candidates demonstrate extensive practical knowledge and competency. These pathways emphasize the independent management of care, encompassing the critical skills needed to provide safe and effective support for newborns, as well as the care of women during the antepartal, intrapartal, and postpartal periods. By establishing clear educational and experiential requirements, the bill seeks to uphold the highest standards of midwifery practice, promoting both the well-being of mothers and infants and the professional integrity of licensed midwives in Georgia.
By licensing and decriminalizing midwifery, we can:
Increase access to quality prenatal, birth, and postpartum care for all Georgians;
Reduce the risk of maternal mortality and improve health outcomes;
Support the growth and development of a more robust healthcare workforce and Increase workforce opportunities;
Recognize and respect the autonomy of families to make informed choices about their healthcare and childbirth experience.
We urge policymakers, healthcare leaders, and community members to join us in this effort. Together, we can create a more just and equitable healthcare system that values the contributions of midwives and prioritizes the well-being of all Georgians.
Signed,
Sarahn Henderson, DEM/TM
Founder of Black Midwives Over GA
Sekesa Berry, TM
Black Midwives Over GA
Jamarah Amani, LM
Southern Birth Justice Network
National Black Midwives Alliance
Cassaundra Jah, CPM
Executive Director NACPM
NACPM National
B. Maria Cranford, MSM CPM
Treasurer, NACPM-GA Chapter
Hanifah Shoatz-Bey, TM
Black Midwives Over GA
Missi Burgess, CPM
President, NACPM-GA Chapter
Piper Lovemore, TM
Mothering Justice
Nyasha Bonner MSN, CNM, FNP-C
Black Midwives Over Georgia
