Midwifery Assistant Training Available in Santa Rosa

Midwifery assistant training is becoming available in Santa Rosa.

Monika Rosicka and Carrie Sparrevohn, local midwives will be leading the course. 

For more information and the opportunity to pay, please check out this link:

http://ifashome.com/mobile/midwife-assistant.html

*For those interested in the class, be aware that the Midwife Assistant Bill, SB408, is not yet law. It recently passed the first phase of bills becoming law. If it does make it to a vote in the Senate and passes, then it is signed by the governor this year, it could be law in January 2016. Many in the birth community are excited for the increase to access this could provide, but it is not yet law.*

Photo credit: HoboMama / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

California Access To Midwives- SB408 hearing TODAY!

So much is going on in California regarding access to midwives. Today, the hearing for Midwifery Assistant Bill SB 408 is happening. Support for this bill has the possibility of making positive change for the home birth midwifery environment in California. 

SB 408 would define the role of a "Midwife Assistant." It would allow for the training of individuals for basic care such as, "administration of medicine, the withdrawing of blood, and midwife technical support services under the supervision of a licensed midwife in California. Right now, births are usually attended by two midwives or a licensed midwife and a midwifery student currently enrolled in a midwifery program approved by the state of California. By defining and legalizing the role of a midwife assistant, SB 408 helps standardize care while also allowing more access to midwifery care.

Why does this bill matter to you? In rural areas, like northern California, where there are fewer midwives, women can have increased access to midwifery care if the role of a "midwifery assistant" is approved. Midwives can reach more women who wish to safely birth at home, and they can have an attendant who is trained and reliable. Many in California live in areas far from access to hospitals or large midwifery groups. Not only could the passage of SB408 increase access to care, but more midwives means lower health care costs, a universal concern for all Americans. 

Increase access to midwives! #KeepOurMidwivesFree

Click on the link below to let them you you are coming!
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=887045c3f26229555975f25b8&id=9417fc3ee5

Meet the Doulas DECEMBER meeting in Ukiah.

Come meet the local doulas in Mendocino County. Mendocino Baby proudly hosts the Norther California Birth Collective in Ukiah. Come visit. Free, fun, informational. It doesn't get better than this.

Meet the Doulas Event in October at Mendocino Baby, Ukiah!

Great opportunity to come and meet some of our fabulous local doulas! Make friends, communicate, ask questions, and find out how a doula can improve your birth.

Meet the Midwives! Hosted by Monika Rosiska

NEXT Friday! Come! So much fun and a great opportunity for both birth professionals and local women to meet local midwives! Thanks Monika and Mendocino for hosting!

Make Home Birth More Available To Medi-Cal Women

(This is a message from CAM - California Association of Midwives- looking for testimonials from women.  At the bottom is a form you can fill out if you were UNABLE to have an out of hospital birth because of lack of coverage by Medi-Cal.  Thanks for your help!  We can make midwifery more accessible.)
 
Hello everyone, this is a forward which contains more information on how we can participate alongside CAM's efforts to support availability of midwifery care.  Thank you for reading and passing along! -Wendy, Region 1. 

As we proceed in our legislative efforts this year, we are continuing to focus on the issue of limited access to out-of-hospital birth and licensed midwives.  We are seeking testimony from families who desired out of hospital birth but were unable to access it due to the Medi-Cal barrier, as well as testimony from birth workers working with this population.  Please forward the form below widely. 

Thank you!
Sarah Davis
Were you unable to plan an out-of-hospital birth because licensed midwives are unable to take Medi-Cal? Know someone in this situation? Fill out this form!

 http://form.jotformpro.com/form/30656007555958

California Association of Midwives Needs Help!!!

I was asked to share this letter-
If you can help, please contact them!

Dear birth professionals and supporters of midwifery,

I'm reaching out to you to ask for your help related to California midwifery legislation. Everything is moving very quickly at this point with the upcoming sunset review, our lobbying efforts and introducing our preferred legislation.  ACOG has introduced their own bill on midwifery and CAMs efforts to deal with all this effectively is hanging in the balance.  Protecting our licenses and our ability to care for families is a urgent matter right now.

So here's my request. All of our legislative efforts have caused a massive workload above and beyond our already very busy lives. In order for me to continue at the pace that's needed, I need an administrative assistant to help with communications, scheduling, meetings and whatever else becomes necessary during this legislative process. This could be a student midwife interested in contributing and learning about midwifery politics or a political science student interested in an internship.  Someone able and willing to work on our social networking campaign is needed too. This could be the same person or not. 

I'm not just asking for ideas about where I could look. I'm asking for those of you in CAM region 2 to contribute to our efforts to protect your license by finding someone for me.  Ideally someone who lives close enough to come to my home office one or more days a week.  A lot can be handled remotely as well. 

Thank you. I truly appreciate any support you can give with this matter.

In partnership,

California Association of Midwives
 Contact Constance Rock at-
President@californiamidwives.org