--- title: SR 398. Black Midwives Day; recognize March 14, 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr398 cite_as: SR 398, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr398 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr398.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr398/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71382 date: 2025-03-18 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr397.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr399.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 95 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr398.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 398 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-13 last_action: Senate Read and Referred sponsors: - Donzella James - Michael Rhett - Nan Orrock - Derek Mallow - Jason Esteves - Randal Mangham - Tonya Anderson - Gail Davenport - Kenya Wicks - Sally Harrell - RaShaun Kemp - Elena Parent text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR398/2025 upstream_id: 2006966 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - maternal health - midwifery - Black maternal mortality - maternity care deserts - Georgia Senate resolutions --- # SR 398. Black Midwives Day; recognize March 14, 2025 ## Text 25 LC 112 3376 Senate Resolution 398 By: Senators James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Orrock of th e 36th, Mallow of the 2nd, Esteves of the 35th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Black Midwives have made invaluable contributions to m aternal and infant2 health in Georgia, providing critical care and advocating for better health outcomes for Black3 birthing people and their families; and4 WHEREAS, Black Midwives Day is recognized nationally on March 1 4 a s a d a y t o5 acknowledge the historical legacy, present-day contributions, a nd future impact of Black6 Midwives; and7 WHEREAS, Georgia Black Midwives, including UmmSalaamah Abdullah-Zaimah, Corrinna8 Edwards, Lynette Pye, Marsha Ford, Angelina Ruffin, Nar Sanders , Jasmine Bradfield,9 Chasity Efunranti Osunjuade Millen, Bethany Erby, Chief Shaman Tomecas, and Robin10 Gause, as well as Black apprentice and student midwives Ayana G arrick, Ayla Nicole11 Chayil, Sainteté Martinez, Naticia Taylor, and Tahaira James, exemplify the importance of12 midwifery in addressing disparities in maternal healthcare by bridging Georgia's rich Black13 Midwifery legacy with the present-day care and services they pr ovide in out-of-hospital14 birthing communities; and15 S. R. 398 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3376 WHEREAS, the Accreditation Commission of Community Midwives Edu cation and16 Certification is the first Black-led midwifery accreditation and credentialing body dedicated17 to endorsing, recognizing, and building educational pathways to certify experienced18 community midwives with a focus on excellence in midwifery as a public health service and19 ensuring the health, welfare, and safety of the communities they serve; and20 WHEREAS, the Alliance of Certified Community Midwives collabora tes with existing21 midwifery agencies, credentialing bodies, and state departments of public health to increase22 access to midwives and healthcare in urban and rural birth deserts as well as takes action to23 improve outcomes and establish Georgia as a nationwide model for the Community Midwife24 Model of Care; and25 WHEREAS, Bellies to Babies Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit orga nization founded by26 Black Midwives and the original Black-led and founded Community Doula, Community27 Birth Assistant, and Community Midwife training and credentialing program and the creation28 of the Certified Community Midwife, Certified Community Doula, and the Certified29 Community Birth Assistant, endorses community doulas and community student midwives30 from Doula of the Divine Agency and Ubuntu Wellness Academy Doulas for their dedication31 and commitment to continuing their training and experience whil e serving Georgia's most32 vulnerable population, considering systemic racism has greatly contributed to the high Black33 maternal mortality rates; and34 WHEREAS, Black student midwives are the future of midwifery and have the lived35 experience today of the student midwife with barriers to accessing quality instructors, quality36 training programs and apprenticeships, and pathways to legally practice midwifery upon37 completion of their training; and38 S. R. 398 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3376 WHEREAS, Black student midwives have faced hardship, bias, bull ying, and a lack of39 support in credentialing through a pathway similar to their ancestors or the midwives who40 have mentored them, who also have faced hardship due to the era dication of the Black41 Midwife with restrictive laws and gatekeeping in the industry; and42 WHEREAS, there were 43,000 midwives across the Southeast servin g all families, which43 was reduced to just a few per state by the 1980s due to changes in the departments of public44 health; and45 WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are increasing in numbers and proving46 to have better outcomes than hospitals, similar to the Black Midwives who were serving in47 out-of-hospital settings in the past, who had better outcomes than physicians; and48 WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving their communities need reimburs ement, access to49 resources, and access to certifying and recognition for their unique training pathway so that50 more Georgia families can access midwifery care and choose a mi dwife from their own51 community who understands their culture, religion, languages spoken, and lives in the same52 zip code; and53 WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are needed in higher numbers to reduce54 Black maternal mortality as a proven model of care; and55 WHEREAS, this day is intended to increase attention for the state of Black maternal health56 in the United States, the root causes of poor maternal health o utcomes, and for57 community-driven policies, programs, and care solutions; and58 S. R. 398 - 3 - 25 LC 112 3376 WHEREAS, Georgia is experiencing a maternity care desert crisis , in which women of59 childbearing age live in maternity care deserts where they do not have access to hospitals or60 birth centers offering maternity care or obstetric providers; and61 WHEREAS, maternity care deserts lead to higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality62 as most complications occur in the postpartum period when birth ing people are far away63 from their providers; and64 WHEREAS, incorporating midwives fully into the Georgia maternit y care system would65 reduce maternal health disparities and help to address the maternity care desert crisis; and66 WHEREAS, despite the medicalization of childbirth in the United States, maternal mortality67 rates in the United States are among the highest in high-income countries, increasing rapidly68 and disproportionately higher among Black birthing people in Ge orgia and across the69 country.70 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body71 recognize March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in honor of the longstanding and72 invaluable contributions of Black Midwives to maternal and infant health in Georgia.73 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed74 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the75 press.76 S. R. 398 - 4 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution would designate March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day, honoring the contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the state. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any law. It formally recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in Georgia, joining a day already observed nationally. The resolution lists Georgia Black midwives, apprentice and student midwives, and organizations such as the Accreditation Commission of Community Midwives Education and Certification, the Alliance of Certified Community Midwives, and the Bellies to Babies Foundation, describing their work expanding access to midwifery care. The resolution's preamble discusses Georgia's maternity care deserts, disproportionately high Black maternal mortality rates, and the historical decline in the number of midwives across the Southeast. It concludes by directing the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in the Georgia Senate. - Names specific Georgia Black midwives, apprentice midwives, and midwifery organizations for their work. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties; it is a symbolic statement of recognition. ### Who it affects Black midwives, apprentice and student midwives, and midwifery organizations named in the resolution, along with Georgia families in maternity care deserts who rely on midwifery care, particularly Black birthing people affected by higher maternal mortality rates. ### Why it matters While the resolution creates no binding policy, it publicly acknowledges the role of Black midwives in addressing maternal health disparities and Georgia's maternity care deserts, potentially drawing attention to calls for better reimbursement, credentialing, and access to midwifery care. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe the historical decline of midwives in the Southeast from 43,000 to a few per state by the 1980s. - It states that Black midwives serving out-of-hospital settings show better maternal outcomes than hospitals in some cases. - It notes Georgia is experiencing a maternity care desert crisis affecting access to hospitals, birth centers, and obstetric providers. - The resolving clause designates March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in honor of Black midwives' contributions to maternal and infant health. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-13) - Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Donzella James, Michael Rhett, Nan Orrock, Derek Mallow, Jason Esteves, Randal Mangham, Tonya Anderson, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Sally Harrell, RaShaun Kemp, Elena Parent - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71382 > The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr398.md?full=1