SR 398: Black Midwives Day; recognize March 14, 2025

Senate Resolution 398

By: Senators James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Orrock of the 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.

WHEREAS, Black Midwives have made invaluable contributions to maternal and infant health in Georgia, providing critical care and advocating for better health outcomes for Black birthing people and their families; and

WHEREAS, Black Midwives Day is recognized nationally on March 14 as a day to acknowledge the historical legacy, present-day contributions, and future impact of Black Midwives; and

WHEREAS, Georgia Black Midwives, including UmmSalaamah Abdullah-Zaimah, Corrinna Edwards, Lynette Pye, Marsha Ford, Angelina Ruffin, Nar Sanders, Jasmine Bradfield, Chasity Efunranti Osunjuade Millen, Bethany Erby, Chief Shaman Tomecas, and Robin Gause, as well as Black apprentice and student midwives Ayana Garrick, Ayla Nicole Chayil, Sainteté Martinez, Naticia Taylor, and Tahaira James, exemplify the importance of midwifery in addressing disparities in maternal healthcare by bridging Georgia's rich Black Midwifery legacy with the present-day care and services they provide in out-of-hospital birthing communities; and

WHEREAS, the Accreditation Commission of Community Midwives Education and Certification is the first Black-led midwifery accreditation and credentialing body dedicated to endorsing, recognizing, and building educational pathways to certify experienced community midwives with a focus on excellence in midwifery as a public health service and ensuring the health, welfare, and safety of the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, the Alliance of Certified Community Midwives collaborates with existing midwifery agencies, credentialing bodies, and state departments of public health to increase access to midwives and healthcare in urban and rural birth deserts as well as takes action to improve outcomes and establish Georgia as a nationwide model for the Community Midwife Model of Care; and

WHEREAS, Bellies to Babies Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit organization founded by Black Midwives and the original Black-led and founded Community Doula, Community Birth Assistant, and Community Midwife training and credentialing program and the creation of the Certified Community Midwife, Certified Community Doula, and the Certified Community Birth Assistant, endorses community doulas and community student midwives from Doula of the Divine Agency and Ubuntu Wellness Academy Doulas for their dedication and commitment to continuing their training and experience while serving Georgia's most vulnerable population, considering systemic racism has greatly contributed to the high Black maternal mortality rates; and

WHEREAS, Black student midwives are the future of midwifery and have the lived experience today of the student midwife with barriers to accessing quality instructors, quality training programs and apprenticeships, and pathways to legally practice midwifery upon completion of their training; and

WHEREAS, Black student midwives have faced hardship, bias, bullying, and a lack of support in credentialing through a pathway similar to their ancestors or the midwives who have mentored them, who also have faced hardship due to the eradication of the Black Midwife with restrictive laws and gatekeeping in the industry; and

WHEREAS, there were 43,000 midwives across the Southeast serving all families, which was reduced to just a few per state by the 1980s due to changes in the departments of public health; and

WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are increasing in numbers and proving to have better outcomes than hospitals, similar to the Black Midwives who were serving in out-of-hospital settings in the past, who had better outcomes than physicians; and

WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving their communities need reimbursement, access to resources, and access to certifying and recognition for their unique training pathway so that more Georgia families can access midwifery care and choose a midwife from their own community who understands their culture, religion, languages spoken, and lives in the same zip code; and

WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are needed in higher numbers to reduce Black maternal mortality as a proven model of care; and

WHEREAS, this day is intended to increase attention for the state of Black maternal health in the United States, the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, and for community-driven policies, programs, and care solutions; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is experiencing a maternity care desert crisis, in which women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts where they do not have access to hospitals or birth centers offering maternity care or obstetric providers; and

WHEREAS, maternity care deserts lead to higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality as most complications occur in the postpartum period when birthing people are far away from their providers; and

WHEREAS, incorporating midwives fully into the Georgia maternity care system would reduce maternal health disparities and help to address the maternity care desert crisis; and

WHEREAS, despite the medicalization of childbirth in the United States, maternal mortality rates in the United States are among the highest in high-income countries, increasing rapidly and disproportionately higher among Black birthing people in Georgia and across the country.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in honor of the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black Midwives to maternal and infant health in Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.