Calls to Action

VFAM

Immediate Calls to Action

January 15-20, 2023: March to Richmond

Our CPM midwives are working hard to fix the wildly problematic meds law! We need your representatives to hear your voice.

January 18 (in person, Richmond VA)

OR 1/16-1/20/2023 (virtual/phone)

If you can be in Richmond on January 18th, please consider joining Virginia Midwives for Safe Community Birth for one-on-one conversations with the policymakers who hold our freedoms in their hands. Learn More.

Support the Midwives for Moms Act

Ask your representative to cosponsor the Midwives for MOMs Act! VFAM Supports the H.R.3352/S.1697 Midwives for MOMs Act, authorizing grants in support of midwifery education programs. One of the biggest barriers to midwifery access is that we need more midwives to meet the growing demand. Learn More.

Ongoing: Call for Stories

Elected officials need to know why midwifery was the best choice for you, or how having a business monopoly over birth would be harmful to your family. All birth stories matter, and we are interested in stories of the easiest homebirth, to your story of breech, VBAC, advanced maternal age, twin, large baby, and more! Please contact us today with your story.

Ongoing: Subscribe to VFAM

When your urgent action is needed on legislation regarding Virg midwifery, VFAM will send an email alert with easy instructions finiaor contacting your delegate. Use the form on our Home or Contact page to subscribe!

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When Do We Need to Act?

Midwifery is currently alive and well in Virginia, with some restrictions that limit midwives from legally practicing to the full extent of their training. Occasionally threats arise that would further restrict midwives’ autonomy. We can act today by letting our communities and representatives know that midwives matter here. VFAM issues specific calls to action when legislation or public voices threaten midwifery.

Send a Postcard!

Were you recently supported by midwives? VFAM will provide you with a postcard to send your delegate announcing your baby’s birth, where you can write why midwives matter to your family

VFAM

Past Calls to Action

Ongoing: Call for Stories

Elected officials need to know why midwifery was the best choice for you, or how having a business monopoly over birth would be harmful to your family. All birth stories matter, and we are interested in stories of the easiest homebirth, to your story of breech, VBAC, advanced maternal age, twin, large baby, and more! Please contact us today with your story.

Febuary 2022

Virginia state budget Amendment HB40 item 304 #59h proposed to remove a confusing discrepancy among midwife credentials whereby certain midwives (CPM) were compensated at only 75% of others (CM, CNM) by Medicaid. VFAM supported this amendment for its potential to expand access to midwifery in low income areas while providing better care to women (at a lower price point for the state). This amendment unfortunately failed to pass.

 

March 2021

VFAM rallied to contact legislators in opposition to HB1953, which would reopen the law licensing CPMs in Virginia, and potentially change regulations surrounding midwifery.

July 18-August 17, 2022: Let CPMs Carry Medications

Submit your comment supporting a change to the law that prohibits midwives from carrying and administering lifesaving medications. Many states permit CPMs to carry these standard medications, which they are trained to administer. Virginia law prohibits them from doing so. Regulations regarding CPMs are up for a scheduled review, with a 30-day window during which the public may comment directly to the reviewers. Learn how to submit your comment and support midwives in practicing to the full extent of their training! Learn More.

Reach out

You can support Virginia’s midwives!

Contact VFAM to learn how you can volunteer, or share your story with us so we can spread the word about why midwives matter.