Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery

How We Advance Midwifery

Our Mission

Our mission is to advance equitable access to affordable midwifery care in California. We protect midwifery professional autonomy and foster diversity of a sustainable midwifery workforce. We advocate for midwives as time-honored guardians of healthy, evidence-based pregnancy, birth, postpartum and newborn care.

Our Vision

We work towards a future where the diversity of California midwives is equal to the diversity of California families, where affordable midwifery and community based care (out of hospital options including homebirth and freestanding birth centers) are available. In this future, midwives practice sustainably, independently, and collaboratively with their clients and other healthcare professionals. And in this future, Californian families are empowered to make autonomous decisions about their providers, their birth, their care and their baby’s care.

Our Values

• Professional autonomy of midwives
• Collaboration
• Client autonomy
• Equitable access
• Intentional diversity
• Advancing quality
• Birthing justice
• Unfiltered truth, ethical behavior, and transparency

Building the Future of Community Midwifery in California

For over three decades, Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery (CAM) has been a tireless champion for community midwifery in California. As the primary champion of legislative advocacy for community midwives, we've provided continuing education, offered scholarships, supported the launch of CALM (California Association of Licensed Midwives), and led initiatives to improve quality of care. We've been leaders in advocating for midwifery care under Medi-Cal and continue building vital partnerships to expand access to midwifery care.

We're excited to share our ambitious three-year strategic plan, made possible through support from the California Health Care Foundation. This plan charts a course to strengthen and expand community midwifery in California at a time when it's needed most.

Why Now?

The maternal health crisis in California continues to deepen:

• Growing "maternity care deserts" as hospital labor and delivery units close
• Stark racial disparities in maternal outcomes
• Rising healthcare costs
• Increasing demand for community-based birth options

What Makes CAM Unique

For over three decades, CAM has served as the primary organization in California focused specifically on elevating and strengthening community midwifery—care provided outside of hospital settings in homes and freestanding birth centers by Licensed Midwives with specialized training and expertise. While other organizations advocate for midwifery broadly, our singular focus on supporting community birth and Licensed Midwives makes us uniquely positioned to expand access to this vital model of care.

Despite a small budget and an all-volunteer staff, CAM has achieved a number of notable accomplishments, including:

• Forming partnerships with the California Healthcare Foundation, state agencies, and educational institutions to fund and implement a California Community College educational and training program for Licensed Midwives
• Serving as the primary champion of legislative advocacy for community midwifery and the primary provider of continuing education for Licensed Midwives for over thirty years
• Representing California’s Licensed Midwives in liaison with multiple state agencies, including the Medical Board of California, the California Department of Public Health, and the California Department of Health Care Services
• Providing education scholarships for Black student midwives and financial support for California Association of Licensed Midwives diversity initiatives, including board development and membership honoraria to midwives of color
• Providing grant support for the development of CALM’s multi-faceted quality improvement initiatives
• Serving in a leadership role advocating for community midwifery care under Medi-Cal and working in partnership with Midwifery Access California to continue this initiative
• Establishing CALM as the successor professional association for Licensed Midwives in California

Our Strategic Goals: 2025-2027

1. Support More and More Diverse Midwives
   • Launch an innovative Licensed Midwife program in California community colleges
   • Expand our Biddy Mason Scholarship program supporting Black student midwives
   • Provide business development support for midwives starting practices
2. Increase Public Access and Education
   • Create accessible resources about midwifery care options
   • Develop tools to help families find and afford midwifery care
   • Build a broader base of midwifery champions
3. Advance Supportive Policies
   • Improve insurance reimbursement rates and processes
   • Protect midwife and client autonomy in care decisions
   • Advance quality improvement initiatives
4. Strengthen Organizational Capacity
   • Hire professional staff to expand our impact
   • Grow partnerships with aligned organizations
   • Build sustainable funding streams

Current Priorities

We're already making progress on key initiatives:

• Developing a formal partnership with our first California Community College site
• Expanding scholarship and mentorship support for BIPOC student midwives
• Launching enhanced public education efforts
• Fundraising to hire our first Executive Director

Join Our Community of Supporters

We're proud that midwives and families who have experienced midwifery care form our core donor base. As we grow, we're expanding our community to include advocates for:

• Birth and health equity
• Healthcare workforce diversity
• Maternal health improvement
• Maternal agency and self-determination
• Access to culturally-grounded care

Be Part of the Change

As we begin this transformative journey, we're seeking forward-thinking partners who share our vision for revolutionizing maternal healthcare in California. This is a unique moment to make a lasting impact on the future of maternal health in our state.

We invite you to:

• Meet with our leadership to learn more about our strategic vision
• Explore opportunities to create meaningful change in maternal healthcare
• Join early supporters in building the foundation for this vital work
• Connect us with others who share our passion for transforming birth care

For those interested in learning more about our strategic priorities and how you can help shape the future of maternal healthcare in California, we welcome the opportunity to connect directly.

Ways to engage:

• Schedule a conversation with our leadership team
• Subscribe to our newsletter for updates
• Donate in support of our strategic initiatives
• Share your midwifery story
• Volunteer your expertise

Research shows that midwifery care leads to better outcomes: fewer interventions, lower cesarean rates, increased breastfeeding rates, and higher patient satisfaction. Together, we can make this care accessible to all California families.