February marked the launch of the National Association of Birth Centers of Color (NABCC) with a bold vision:  the elimination of racial disparities in birth outcomes among communities of color.   

NABCC is committed to supporting the growth and development of maternity care models that ensure timely access to quality perinatal health care for women of color, by providing practical, social, educational and emotional support to increase positive outcomes.  The NABCC mission is to increase the number of maternity clinics and birth centers that are owned and operated by practitioners of color who are committed to serving communities of color.  
 
NACPM extends congratulations and gratitude to the founding members who are Certified Professional Midwives and powerful women dedicated to making a difference.  Each founding member has experience working with women of color through her own clinic and/or birth center, and has achieved success within her population.  Women in communities served by these CPMs are experiencing better health and better care through the delivery of culturally-competent, evidence-based, comprehensive and cost-efficient midwifery models of care.  

As NABCC reminds us, women and babies of color are dying disproportionately in the U.S., and the gap is widening every year.  The dedicated on-the-ground work being done by these midwives, their clinics and birth centers, demonstrates the model of care that can close that gap.  Their work deserves the support of us all.  

Go to the NABCC website for information on infant and maternal mortality disparities for African-American women in the three states where the CPM Association founders practice and own birth centers and clinics of color.  A glance at the table shows that the admonition, "your support means the difference between life and death," is not an over-statement.   African-American babies are 2-3 times more likely to die in the first month of life when compared to white babies.  Your support and donations will keep the conversation going and can and will save lives.  

Donate today!  Individuals, practices, birth centers - give as generously as you can; consider giving monthly.  This effort deserves the support of us all.