Nicole White, CPM, LM, Director, Michigan State of Birth Justice, Co-founder, Birth Detroit, and Policy fellow, Elephant Circle, and Laura Powis, Senior Program Manager, Evidence-Based Policy & Practice, AMCHP
The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP)’s Replication Project is an annual funding opportunity in which selected organizations receive support to replicate practices from AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Database. Based on their readiness to begin replication, awardees receive peer coaching and guidance from a representative of the practice being replicated, as well as tailored assistance from AMCHP to help adapt the practice to their unique context and situation. To date, this opportunity has been open to organizations looking to replicate practices in the database.
In 2024, AMCHP launched its first-ever Policy Replication Project that focused on supporting an organization to replicate a policy from the MCH Innovations Database. Michigan’s State of Birth Justice was selected to replicate Colorado’s Momnibus Bill Package, championed and developed by the advocacy organization Elephant Circle. Their Replication Project focused on adapting Elephant Circle’s policy implementation approach to fit the Michigan context. Read on to hear from Nicole White, the Director of the Michigan State of Birth Justice and Co-founder of Birth Detroit, about their experience participating in the Replication Project Policy Pilot:
We are proud to share the progress we have made in our collaboration with our partner group Elephant Circle, which has been instrumental in advocating for essential policy changes in Michigan. Our efforts have focused on ensuring that Michigan is a safe place to give birth and that anyone who wants a midwife has access. So, not only do we have a comprehensive bill package for the legislation, but we have also exerted regulatory pressure and set a goal to include all licensed midwives, both Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), in Medicaid coverage across all healthcare settings, representing a significant advancement in providing comprehensive and fair access to vital maternal and reproductive healthcare services for families in our state. Through strategic partnerships with local health organizations, policymakers, and advocacy groups, we have created a powerful coalition that aims to sustain and amplify our grassroots efforts. Our commitment to building momentum within the community has been pivotal; together, we have mobilized public support and engaged partners in meaningful dialogue about the importance of midwifery care.
Additionally, we recognized the need to share our successful framework with others, which is why we developed a comprehensive document outlining the core components of Colorado’s policy implementation approach and adaptations aimed at guiding Michigan and other states in implementing similar policies. By equipping advocates in various regions with the tools and knowledge to advocate for midwifery care, we hope to inspire nationwide change and promote the vital role that midwives play in ensuring safe and accessible healthcare for all. Through this work, we also developed the What’s My Place in this Work? Reflection Tool. This tool supports individuals and organizations interested in engaging in collaborative work, implementing community-centered initiatives to identify what role they are best suited to play in that work. This tool was crafted to be an onramp or invitation for anyone wanting and willing to participate in community-centered work and to facilitate discussion between partners.
Collectively, we are making significant strides toward creating a more comprehensive healthcare system, and we remain dedicated to supporting the essential work of midwives in our communities. Your continued support is crucial as we move forward in this important mission. Together, we can transform healthcare for families everywhere.
Originally, we had planned Grassroots and Grasstops Advocacy Day with Replication Project funds. The goal of this event was to provide grassroots legislative advocacy training, which would help participants identify and align their policy goals with those of current legislators. We believed that this training would empower constituents to effectively advocate for their interests and culminate in a meaningful day of lobbying with key partners within their respective districts. As we began to prepare for this ambitious event, we recognized the need to adapt, so instead of proceeding with the original plan, we decided to pivot and organize Cookie Day. This delightful event involved delivering cookies to all legislators, creatively inscribed with the message “Midwives deliver the sweetest things.” Each cookie came with a tag that emphasized our support for the MI Momnibus, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at improving maternal health.
The Cookie Day proved to be a wonderful alternative, bringing together a vibrant group of community members, midwives, and mothers. The spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose made the event a resounding success. Not only did we share delicious treats, but we also fostered connections and raised awareness about our advocacy efforts. The positive feedback we received from legislators was heartwarming, and it reinforced the importance of our continued advocacy work.
Overall, while we had to adjust our plans, the outcome exceeded our expectations and reinforced our commitment to supporting midwives, maternal health, and the communities they serve. It was a success! Securing both financial support and assistance with implementation was crucial to our efforts. With this support, we were able to deliver the cookies and informative documents to all 38 senators and 110 representatives in Michigan, ensuring that our message reached every key decision-maker.
To commemorate our victory with the birth center licensure Bill, we organized a vibrant community gathering in Detroit. The event was a wonderful celebration, attracting approximately 150 attendees who came together to recognize the significance of our achievement and the positive impact it will have on our community. We had legislators, volunteers, and families! Lastly, this collaboration led to the crafting of a comprehensive document that outlines the steps needed to replicate our success and learnings for other states or organizations to use. This resource is designed to be a valuable tool for other states and communities, offering insights and strategies that can lead to similar triumphs. We believe the benefits of this document will be far-reaching, potentially transforming lives in ways we cannot yet foresee.
Maintaining a coalition for the past five years without any funding is a remarkable achievement. It demonstrates our commitment and the strength of our collaboration. Moving forward, we are dedicated to continuing our investment in this coalition. We believe that by prioritizing a human-centered approach, we can foster stronger connections and ensure that the needs of all members are at the forefront of our efforts. Our goal is to create a supportive environment that empowers everyone involved and contributes to the coalition’s long-term success.
Throughout this endeavor, we did encounter significant challenges, especially due to limited funding. Due to operating on a shoestring budget, we depend on dedicated volunteers who are often stretched thin. It’s profoundly discouraging to put our heart and soul into protecting families and not be seen as a cause deserving of support. However, we refuse to back down. We have forged ahead, driven by our commitment to this vital work, and will continue to seek out ways to ensure the safety and well-being of those we serve.
From the setbacks and successes, we have learned the importance of managing one’s expectations wisely. We had hoped for additional funding, but didn’t take the time to recalibrate our goals when those funds didn’t materialize. This misstep ultimately hindered our progress. Despite accomplishing significant outcomes with limited resources, we found ourselves in a challenging situation. We intend to learn from this and ensure that our goals are adaptable to our reality.
We plan to continue this work no matter what. We sincerely value the time and dedication that our coach, Indra, and our support person, Laura, have invested in us at AMCHP. Their support and guidance have truly made a difference, and we are immensely grateful for their contributions.
