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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.
1
WHEREAS, Black Midwives have made invaluable contributions to maternal and infant2
health in Georgia, providing critical care and advocating for better health outcomes for Black3
birthing people and their families; and4
WHEREAS, Black Midwives Day is recognized nationally on March 14 as a day to5
acknowledge the historical legacy, present-day contributions, and future impact of Black6
Midwives; and7
WHEREAS, Georgia Black Midwives, including UmmSalaamah Abdullah-Zaimah, Corrinna8
Edwards, Lynette Pye, Marsha Ford, Angelina Ruffin, Nar Sanders, Jasmine Bradfield,9
Chasity Efunranti Osunjuade Millen, Bethany Erby, Chief Shaman Tomecas, and Robin10
Gause, as well as Black apprentice and student midwives Ayana Garrick, Ayla Nicole11
Chayil, Sainteté Martinez, Naticia Taylor, and Tahaira James, exemplify the importance of12
midwifery in addressing disparities in maternal healthcare by bridging Georgia's rich Black13
Midwifery legacy with the present-day care and services they provide in out-of-hospital14
birthing communities; and15
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WHEREAS, the Accreditation Commission of Community Midwives Education and
16
Certification is the first Black-led midwifery accreditation and credentialing body dedicated17
to endorsing, recognizing, and building educational pathways to certify experienced18
community midwives with a focus on excellence in midwifery as a public health service and19
ensuring the health, welfare, and safety of the communities they serve; and20
WHEREAS, the Alliance of Certified Community Midwives collaborates with existing21
midwifery agencies, credentialing bodies, and state departments of public health to increase22
access to midwives and healthcare in urban and rural birth deserts as well as takes action to23
improve outcomes and establish Georgia as a nationwide model for the Community Midwife24
Model of Care; and25
WHEREAS, Bellies to Babies Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit organization founded by26
Black Midwives and the original Black-led and founded Community Doula, Community27
Birth Assistant, and Community Midwife training and credentialing program and the creation28
of the Certified Community Midwife, Certified Community Doula, and the Certified29
Community Birth Assistant, endorses community doulas and community student midwives30
from Doula of the Divine Agency and Ubuntu Wellness Academy Doulas for their dedication31
and commitment to continuing their training and experience while serving Georgia's most32
vulnerable population, considering systemic racism has greatly contributed to the high Black33
maternal mortality rates; and34
WHEREAS, Black student midwives are the future of midwifery and have the lived35
experience today of the student midwife with barriers to accessing quality instructors, quality36
training programs and apprenticeships, and pathways to legally practice midwifery upon37
completion of their training; and38
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WHEREAS, Black student midwives have faced hardship, bias, bullying, and a lack of
39
support in credentialing through a pathway similar to their ancestors or the midwives who40
have mentored them, who also have faced hardship due to the eradication of the Black41
Midwife with restrictive laws and gatekeeping in the industry; and42
WHEREAS, there were 43,000 midwives across the Southeast serving all families, which43
was reduced to just a few per state by the 1980s due to changes in the departments of public44
health; and45
WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are increasing in numbers and proving46
to have better outcomes than hospitals, similar to the Black Midwives who were serving in47
out-of-hospital settings in the past, who had better outcomes than physicians; and48
WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving their communities need reimbursement, access to49
resources, and access to certifying and recognition for their unique training pathway so that50
more Georgia families can access midwifery care and choose a midwife from their own51
community who understands their culture, religion, languages spoken, and lives in the same52
zip code; and53
WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are needed in higher numbers to reduce54
Black maternal mortality as a proven model of care; and55
WHEREAS, this day is intended to increase attention for the state of Black maternal health56
in the United States, the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, and for57
community-driven policies, programs, and care solutions; and58
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WHEREAS, Georgia is experiencing a maternity care desert crisis, in which women of
59
childbearing age live in maternity care deserts where they do not have access to hospitals or60
birth centers offering maternity care or obstetric providers; and61
WHEREAS, maternity care deserts lead to higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality62
as most complications occur in the postpartum period when birthing people are far away63
from their providers; and64
WHEREAS, incorporating midwives fully into the Georgia maternity care system would65
reduce maternal health disparities and help to address the maternity care desert crisis; and66
WHEREAS, despite the medicalization of childbirth in the United States, maternal mortality67
rates in the United States are among the highest in high-income countries, increasing rapidly68
and disproportionately higher among Black birthing people in Georgia and across the69
country.70
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body71
recognize March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in honor of the longstanding and72
invaluable contributions of Black Midwives to maternal and infant health in Georgia.73
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed74
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the75
press.76
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