Pennsylvania
You've Got a CPM in Pennsylvania
"As a fledging statewide midwifery organization, existing within a complicated political and legal landscape in Pennsylvania, the Midwives Alliance of Pennsylvania (MAP) relies on the expertise, resources and insights of the Big Push to help us strategize about how to proceed in our effort to advocate for CPMs and to increase access to the Midwives Model of Care for Pennsylvania families.
"Whether seeking legal counsel on a major court ruling and its impact on midwives in the Commonwealth, needing access to the best, most accurate and well-presented supporting resources for making the case for midwives, asking for assistance with media contacts and coverage, or just calling out for overall moral support and encouragement, the Big Push Steering Committee and other members of the effort, have proved a valuable, responsive, creative and positive force in supporting our efforts.
"When a last minute opportunity to meet with a key government official presented itself, we had little time to prepare. A call for help was put out to the Big Push steering committee and within hours we had a multitude of ideas, resources and potential strategies with which to arm ourselves for the meeting, as well as a list of experts the Governor's Office could consult with for more info. The meeting was a big success and that strong first impression of our organization is sure to prove valuable and essential as we move forward to educate the public and primary stakeholders!
"For the first time in 20 years, Pennsylvania midwives believe we can win the battle for direct-entry midwives, and the creation and development of the Big Push is what turned the tide and helped us build momentum and realize that now is the time that change can occur.
"The community of midwives, consumers and activists that has grown through the Big Push has synergistically amassed a collective wisdom and energy that has become so much larger than anything any of us could have done alone in our own states, and allowed us to build from each others victories and mistakes and to avoid repetition of effort or recreating the wheel over and over again. For the first time in this country, we are a force to be reckoned with and when Big Medicine is the force we are up against, it is no wonder it takes the power of a Big Push to fight back for the rights, needs and safety of birthing families and birth professionals!
"Thank you Big Push!"
—Christy Santoro, Pennsylvania
Co-Chair, Midwives Alliance of Pennsylvania
