Jennifer Crook Moore
Alabama Birth Coalition
Legislative Co-Chair
Legislative Co-Chair
Phone: 205-873-1332
jennifer.crook.moore@gmail.com
jennifer.crook.moore@gmail.com
Jennifer Crook Moore, CPM, MA, MPH lives in Birmingham, Alabama and is a Tennessee-licensed Certified Professional Midwife. Unfortunately, her home state of Alabama considers her calling and profession criminal. She has been directly involved with midwifery since 1998. Her interest began in graduate school, where her research focused on woman-centered maternity care. Her investigation culminated in a graduate thesis that revolved around a cornerstone philosophy: in order for normal, healthy childbirth to regain its original woman-centered status, it must be moved away from the hospital. As part of her thesis research Jennifer enrolled in a class for aspiring midwives in 1997. She hasn't looked back since.
While pursuing her CPM credential, Jennifer concurrently attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Public Health. In 2001 she received her Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health (MCH). She also had the honor of serving as a student liaison to the Committee on Innovations in Maternity Care in the MCH section of the American Public Health Association. Her training as a midwife was also augmented by the fact that her preceptor, Deren Bader, CPM, DrPH, was a doctoral candidate in Maternal and Child Health. Her training and experience in women's studies, public health, and midwifery coalesced in ways that she could have never imagined. Namely, she was left with a fervent belief in the prodigious benefits of primary prevention and evidence-based practice, both of which are hallmarks of the Midwives Model of Care. In 2003 Jennifer and her family returned to Birmingham. In 2004 Jennifer received her CPM credential. Unfortunately, this was not a good match since Alabama prosecutes midwives and does not offer legal recognition to Certified Professional Midwives.
Jennifer began working with the Alabama Birth Coalition (ABC) to change the existing midwifery law in Alabama. She served as President of ABC during the 2007-2008 legislative session, was legislative co-chair in 2008-2009, and continues to serve as Vice President of the organization. She cherishes the continual opportunity to represent Alabama's families who desire state licensed Certified Professional Midwives. Her involvement with ABC has provided her with the occasion to help organize Alabama's midwifery supporters, coordinate legislative rallies, testify before Alabama's legislature, network with like minded non-profits throughout the state, and lecture on the benefits of the midwives model of care. She is also a member of the Alabama Midwives Alliance, the Tennessee Midwives Association, the Midwives Alliance of North America, the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives and, of course, The Big Push for Midwives Campaign.
"It brings me such incredible pain that the state I was born and raised in considers my calling a criminal activity. What causes me even greater sorrow is the knowledge that Alabama families who desire to birth out of hospital for whatever reason—be it religious, financial, or cultural—have to make such tough decisions regarding their births. These families are left with one of three options: drive to a neighboring state to birth with a legally recognized midwife, hire a midwife who is willing to risk prosecution, or birth unattended. These options are simply unacceptable. It is for these families, these mothers, these babies, my daughter that I fight for this right. I feel such overwhelming gratitude to and for The Big Push for Midwives Campaign. The collective wisdom, experience, and encouragement of the steering committee, the advisory committee and its many members scattered across this nation are a constant source of inspiration, encouragement, and conviction."
While pursuing her CPM credential, Jennifer concurrently attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Public Health. In 2001 she received her Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health (MCH). She also had the honor of serving as a student liaison to the Committee on Innovations in Maternity Care in the MCH section of the American Public Health Association. Her training as a midwife was also augmented by the fact that her preceptor, Deren Bader, CPM, DrPH, was a doctoral candidate in Maternal and Child Health. Her training and experience in women's studies, public health, and midwifery coalesced in ways that she could have never imagined. Namely, she was left with a fervent belief in the prodigious benefits of primary prevention and evidence-based practice, both of which are hallmarks of the Midwives Model of Care. In 2003 Jennifer and her family returned to Birmingham. In 2004 Jennifer received her CPM credential. Unfortunately, this was not a good match since Alabama prosecutes midwives and does not offer legal recognition to Certified Professional Midwives.
Jennifer began working with the Alabama Birth Coalition (ABC) to change the existing midwifery law in Alabama. She served as President of ABC during the 2007-2008 legislative session, was legislative co-chair in 2008-2009, and continues to serve as Vice President of the organization. She cherishes the continual opportunity to represent Alabama's families who desire state licensed Certified Professional Midwives. Her involvement with ABC has provided her with the occasion to help organize Alabama's midwifery supporters, coordinate legislative rallies, testify before Alabama's legislature, network with like minded non-profits throughout the state, and lecture on the benefits of the midwives model of care. She is also a member of the Alabama Midwives Alliance, the Tennessee Midwives Association, the Midwives Alliance of North America, the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives and, of course, The Big Push for Midwives Campaign.
"It brings me such incredible pain that the state I was born and raised in considers my calling a criminal activity. What causes me even greater sorrow is the knowledge that Alabama families who desire to birth out of hospital for whatever reason—be it religious, financial, or cultural—have to make such tough decisions regarding their births. These families are left with one of three options: drive to a neighboring state to birth with a legally recognized midwife, hire a midwife who is willing to risk prosecution, or birth unattended. These options are simply unacceptable. It is for these families, these mothers, these babies, my daughter that I fight for this right. I feel such overwhelming gratitude to and for The Big Push for Midwives Campaign. The collective wisdom, experience, and encouragement of the steering committee, the advisory committee and its many members scattered across this nation are a constant source of inspiration, encouragement, and conviction."
