GRN: Transforming Maternity Care: Connecting Consumer Activists to the Larger Picture

Hello Friends,

A new web tool - called Transforming Maternity Care - was launched this spring on the premise that a high-quality, high-value maternity care system is within reach. The web-based project is a collaborative effort of more than 100 diverse health care leaders, with the goal of pulling together high quality tools and resources to transform maternity care in the US.

Citizens for Midwifery is excited and hopeful about the web tool, which offers a vision, a blueprint, and action steps for groups and individuals. Progress is highlighted and resources are organized and offered to interested participants. We look forward to integrating our work into each of the key steps. This project is a critical step to pulling together the incredible energy of the birth movement right now, and we are happy to see how they are recognizing the key role that you - the citizen activist - can play in transforming birth.

Amy Romano, project director, says, "...the aim was to foster, accelerate and coordinate implementation of the consensus Blueprint for Action. There's so much work to be done, but there are also unprecedented opportunities and many examples of individuals, facilities, organizations, and agencies doing great work and making measurable improvements, so we want to shine a spotlight on those examples and make it easier for others to replicate and adapt successful programs."

This project symbolizes a new level of maturity reached by the maternal health and childbirth community. With the high level of coordination provided by this project, the efforts of the birth advocacy movement can be effectively coordinated to ensure the best possible maternity care for women.

You can help too! Visit the Transforming Maternity Care website and become familiar with the vision and blueprint. We dug into the project and wanted to highlight ways that you--a consumer activist-- can help take part in the Transforming Maternity Care project.

Here's what you should check out:

Take Action Page for Consumer Advocates
Toolkit Resource Page
The Data Center
Share Your Story
TMC Blog featuring news and analysis from Childbirth Connection staff


Consumer advocates drive health care change and it's important that we work together to create a safe maternity health care system that works for all women. Kudos to Childbirth Connection creating a tremendous resource and *thank you* for your tireless efforts. Together we are creating healthy and safe birth options for women and their babies.

Warmly,

Hillary Boucher

P.S. Now is a great time to enter your project in the Share Your Story section. For a limited time, qualifying entries will receive a gift from Childbirth Connection's Bookstore.