(If you make a call or send an email we'd love to hear about it. You can leave a comment here or on our facebook page or email us your stories and efforts at hillary@freeourmidwives.org){ 3 comments }
The FreeOurMidwives Action Alert has been activated and now is our time to take action!
Doctors are heading to Albany and asking legislators to limit our access to midwives. Their voice is *NOT* stronger than ours.
All it takes is a few minutes to make a phone call or send an email. Detailed instructions can be found here.
Your voice makes a *huge* difference when you act now! It only takes a few moments--please help Free Our Midwives!
Thank you!!!
(If you make a call or send an email we'd love to hear about it. You can leave a comment here or on our facebook page or email us your stories and efforts at hillary@freeourmidwives.org)
(If you make a call or send an email we'd love to hear about it. You can leave a comment here or on our facebook page or email us your stories and efforts at hillary@freeourmidwives.org)It's time to take action!
Next Tuesday (May 11th) doctors are going to Albany to ask legislators to limit our access to midwives. They've seen the support we are building in Albany and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) sent an official letter of concern asking legislators to oppose the Midwifery Modernization Act (MMA).
Legislators want to hear from you! When we were in Albany, we heard over and over
that legislators wants to hear from consumers - the families who want access to midwifery. We are sending our own letter to legislators, but we need you now!
As ACOG lobbies, let's deluge Albany! On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, let's make sure that for every ACOG member they see, they receive a dozen e-mails, calls, and pictures from us. Let's show them how limiting our access to midwifery by requiring a written practice agreement negatively affects our families, our health, and our communities.
TAKE ONE MINUTE TO CALL ON MONDAY, TUESDAY, or WEDNESDAY
that legislators wants to hear from consumers - the families who want access to midwifery. We are sending our own letter to legislators, but we need you now!
As ACOG lobbies, let's deluge Albany! On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, let's make sure that for every ACOG member they see, they receive a dozen e-mails, calls, and pictures from us. Let's show them how limiting our access to midwifery by requiring a written practice agreement negatively affects our families, our health, and our communities.
1. Contact Senator Stavisky
Tel: (518) 455-3461 Email address: stavisky@senate.state.ny.us Or use this easy contact form found here. ANDContact Assemblywoman Glick
Tel: (518)-455-4841 Email Assemblywoman Glick here. (Note: We have learned that Assemblywoman Glick believes that this legislations "would make a significant modification to the practice of midwifery in New York". This is simply NOT TRUE! When contacting Assemblywoman Glick please emphasize the following: 1. MMA does not expand a midwife's scope of practice. 2. The midwifery model of care involves cooperation with doctors (of all types) and referrals when needed. 3. The only thing that will change by passing the MMA is the removal of the written practice agreement which is an unnecessary piece of paper that is directly prohibiting midwives from practicing all over New York State. 4. Midwives are highly trained, licensed professionals.) Urge them to move the MMA - Senate bill S5007 / Assembly bill A8117 out of the Higher Education committee.2. Contact your Senator and Assemblyperson.
You can find your Senator here and your Assemblyperson here. Contact them by email or phone and if possible make an appointment to visit their home office. You can also find more information about who is sponsoring the bill already and who the key players are at NYSALM's website. THREE KEY POINTS: - let them know you are a constituent - ask them to support, cosponsor, and vote for the MMA-Senate bill S5007/Assembly bill A8117 - Tell them that midwives are certified, independent professional health care providers. Refer to the talking points when you call or write your email. ************ We have strong momentum going right now and if we focus our efforts this upcoming week we can make headway. NYSALM is taking out a full page ad in the legislative gazette on Tuesday using one of our photos from the Photo Project and has put together a packet for legislators. Coupled with our consumer voices we will be heard!Please join our efforts and FREE OUR MIDWIVES!
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We did it!
Free Our Midwives was a huge success lobbying in Albany this past Monday and we want to thank you! Thank you for your support, your time and all of your efforts.
We gathered with hundreds of midwives and New York families to rally for better access to midwives across the state. We heard from speakers, nursed our babies, lobbied with legislators, networked with consumers and birth professionals from all over the state and you can be sure that our voice was heard! There is still work to be done, but let's take some time to acknowledge how strong this movement has become. We brought over 100 photos from our photo project which played in a continuous slideshow throughout the day as people walked through the main hall, our legislators have received hundreds and hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls, FreeOurMidwives.org has more than 200 members and our facebook page has grown to almost 500! The success of this movement depends on the strength of our statewide community and we have built a strong foundation together. Thank you a million times over and we look forward to growing with you and seeing this legislation pass. Were you there? We want to hear your story (and see your pictures!). Send your accounts of the day to hillary@freeourmidwives.org and your story will be shared here on the site. Have a blog? Send us a link to your blog post and we will work some linky love!
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