NACPM’s Acknowledgement of Harm and National Call for Decriminalization of Midwifery - MWC Statement of Support
- tina3820
- Aug 6
- 1 min read
The Midwifery Wisdom Collective stands in full support of NACPM’s “Acknowledgement of Harm and National Call for Decriminalization of Midwifery.”
For too long, midwives working outside licensure, especially those rooted in ancestral, traditional, and community-based knowledge systems, have faced criminalization for providing safe, trusted care. The current patchwork of U.S. laws continues to put midwives and families at risk, especially in underserved communities where midwifery is not just care, but culture, continuity, and survival.
We appreciate NACPM’s acknowledgment of past harms in how midwifery credentialing was shaped and their willingness to name the ongoing consequences of exclusion and regulation. This moment matters. Decriminalizing midwifery is not about weakening standards, it’s about aligning legal frameworks with human rights, informed choice, and the reality that multiple paths of learning and service have always existed in our field.
This is a courageous step toward equity and integrity in midwifery. We urge all midwives, consumers, and organizations to read the statement and join the call.
To the future,
Augustine Colebrook, MA-MCHS
Founder, Midwifery Wisdom Collective
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