Spring It On! Fundraising Campaign
We hope you had fun with the AABC Foundation as we crossed the finish line of the Spring It On! 2019 AABCF Challenge. This challenge was a virtual marathon held in April to support the birth center model of care. We had 78 racers, and together, we traveled more than 3,000 miles! More importantly, thanks to your participation, donations, and support, the AABC Foundation raised $5,608 during our Spring It on Challenge. This could fund 1 Research Grant, or 5 Lisa Ross Memorial Scholarships, or 7 Birth Center Membership Support Grants. Join us next year for the Spring It On! 2020 AABCF Challenge!
Scholarships
Congratulations to our 2019 Amy Polk Scholarship recipients: Lynette Pettibone of The Bridge Birth and Family Services (Vancouver, OR); Bethany McKinnon of Klamath Birth Center (Klamath Falls, OR); Elon Geffrard of Birth Detroit (Farmington, MI); Sheaffer Palermo of The Birthing Tree (Cerrillos, NM); and Linsey Kornya of River City Midwifery (Lakeside, VA). This annual scholarship is a tuition grant to attend the How to Start a Birth Center Workshop and set people on the right path to opening and maintaining a successful birth center. As Lynette Pettibone so aptly put it, “I have enough experience to know that I don’t know everything about starting a birth center, and I believe this workshop will fill in the gaps, as well as expand my community of support to include even more of the resources AABC has to offer.” Learn more about the Amy Polk Scholarship.
March for Moms
On May 11th, the AABC Foundation attended the 2019 March for Moms held in Washington, D.C. as a partner of the event. The rally included speakers like Dr. Ginger Breedlove, President of the March for Moms Board of Directors; Dr. Neel Shah of Harvard University; Dr. Leana Wen, President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Dr. Joia Crear-Perry, Founder of the National Birth Equity Collaborative; and many more. While there, AABC Foundation had the opportunity to educate rally-goers about our mission and how birth centers are a solution to rising maternal mortality rates and poor health outcomes.
Research Grants
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 Research Grants. Five grants were awarded earlier this year, between $4,000 and $5,000 to fund projects that relate to the birth center model of care.
Julie Moon, CNM has titled her research “Neonatal Resuscitation Provider Training for birth center staff – An analysis of efficacy”
Jill Alliman, CNM, DNP, FACNM is directing a project on “Strong Start in Birth Centers: Continued Data Analysis”
The AABC Research Committee received grants towards three of their current research projects:
“ARRIVING at Best Practice: Induction of Labor at Term Among Low Risk Nulliparas American Association of Birth Centers Perinatal Data Registry”
“Elective Hospitalization Among Childbearing Women 2007-2017 Within the American Association of Birth Centers Member Practices”
“Preliminary Analysis of Linked AABC Maternity Survey and PDR Data”
The AABC Foundation will be accepting Letters of Intent this November for 2020 Research Grants.
Birth Center Grants Awarded
The AABC Foundation awarded five Membership Support Grants since our winter installment. Congratulations to Antelope Valley Birth Center (Tehachapi, CA), Klamath Birth Center (Klamath Falls, OR), Family Tree Maternity Center (Mount Pleasant, MI), The Natural Birth Place, Inc. (San Bernadino, CA), and The Ocala Birth Center (Ocala, FL). Membership Grants are awarded throughout the year on a rolling basis. These grants pay for 50% of AABC membership dues to assist birth centers that are experiencing financial hardships.
Congratulations as well to Obgyne Birth Center for Natural Deliveries (Forsyth, GA) and The Birth Center of New Jersey (Union, NJ) who were each awarded an Accreditation Support Grant. The Birth Center of New Jersey said it well in their application, “We want to demonstrate to ourselves, clients, and governing authorities that we can operate our birth center at the highest level of safety, efficiency, and patient care.” The Foundation offers this grant to help AABC birth center members with their annual fee or first-time accreditation fee with the CABC.
Gala
One small step for the AABC Foundation, one giant leap for advancing the AABC birth center model of care! On September 14th, the Hyatt Regency Orlando will be the site of the 2019 Gala to Grow Birth Centers: Fly Me to the Moon. Enjoy a stellar evening of lively entertainment, fine spirits, and a delicious dinner. Don’t miss your chance to bid on wonderful vacations and other unique opportunities during our live and silent auctions!
We also seek sponsors for the gala each year! Become a Moon, Planet, Solar System, Galaxy or Universe Sponsor and join us as we blast off to improve maternity and women’s health care. Your sponsorship benefits women and families across the country and speaks volumes about your commitment to the leading edge of women's maternity care.