As a midwife of color, I hope to influence my community by providing quality care and education to women of color, their families, and their babies. Five years after I begin my midwifery practice I plan to create a birth center in Albuquerque, New Mexico that specifically caters to women of color. This birth center will employ midwives, nurses, and staff members of color in an effort to provide an environment that caters to the needs of women of color. All staff members will be thoroughly trained to provide culturally competent care to the predominant cultural groups in New Mexico. The birth center will be available to all women regardless of income and meet the needs of the women it serves. Facilities included at this birth center will be childbirth education classes, breastfeeding support, peer support groups, prenatal exercise classes, an in house therapist to address the psychological needs of women of color and their families, a facility owned transport service available to mothers who need transportation to and from appointments, and a case manager. I will use this birth center as an outlet to provide education and care to the community I serve. …show more content…
At my birth center I will hold monthly educational classes available to the public on reproductive and women’s health. I will direct these classes towards young women; however, they will be open to women of all ages. Topics discussed will include contraception, female anatomy, and topics of choice requested by the public related to women’s health. I hope that these classes will help to establish a sense of community by gathering young women together to discuss themselves and their