BIRTH EQUITY FUND
A fund for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who need financial assistance to access midwifery care
ABOUT OUR UPCOMING FUNDRAISER!
What is the fund and why did we create it?
First and foremost we want to be sure that our care is accesible to those who are most affected by systemic racism and white supremacy in health care settings.
The World Health Organization has identified midwifery as playing a “vital” role in lowering global maternal and newborn mortality.
Midwifery-led care has been shown to improve maternal outcomes around the world, leading to lower rates of cesarean sections, preterm births, and anemia. This is particularly important for BIPOC birthers in the U.S., who are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from a pregnancy related cause than white women, even when controlling for socioeconomic factors.
In most states, including Arizona, community midwifery care isn’t covered by Medicaid.
This creates a barrier to services for women who are unable to pay out of pocket for care. That's why we strive to offer 50% off all services for low-income BIPOC folks in the Tucson Community. If you identify as BIPOC and need financial assistance, please inquire about the Equity Fund before paying for services or signing any financial agreements.
Having life-saving care should not be a luxury.
The Birth Equity Fund is financed by generous donations from our community. If you would like to make a contribution to the fund, please click the “Donate” button below. Your generosity is deeply appreciated, and will make a real impact in the lives of local BIPOC families.
Between 1910 and 1930, the number of births attended by a midwife dropped from 50% to 15%, according to a CDC report, while hospital births increased in tandem. Today, only about 10% of births in the United States today are attended by a midwife.
The AZ maternal and infant death rate has increased 43% since 2017.
BIPOC Women in the U.S. are 2 to 3 times more likely to die of a pregnancy related cause (4 times more likely for black folks).
According to an analysis of CDC data, white women in the United States are two and 3.5 times more likely to have a midwife than Latina and Black women, respectively.
Make a donation.
This fund is the product of our generous community who prioritizes healthcare equity and harm reduction around systemic racism. Please donate today and share with others. Many of our clients choose to put this donation link on their baby registry rather than receive gifts. Thank you for your support.
How to access the fund
If you are a BIPOC person interested in hiring us for any of our midwifery services (not just birth!), the first step is to fill out the following form to express a need for financial support.
Next you will schedule a free consultation using the “Book Appointment” button in the top corner of this website. The consultation is a chance to get to know one another, ask questions and learn about your needs and wants around your healthcare.
If both parties determine we are a good fit for working together, we will present you with the available discount (varies depending on the fund’s balance).
Provided that funds are available, the amount the fund pays will be reduced from the total bill, reducing the amount that you pay.
WE WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE
As white midwives our care in undoubtedly limited by moving through the world this way. We are aware that this fund is a mitigation, not a solution. Tucson needs community midwives of color who are here to stay. We know that historically in the US, midwives of color were systematically eradicated and that nurses and white women were complicit. That is why our goal is to grow the Equity Fund to the point where we can make substantial financial contributions towards the education of student midwives of color who plan to stay in Tucson and work in the community setting.We are currently in search of a fiscal sponsor so that we may seek grants for this purpose. If you know of an organization who might be interested, please contact us.
“all that you touch you change. all that you change changes you.”
— Octavia Butler