Organizing Locally for Change

When so stated, it may seem obvious, but using the wealth of resources available to you, including BORN IN THE U.S.A., to educate the public and legislators, will yield results. While it might seem like a daunting task at the outset, it's important to remember that the most important step to take is the first one. If you also utilize available media outlets to publicize your efforts, and organize with other like-minded individuals to share the weight (see our Community Action Guide), the change which occurs may be broader, as well as more fun, when you have others with whom you can commisserate or celebrate.

Here are twenty-nine deas, in no particular order, inspired by many who are deep in the trenches:

1. Arrange to show BORN IN THE U.S.A. with your elected officials.

2. Contact appropriate committtees (e.g., women's health, women's caucus, etc.) to offer to screen the work.

3. Develop or to create programming for Women's Day, Mother's Day, or other special events.

A TIP: If there are certain key legislators whose support is critical to your efforts, organize a screening in their local district (in addition to or instead of at your state capital. Invite the public and the legislator, and present him/her with the opportunity to see the communityÕs interest and to have the chance to meet constituents.

4. Send an actual birth announcement (i.e., “Your new constituent Ð born at home with a midwife”) to federal and state legislators so they know you're using the midwifery services.

5. Contact midwifery organizations in your state to volunteer in their efforts.

6. Contact your legislator's office to volunteer time.

7. Organize a state lobby day, or model American College of Nurse Midwives' Adopt-a-Legislator approach, where members of your organization agree to “adopt” (regularly stay in touch with and provide information to) a specific legislator.

8. Buy your legislator a subscription to “Midwifery Today" or another publication to broaden their knowledge.

9. Ask your governor, mayor or local elected official to issue a proclamation for nurse-midwifery week and offer to come in one month ahead for a photo opportunity. This will enable the government official's press people to release the photo prior to the commencement of nurse-midwifery week.

10. Announce your home birth in the newspaper (and encourage others to do so also).

11. Encourage midwives to advertise (offer to design or sponsor an ad, research advertising opportunities, give the information to your midwife).

12. Write (get guidelines from the publications first) about midwifery and the Midwifery Model of Care editorials or a letters to the editor of your local newspapers.

13. Be on a local radio or TV talk show.

14. Hand out information at a local health fair (Citizens for Midwifery provides low-cost and free brochures).

15. Post informative fliers in baby/maternity stores, public library, church bulletin board, health food stores, etc.

16. Put a bookmark (CfM provides these as well) in every pregnancy-related book in your public library. Return periodically and bookmark again.

17. Take a local news reporter or writer out to lunch and make friends.

18. Offer to make an informative presentation for local church groups and civic organizations (they are often looking for programs).

19. Start a young or new mom support group and include midwifery information.

20. Sponsor a public radio day to bring attention to the Midwifery Model of Care on International Midwives Day.

21. Teach a high school or college class (offer a guest lecture in women's studies, family & child development or related departments, or high school health class).

22. Write a letter to your local legislator about midwifery.

23. Visit your local legislator in person and update them about midwifery issues that are important to you.

24. Befriend a practitioner (an ob-gyn, a midwife, a nurse) and talk (and listen) with her about midwifery.

25. Have a public showing of BORN IN THE U.S.A. or another informative midwifery/home birth video/ Invite friends to your house or plan a public showing at your library or other meeting place.

26. Donate a copy of the video to your local library or high school.

27. Have a “house party”: invite friends and acquaintances to meet your midwife (or local midwives) Ð have literature and a few remarks about midwifery issues.

28. Make a web page about midwifery in your state. Link to national organizations (and this site!), and try to spread the word.

29. Arrange to screen BORN IN THE U.S.A. at your library or hospital with a panel discussion.

 

Many thanks to Citizens for Midwifery for material adapted from their web site. Click here to go there for a lot of other great information and contact to others in your community who are interested in birth issues.