Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1338

BY: M. of A. Rules (Zinerman)

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in  the  State
        of New York

  WHEREAS,  Black midwives fulfill an essential role and contribute to
improving  maternal  health  outcomes  by  addressing  disparities   and
providing culturally congruent care to Black birthing people; and

  WHEREAS,  The Black Midwives Day campaign was founded in 2023 by The
National Black Midwives Alliance to designate March 14th  as  a  day  of
awareness,  education,  advocacy, and community engagement to uplift the
legacy and ongoing work of Black midwives; and

  WHEREAS, Black maternal health  in  the  United  States  remains  in
crisis,  with  Black  birthing  people experiencing significantly higher
rates of  maternal  morbidity  and  mortality  irrespective  of  income,
education, or socioeconomic status; and

  WHEREAS,  Many  U.S.  cities  and  counties  face  a  high number of
maternity care deserts, where women of  childbearing  age  do  not  have
access  to  hospitals  or  birth  centers  offering  maternity  care  or
obstetric providers, which leads to higher rates of  maternal  morbidity
and mortality, as most complications occur in the postpartum period when
birthing people are far away from their providers; and

  WHEREAS,  Integrating  midwives  into  the maternity care system has
been shown to improve birth outcomes, reduce medical interventions,  and
decrease the racial disparities in maternal and infant health; and

  WHEREAS, Midwives can assist birthing people and their families with
safe  and  effective  childbirth  options,  and  promulgating  midwifery
promotes access to  safe  and  effective  antepartum,  intrapartum,  and
postpartum care; and

  WHEREAS,   Black   midwives   have  historically  provided  holistic
community-centered care, yet  have  been  systematically  excluded  from
health care systems through restrictive policies and regulations; and

  WHEREAS,  The  resurgence  of  Black  midwifery  is  a  testament to
midwives' resilience and  their  commitment  to  reclaiming  traditional
birthing  practices  that  prioritize  respect,  autonomy,  and positive
health outcomes; and

  WHEREAS, Black midwives play a pivotal role in reducing maternal and
infant   mortality,   improving   perinatal   health,   and   supporting
breastfeeding by integrating ancestral wisdom with modern evidence-based
practices; and

  WHEREAS,  It is important to invest in midwifery to expand access to
midwifery education and training and to  ensure  fair  compensation  and
support for midwives; and

  WHEREAS,  To  facilitate optimal health care access, midwives should
have no restrictions to practicing midwifery  to  the  full  extent  and
scope of their training; and

  WHEREAS,  To  promote  the  restoration  of  Black midwives to their
communities, all educational and certification pathways should be  open,
available, and funded to build the workforce of midwives; and

  WHEREAS,  Observing  Black  Midwives  Day  creates an opportunity to
support and recognize the long-standing and invaluable contributions  of
Black  midwives to maternal and infant health in The United States; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black
Midwives Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That  this  Legislative  Body  recognizes  the  invaluable
contributions of Black midwives in advancing maternal and infant health,
addressing  racial disparities in healthcare, and strengthening families
and communities across New York State; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.