place in the Midwest for
Reproductive Healthcare
More about HBC 
Deinstitutionalize Childbirth
Establish Community Midwives
Dismantle Obstetric Racism
Transform Public Health Research
Deinstitutionalize Childbirth
Establish Community Midwives
Dismantle Obstetric Racism
Transform Public Health Research
Our mission is to promote and advocate for access to midwife-led continuity of care models among unjustly served communities, increase the racial diversity of Certified Professional Midwives in Illinois, and raise awareness about obstetric racism.
More about hbcSee our Timeline
Read the SB 1041 Ammendment
Read about the Medical Voucher Program and Maternity Episode Payment Model here:
“The Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans shall partner with Holistic Birth Collective to advise the Department of Healthcare and Family Services on the development of a Medicaid voucher program that is eligible for federal dollars to expand consumer choice for Black mothers that includes planned home birth services and in-home perinatal and postpartum care services…“
Learn more about the SB 1041 Ammendment
This easy to read document can help you or others understand how our program through SB 1041 will significantly improve black maternal health outcomes.
Visit our legislative page to learn even more about SB 1041 and how it will help pregnant black women across Illinois.
Read the SB 1041 Ammendment
Read about the Medical Voucher Program and Maternity Episode Payment Model here:
“The Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans shall partner with Holistic Birth Collective to advise the Department of Healthcare and Family Services on the development of a Medicaid voucher program that is eligible for federal dollars to expand consumer choice for Black mothers that includes planned home birth services and in-home perinatal and postpartum care services…“
Learn more about the SB 1041 Ammendment
This easy to read document can help you or others understand how our program through SB 1041 will significantly improve black maternal health outcomes.
Visit our legislative page to learn even more about SB 1041 and how it will help pregnant black women across Illinois.
Check out What HBC is doing!
The best way to keep up with HBC is joining the Mailing List! Click subscribe below to join HBC’s Newsletter and listserv via email. Also check out the Initiatives pages to read/learn more about how we use our voices to make change for pregnant people, babies, and midwives in Illinois.
1 out of 3 women of color who gave birth in an institutional setting reported experiencing maternal mistreatment during labor or delivery.
DID YOU KNOW?
Only about 2% of all contemporary midwives in the United States are Black.
1 out of 3 women of color who gave birth in an institutional setting reported experiencing maternal mistreatment during labor or delivery.
Only about 2% of all contemporary midwives in the United States are Black.
1 out of 3 women of color who gave birth in an institutional setting reported experiencing maternal mistreatment during labor or delivery.
We Rely on Evidence-Based Research
“Research shows that there are specific care models that can make a concrete difference in improving maternity care quality and producing better outcomes, including for birthing People of Color. One of these is the care provided in community birth settings… Almost exclusively, such care is led by midwives.”
– From Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Community Birth Settings
Mapping integration of midwives across the United States: Impact on access, equity, and outcomes
Published: Febuary 21, 2018
“Poor coordination of care across providers and birth settings has been associated with adverse maternal-newborn outcomes. Research suggests that integration of midwives into regional health systems is a key determinant of optimal maternal-newborn outcomes…”
Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Community Birth Settings
Published: April, 2022
“Enabling more birthing people to receive care in community birth settings and increasing access to community birth care provided by and for People of Color should be a top priority for decisionmakers at the local, state, and federal levels.”
How To Support Midwifery
Black mothers in the United States are dying at a tragically disproportionate rate to other mothers. With a national rate of maternal mortality 3-4 times higher than that of white mothers, and as much as TEN times higher in certain urban centers, Black mothers need multiple interventions.
One proven way is receiving culturally appropriate and community-based care, in home, by Black midwives. Only 2% of our nation’s midwives are Black, so we need to pull our resources to support the training and encouragement of Black midwives as well!
How To Support Midwifery
Black mothers in the United States are dying at a tragically disproportionate rate to other mothers. With a national rate of maternal mortality 3-4 times higher than that of white mothers, and sometimes as much as TEN times higher in certain urban centers, Black mothers need multiple interventions to save their lives.
One proven intervention is receiving culturally appropriate and community-based care, in home, by Black midwives. In fact, only 2 percent of our nation’s midwives are Black.
Take Action
Join our mailing list to get updates on what we’re doing, where we are and how you can take action alongside us!
Initiatives
Visit our “Initiatives” page to keep updated on how we’re changing structures of systematic racism.
CPM Awareness
Visit our “About Midwifery” page to learn about the history of Midwifery and what it looks like today.
Take Action
Join our mailing list to get updates on what we’re doing, where we are and how you can take action alongside us!
Initiatives
Visit our “Initiatives” page to keep updated on how we’re changing structures of systematic racism.
CPM Awareness
Visit our “About Midwifery” page to learn about the history of Midwifery and what it looks like today.
Get the latest updates via email with our upcoming newsletter on how to stay involved with local events and advocacy initiatives! Don’t worry, there’s no spam involved.