HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0104.004 2022-2024 P/coAc
60.51-25
CGUU_r1 eI COMM. ION
C O i N'T Y OF H
Aloha Council Members, 1013 FEB17 AM f : 58
In strong support of Resolution 57-23
My name is Rachel Curnel Struempf. I have lived on the west side of Hawai'i island for 30 years.
I had the honor of being the first licensed in Hawai'i, appointed as a member of the Hawai'i
Home Birth Taskforce, and I am one of only 2 licensed midwives who received all of their
midwifery training exclusively in Hawai'i.
Hawai'i island has a severe shortage of access to maternity care. There are only 3 hospitals
with labor and delivery units. In the Kohala, Ka'u and Puna districts women regularly give birth •
in their cars trying to get to one of these hospitals. Midwives have historically helped to fill the
gaps in maternity care for many of these families. However with the new midwife licensing laws,
access to midwives is about to be further restricted. We desperately need traditional birth
attendants to be allowed to continue legally serving their communities. These attendants serve
our most rural communities. They are an integral part of maternity care in these rural districts.
Further, there is one Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential. It may be obtained
through 2 pathways. One can be certified through attending a school midwifery program
accredited by Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC). Currently there are no meac
accredited midwifery schools located in the state of Hawai'i. The second pathway is through the
Portfolio Evaluation Process. This requires the applicant to obtain education and training
predominantly through apprenticeship with a NARM registered CPM preceptor and self study.
An extensive application is required to be submitted to prove their training. This application is
reviewed and verified by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) prior to allowing
these applicants to take their credentialing exam. Here is the link for this application process.
https://narm.oroicertification-recertification/cpm-application/pep/application/
Once an individual has passed the NARM midwifery exam, they are issued their Certified
Professional Midwife certificate and they are nationally and internationally recognized as a
CPM. It is important to point out that all CPM credentials are equal, there is no distinction
between pathways once you are certified.
I am writing in strong support of this resolution. The families of.Hawai'i island depend on
traditional birth attendants and CPM midwives to provide them care. Please ensure that we
preserve their right to care.
Mahalo for your time,
Rachel Curnel Struempf, LM, CPM
(808)990-8025
P.O.Box 456
Holualoa, HI 96725
Comm. No `o4 4
Ref.To: P I(A0 tlfi
Ref. Date FEB 2 1 2023