Memos of support from:

New York Friends of Midwives 

How you can help

Contact your legislators:

Visit senate and assembly websites to find your legislators and their contact information. Call and ask them to co-sponsor our bill. Schedule a meeting in their Albany office or plan to meet them in their home office. Legislators will be home once the session is over in June. Spread the word to other midwives and encourage them to do the same. You'll find a template letter for midwives here.

Get consumers involved:

We were pleased to have dedicated midwifery consumers at Lobby Day this year, and know that they have the potential to raise huge support for this bill across the state. Talk to your clients and get the word out! Ask them to contact or visit their legislators and spread the word to other midwifery supporters. When the written practice agreement is eliminated, midwifery practice will expand and women and families across the state will have greater access to the safe, evidence-based care that midwives provide. You'll find a template letter for consumers here.

Talk to physicians you know:

Many Obstetrician/Gynecologists support our effort to remove the written practice agreement. They know we are safe, independent health care providers who refer and consult as needed, according to our scope of practice, and a signed agreement doesn't mean safer care and implies supervision. They understand that many physicians feel that, by signing, they are vicariously liable for any malpractice litigation against their collaborating midwife. They know that some physicians are limited by the regulations of their malpractice insurance company as to with whom they can collaborate. For all these reasons and more, ask supportive physicians you know to write a letter of support for our bill and to let ACOG know that they support New York midwives. You'll find a template letter for physicians here.

Share your time and ideas:

We invite all midwives and interested consumers to attend our board meetings in Albany. If you have ideas you want to share or can volunteer your time to help, we would love to hear from you. You can email us or call the NYSALM phone at 518-852-7965

We can't do this without your financial support:

The vast majority of the monetary support we receive through membership and donations is used to pay our lobbyists. They are our vital connection to Albany and their contact with legislators and guidance on how to be most effective is crucial to our success. Please join or renew your membership for the next 12 months or make a donation to our legislative fund. Consumers can join as associate members or donate through our membership page.