Dear Homebirth and Midwifery Supporters,
We've just learned that the Illinois House has cancelled it's Saturday workday. Unfortunately, this is just how things go near the end of the session. Thank you to all of you who had planned to come.
Next week the House will be in session Monday through Friday. This will be the week we hope to reach the 60 votes we need to pass the floor. Please come if you can.
We have 40 solid YES votes and more than 10 likely yes votes that we need to get committed.
THAT LEAVES LESS THAN 10 MORE YES VOTES TO GO!
Time is running out for getting those yes votes but we are not giving up hope. Only a few weeks ago, we had only 30 total. In the past several weeks we've gained a new chief sponsor and TWELVE new co-sponsors including Barbara Flynn Currie, second only to the Speaker of the House, Michael Madigan. This is progress, but we still need those last few committed votes. We need them THIS COMING WEEK.
Please plan to come to Springfield this coming week to help us with this. Earlier in the week would be most helpful but anytime is good. Also please watch for one more action alert (later tonight or tomorrow) that will identify approximately 30 legislators who haven't had any constituent contact at all.
Help us find people in their districts and you may help us get that final YES that we need!
Finally, please remember we have a lobbyist working for us. He has opened doors for us we never would have reached and is continuing to do so. Please donate one of the following if you can:
$100 to commemorate the 100 years that midwives have been fighting a system that turned against them in the early 20th century.
$60 to reflect the number of votes we hope to have by the end of this week
$30 to recognize how many votes we had just a few weeks ago. - WE'VE COME SO FAR!!
$10 to thank the current and recent Coalition board who have been working hard on your behalf, for 10 years.
or any amount you can. We are grateful for all donations, no matter how small.
Please visit http://illinoismidwifery.org and click on paypal or mail a check made out to CFIM (or Coalition for Illinois Midwifery) to:
CFIM c/o Vicki Johnson
6092 Torchlite Trail
Loves, Park, IL 61111
Or if you are a midwife, doula, massage therapist or other provider, please consider donating a small portion of each client fee. Check out Community Counts – Better Birth Initiative at http://communitycountsbetterbirth.wordpress.com/2010/01/
Illinois Mothers, Babies and Midwives benefit from all you do to help pass HB 226, the Home Birth Safety Act.
Thank you for all you do!
Rachel
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
EVERY DAY IS LOBBY DAY!!
Be Part of the Buzz for Midwives in Springfield
We are making history! For the first time in 30 years, Midwives have enough votes to get out of a House Committee. If we can get ourselves assigned to that committee, we will be able to pass!!!
After the committee comes the House floor. We need 60 votes there to pass. In just three days we’ve gotten 30. With your help we can get earn the rest!
We need everyone to come to visit their legislators in Springfield. It's the only way we will pass this bill. Come be a part of history!
Find time in April – any day that works for you - to come to Springfield and show your support for the Home Birth Safety Act (HB226). The Coalition for Illinois Midwifery will make sure someone is there to meet you and show you what to do.
Click the link below to view the legislative calendar. Make sure that your travel date is a day the representatives are in Springfield. http://ilga.gov/house/schedules/calendars/2010_April_Schedule.pdf
Go to www.ilga.gov then click on Legislator Lookup in the lower right quarter of the page, to look up your state Representative and State Senator.
Then contact Jamie charis490@gmail.com to let CFIM know who your rep is and when you are coming. If you are a student midwife, contact Nancy Cowans at ncowans@hotmail.com
WHEN YOU COME:
If you are a CNM or CPM dress professionally (business or business casual). Otherwise, if you have a “Got Midwife” T-shirt or similar, please wear it. Please bring 3 saran-wrapped plates of M&M cookies if you can for your legislators and the governor. If you can’t that’s ok, we may have extras plates for you.
Once you’ve visited your legislators, please stay and help. We will need someone to man our table in the rotunda while others are up at the rail talking to legislators. (we’ll coach you on this)
Bring a friend (even if they are not part of the home birth community) and make a day of it. There are many things to do in Springfield. See ideas below.
DIRECTIONS:
If you drive, use this link to map your drive: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=map+illinois+state+capitol&fb=1&gl=us&ei=vCPDS9uBFpakM5iUoIoM&ved=0CBYQpQY&hl=en&view=map&geocode=FQ1HXwIdp_mn-g&split=0&iwloc=A&sa=X
Bring plenty of quarters for hours of metered parking.
If you wish to take Amtrak, trains leave from Chicago Union Station at 7:00 am and 9:25 am. You must have an ID to travel and tickets must be purchased before boarding, so leave plenty of time. There can be a line. Tickets can also be purchased online but you must print out the email confirmation and bring it with you. There are quick track machines that will scan the confirmation bar code and print your ticket. This is a bit quicker. Sometimes these trains sell out so it is best to purchase or reserve ahead of time.
Go to www.amtrak.com for information.
When you leave the train, walk south along the direction the train is traveling in, then turn right and cross the tracks at either Washington or Adams. Walk two blocks west and you will see the capitol building on your left, two or three blocks away.
WHILE IN THE CAPITOL:
If you or your family need sustenance, there is a cafeteria beneath the basement floor of the complex. Ask for directions at the information desk. If you would like breakfast or lunch at excellent coffee house run by a former Illinois home birth attendant, check out the Trout Lily Café at 218 S. Sixth Street. Ask for Kate and say hello from the home birth midwives.
If you are looking for additional Springfield fun, check out the Lincoln Museum – described as a “major experience museum” “visitors are offered an engaging, emotional and educational experience through immersive, "you-are-there" exhibits.” (from www.lincolnlibraryandmuseum.com) Check out their official website at www.alplm.org for more details. You can also tour the Lincoln home, see Lincoln's tomb and check out many other historical sites. See www.visit-springfieldillinois.com for more details.
Finally, please also donate. Lobby Month could be the thing that puts us over the top, but it there will be expenses. Can you donate any amount today to help make passage of the Home Birth Safety Act a reality?
Please visit http://illinoismidwifery.org and click on paypal or mail a check made out to CFIM (or Coalition for Illinois Midwifery) to:
CFIM c/o Vicki Johnson
6092 Torchlite Trail
Loves, Park, IL 61111
Or if you are a midwife, doula, massage therapist or other provider, please consider donating a small portion of each client fee. Check out Community Counts – Better Birth Initiative at http://communitycountsbetterbirth.wordpress.com/2010/01/
See you there!
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
We are making history! For the first time in 30 years, Midwives have enough votes to get out of a House Committee. If we can get ourselves assigned to that committee, we will be able to pass!!!
After the committee comes the House floor. We need 60 votes there to pass. In just three days we’ve gotten 30. With your help we can get earn the rest!
We need everyone to come to visit their legislators in Springfield. It's the only way we will pass this bill. Come be a part of history!
Find time in April – any day that works for you - to come to Springfield and show your support for the Home Birth Safety Act (HB226). The Coalition for Illinois Midwifery will make sure someone is there to meet you and show you what to do.
Click the link below to view the legislative calendar. Make sure that your travel date is a day the representatives are in Springfield. http://ilga.gov/house/schedules/calendars/2010_April_Schedule.pdf
Go to www.ilga.gov then click on Legislator Lookup in the lower right quarter of the page, to look up your state Representative and State Senator.
Then contact Jamie charis490@gmail.com to let CFIM know who your rep is and when you are coming. If you are a student midwife, contact Nancy Cowans at ncowans@hotmail.com
WHEN YOU COME:
If you are a CNM or CPM dress professionally (business or business casual). Otherwise, if you have a “Got Midwife” T-shirt or similar, please wear it. Please bring 3 saran-wrapped plates of M&M cookies if you can for your legislators and the governor. If you can’t that’s ok, we may have extras plates for you.
Once you’ve visited your legislators, please stay and help. We will need someone to man our table in the rotunda while others are up at the rail talking to legislators. (we’ll coach you on this)
Bring a friend (even if they are not part of the home birth community) and make a day of it. There are many things to do in Springfield. See ideas below.
DIRECTIONS:
If you drive, use this link to map your drive: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=map+illinois+state+capitol&fb=1&gl=us&ei=vCPDS9uBFpakM5iUoIoM&ved=0CBYQpQY&hl=en&view=map&geocode=FQ1HXwIdp_mn-g&split=0&iwloc=A&sa=X
Bring plenty of quarters for hours of metered parking.
If you wish to take Amtrak, trains leave from Chicago Union Station at 7:00 am and 9:25 am. You must have an ID to travel and tickets must be purchased before boarding, so leave plenty of time. There can be a line. Tickets can also be purchased online but you must print out the email confirmation and bring it with you. There are quick track machines that will scan the confirmation bar code and print your ticket. This is a bit quicker. Sometimes these trains sell out so it is best to purchase or reserve ahead of time.
Go to www.amtrak.com for information.
When you leave the train, walk south along the direction the train is traveling in, then turn right and cross the tracks at either Washington or Adams. Walk two blocks west and you will see the capitol building on your left, two or three blocks away.
WHILE IN THE CAPITOL:
If you or your family need sustenance, there is a cafeteria beneath the basement floor of the complex. Ask for directions at the information desk. If you would like breakfast or lunch at excellent coffee house run by a former Illinois home birth attendant, check out the Trout Lily Café at 218 S. Sixth Street. Ask for Kate and say hello from the home birth midwives.
If you are looking for additional Springfield fun, check out the Lincoln Museum – described as a “major experience museum” “visitors are offered an engaging, emotional and educational experience through immersive, "you-are-there" exhibits.” (from www.lincolnlibraryandmuseum.com) Check out their official website at www.alplm.org for more details. You can also tour the Lincoln home, see Lincoln's tomb and check out many other historical sites. See www.visit-springfieldillinois.com for more details.
Finally, please also donate. Lobby Month could be the thing that puts us over the top, but it there will be expenses. Can you donate any amount today to help make passage of the Home Birth Safety Act a reality?
Please visit http://illinoismidwifery.org and click on paypal or mail a check made out to CFIM (or Coalition for Illinois Midwifery) to:
CFIM c/o Vicki Johnson
6092 Torchlite Trail
Loves, Park, IL 61111
Or if you are a midwife, doula, massage therapist or other provider, please consider donating a small portion of each client fee. Check out Community Counts – Better Birth Initiative at http://communitycountsbetterbirth.wordpress.com/2010/01/
See you there!
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
Monday, April 12, 2010
LOBBY DAY - WED April 14
Lobby Together with the Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
WHAT: Ask your State Representative to vote “yes” on the Home Birth Safety Act (HB226)
Ask for a public position of support by Co-Sponsoring HB226
WHEN: Wednesday, April 14, 11:00 am*
WHERE: Springfield Capitol Complex Rotunda
301 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL
Look for our table in the Rotunda or in one of the side hallways.
BRING: 3 plates of M&M cookies (for your Senator, your Representative and Governor Quinn);
Pictures of your children born at home (if this applies); notes with your personal stories
of support for the bill. Mention the bill by number in your note and ask them to co-sponsor
in order to help make home birth safer than it is now.
Please look-up the name of your state representative and state senator before you leave. Go to ILGA.GOV and search the legislative look-up.
*Arrival before or after meeting time is OK. Someone will be at the table starting at 9am.
If you need to speak with one of us, call Jamie at 217-521-6731. Cell phones do not always work well in the capitol, however. So keep trying.
DIRECTIONS:
If you drive, use this link to map your drive: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=map+illinois+state+capitol&fb=1&gl=us&ei=vCPDS9uBFpakM5iUoIoM&ved=0CBYQpQY&hl=en&view=map&geocode=FQ1HXwIdp_mn-g&split=0&iwloc=A&sa=X
Bring plenty of quarters for hours of metered parking.
If you wish to take Amtrak, trains leave from Chicago Union Station at 7:00 am and 9:25 am. You must have an ID to travel and tickets must be purchased before boarding, so leave plenty of time. There can be a line. Tickets can also be purchased online but you must print out the email confirmation and bring it with you. There are quick track machines that will scan the confirmation bar code and print your ticket. This is a bit quicker. Sometimes these trains sell out so it is best to purchase or reserve ahead of time.
Go to www.amtrak.com for information.
When you leave the train, walk south along the direction the train is traveling in, then turn right and cross the tracks at either Washington or Adams. Walk two blocks west and you will see the capitol building on your left, two or three blocks away.
WHILE IN THE CAPITOL:
If you or your family need sustenance, there is a cafeteria beneath the basement floor of the complex. Ask for directions at the information desk. If you would like breakfast or lunch at excellent coffee house run by a former Illinois home birth attendant, check out the Trout Lily Café at 218 S. Sixth Street. Ask for Kate and say hello from the home birth midwives.
If you are looking for additional Springfield fun, check out the Lincoln Museum – described as a “major experience museum” “visitors are offered an engaging, emotional and educational experience through immersive, "you-are-there" exhibits.” (from www.lincolnlibraryandmuseum.com) Check out their official website at www.alplm.org for more details.
For more information about Lobby Day contact Rachel Wickersham 630-750-9444
If you cannot travel, PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THEIR SPRINGFIELD OFFICE on Lobby Day and ask them to co-sponsor HB226.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN SPRINGFIELD!!
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
WHAT: Ask your State Representative to vote “yes” on the Home Birth Safety Act (HB226)
Ask for a public position of support by Co-Sponsoring HB226
WHEN: Wednesday, April 14, 11:00 am*
WHERE: Springfield Capitol Complex Rotunda
301 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL
Look for our table in the Rotunda or in one of the side hallways.
BRING: 3 plates of M&M cookies (for your Senator, your Representative and Governor Quinn);
Pictures of your children born at home (if this applies); notes with your personal stories
of support for the bill. Mention the bill by number in your note and ask them to co-sponsor
in order to help make home birth safer than it is now.
Please look-up the name of your state representative and state senator before you leave. Go to ILGA.GOV and search the legislative look-up.
*Arrival before or after meeting time is OK. Someone will be at the table starting at 9am.
If you need to speak with one of us, call Jamie at 217-521-6731. Cell phones do not always work well in the capitol, however. So keep trying.
DIRECTIONS:
If you drive, use this link to map your drive: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=map+illinois+state+capitol&fb=1&gl=us&ei=vCPDS9uBFpakM5iUoIoM&ved=0CBYQpQY&hl=en&view=map&geocode=FQ1HXwIdp_mn-g&split=0&iwloc=A&sa=X
Bring plenty of quarters for hours of metered parking.
If you wish to take Amtrak, trains leave from Chicago Union Station at 7:00 am and 9:25 am. You must have an ID to travel and tickets must be purchased before boarding, so leave plenty of time. There can be a line. Tickets can also be purchased online but you must print out the email confirmation and bring it with you. There are quick track machines that will scan the confirmation bar code and print your ticket. This is a bit quicker. Sometimes these trains sell out so it is best to purchase or reserve ahead of time.
Go to www.amtrak.com for information.
When you leave the train, walk south along the direction the train is traveling in, then turn right and cross the tracks at either Washington or Adams. Walk two blocks west and you will see the capitol building on your left, two or three blocks away.
WHILE IN THE CAPITOL:
If you or your family need sustenance, there is a cafeteria beneath the basement floor of the complex. Ask for directions at the information desk. If you would like breakfast or lunch at excellent coffee house run by a former Illinois home birth attendant, check out the Trout Lily Café at 218 S. Sixth Street. Ask for Kate and say hello from the home birth midwives.
If you are looking for additional Springfield fun, check out the Lincoln Museum – described as a “major experience museum” “visitors are offered an engaging, emotional and educational experience through immersive, "you-are-there" exhibits.” (from www.lincolnlibraryandmuseum.com) Check out their official website at www.alplm.org for more details.
For more information about Lobby Day contact Rachel Wickersham 630-750-9444
If you cannot travel, PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THEIR SPRINGFIELD OFFICE on Lobby Day and ask them to co-sponsor HB226.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN SPRINGFIELD!!
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
Thursday, April 8, 2010
HB 226 Community Update
House Bill 226 – Home Birth Safety Act – April 7th 2010 Update
PROGRESS – WOW!!!
How’s that for the title to our update? At this point the Coalition for Illinois Midwifery is closer than it’s ever been to passage of its midwifery licensure bill, despite being past the usual deadline for doing such things. Over the past two weeks, with a lot of help from all of you, we’ve managed to revive our bill and add FOUR NEW CO-SPONSORS!!
We’ve also managed to identify a committee that may be most favorable and count 6 of the 7 needed “yes” votes to get through that committee. In addition, since we are past the usual deadlines, we’ve needed to count the floor votes ahead of time too. And guess what? Between our “yes” votes and our “likely yeses” we have 47 of the 60 we will need to get passage in the Illinois House of Representatives!! And there are many legislators we still haven’t asked yet. We are confident that with your continued help, we can find the remaining votes.
WE ARE CLOSE – close to finally having the support in the House that we need to get through. Every year we’ve gotten stronger. This year we are on the brink.
Our next plan is a lobby day. Watch for an email in the few days with an invitation to join us in Springfield with M&M cookies (stands for mothers and midwives) in hand. The most likely date for this will be Wednesday, April 14th. Please save the date in your calendar.
In the mean time please keep forwarding our latest action alert to anyone you know who may help.
I’m attaching it to this email. We still do need to reach many legislators – especially those outside of the Chicago metropolitan area.
IF YOU HAVEN’T CALLED YET, PLEASE CALL YOUR REP AND ASK HIM/HER TO CO-SPONSOR THE HOME BIRTH SAFETY ACT – HB226. SEE OUR ACTION ALERT ON www.illinoismidwifery.org FOR MORE INFO.
Please also donate. Lobby Day could be the thing that puts us over the top, but it there will be expenses. Can you donate just $10 dollars today to help make passage of the Home Birth Safety Act a reality?
Please visit http://illinoismidwifery.org and click on paypal or mail a check made out to CFIM (or Coalition for Illinois Midwifery) to:
CFIM c/o Vicki Johnson
6092 Torchlite Trail
Loves, Park, IL 61111
Or if you are a midwife, doula, massage therapist or other provider, please consider donating a small portion of each client fee. Check out Community Counts – Better Birth Initiative at http://communitycountsbetterbirth.wordpress.com/2010/01/
Thank you to all of you who have helped and will help in the future. YOU are the reason we are doing this and YOU are the reason we are succeeding.
Best wishes,
Rachel
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
PROGRESS – WOW!!!
How’s that for the title to our update? At this point the Coalition for Illinois Midwifery is closer than it’s ever been to passage of its midwifery licensure bill, despite being past the usual deadline for doing such things. Over the past two weeks, with a lot of help from all of you, we’ve managed to revive our bill and add FOUR NEW CO-SPONSORS!!
We’ve also managed to identify a committee that may be most favorable and count 6 of the 7 needed “yes” votes to get through that committee. In addition, since we are past the usual deadlines, we’ve needed to count the floor votes ahead of time too. And guess what? Between our “yes” votes and our “likely yeses” we have 47 of the 60 we will need to get passage in the Illinois House of Representatives!! And there are many legislators we still haven’t asked yet. We are confident that with your continued help, we can find the remaining votes.
WE ARE CLOSE – close to finally having the support in the House that we need to get through. Every year we’ve gotten stronger. This year we are on the brink.
Our next plan is a lobby day. Watch for an email in the few days with an invitation to join us in Springfield with M&M cookies (stands for mothers and midwives) in hand. The most likely date for this will be Wednesday, April 14th. Please save the date in your calendar.
In the mean time please keep forwarding our latest action alert to anyone you know who may help.
I’m attaching it to this email. We still do need to reach many legislators – especially those outside of the Chicago metropolitan area.
IF YOU HAVEN’T CALLED YET, PLEASE CALL YOUR REP AND ASK HIM/HER TO CO-SPONSOR THE HOME BIRTH SAFETY ACT – HB226. SEE OUR ACTION ALERT ON www.illinoismidwifery.org FOR MORE INFO.
Please also donate. Lobby Day could be the thing that puts us over the top, but it there will be expenses. Can you donate just $10 dollars today to help make passage of the Home Birth Safety Act a reality?
Please visit http://illinoismidwifery.org and click on paypal or mail a check made out to CFIM (or Coalition for Illinois Midwifery) to:
CFIM c/o Vicki Johnson
6092 Torchlite Trail
Loves, Park, IL 61111
Or if you are a midwife, doula, massage therapist or other provider, please consider donating a small portion of each client fee. Check out Community Counts – Better Birth Initiative at http://communitycountsbetterbirth.wordpress.com/2010/01/
Thank you to all of you who have helped and will help in the future. YOU are the reason we are doing this and YOU are the reason we are succeeding.
Best wishes,
Rachel
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
ROLL CALL - PLEASE CALL YOUR REP TODAY!
DEAR HOME BIRTH AND MIDWIFERY SUPPORTERS
Last week we asked you to send a letter. Now it's time to follow up with a call. Can you help us by calling your state Rep? We are continuing to work to get a full House role call (head count to see if we have enough votes) for the Home Birth Safety Act, HB 226.
Our momentum is building! If we get just 30 more votes on the floor and 1 more in committee, we will have what it takes for us to get the bill through the House this year. There are 75 reps who not yet been counted, so there are many opportunities to get the votes we need. BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
Here's what you can do:
Forward this email to everyone you know. We need to reach as many people as possible or we won't get a full roll call.
Then, if you haven't done it already, look up your legislator. Go to www.ilga.gov, click on Legislator Lookup and then put in your address to find your state Rep's information.
Next, call your Rep's local office and ask him/her to co-sponsor HB226, the Homebirth Safety Act. Please do this even if you've called / asked before. Let them know that Rep Beth Coulson, a long time opponent, has changed her mind and supports the bill. She changed her mind after reviewing the new educational requirements inserted by the Advance Practice Nurses.
If they says no, ask if they will please vote yes for it. Say that the midwives are trying to get a roll call.
If they says no to that too, ask for an appointment to come hear about their concerns and to possibly bring someone from the midwives to try to address some of their concerns.
If you do not reach anyone, please keep trying.
If you hear "that bill is dead" please point out that there were 3 new co-sponsors added last week and say that the midwives are confident they can get a committee assignment if they can get a good floor count, so could s/he please co-sponsor or vote yes?
If they want any details about the issue over the phone, the following are some good details.
There are not enough legal providers to serve the approximately 800 - 1000 babies born at home in Illinois every year. Unlicense midwives fill in the gaps in the underserved areas - "delivering" babies for many families, But without regulation there is no assurance that a particular midwife is skilled. There is no smooth mechanism for transport and transfer of care if the woman needs to go to the hospital for a C-section. There is no easy way to get a birth certificate that is filled out properly. And there is no easy way to do the baby's blood test that screens for metabolic or genetically inherited disorders (such as cystic fibrosis). Failing to screen and treat certain disorders early on, can be devastating for baby’s health.The Homebirth Safety Act, HB226 can remedy these issues in a way that our current system does not.
Please contact us to let us know of any response you get from your rep. If you get a meeting, we'll try to send someone with you or coach you ahead of time. Let us know by sending email to Jamie at Charis490@gmail.com
Home Birth mothers and babies in Illinois are counting upon you to make this phone call.
Remember your Reps work for YOU. THANK YOU!
Rachel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
Last week we asked you to send a letter. Now it's time to follow up with a call. Can you help us by calling your state Rep? We are continuing to work to get a full House role call (head count to see if we have enough votes) for the Home Birth Safety Act, HB 226.
Our momentum is building! If we get just 30 more votes on the floor and 1 more in committee, we will have what it takes for us to get the bill through the House this year. There are 75 reps who not yet been counted, so there are many opportunities to get the votes we need. BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
Here's what you can do:
Forward this email to everyone you know. We need to reach as many people as possible or we won't get a full roll call.
Then, if you haven't done it already, look up your legislator. Go to www.ilga.gov, click on Legislator Lookup and then put in your address to find your state Rep's information.
Next, call your Rep's local office and ask him/her to co-sponsor HB226, the Homebirth Safety Act. Please do this even if you've called / asked before. Let them know that Rep Beth Coulson, a long time opponent, has changed her mind and supports the bill. She changed her mind after reviewing the new educational requirements inserted by the Advance Practice Nurses.
If they says no, ask if they will please vote yes for it. Say that the midwives are trying to get a roll call.
If they says no to that too, ask for an appointment to come hear about their concerns and to possibly bring someone from the midwives to try to address some of their concerns.
If you do not reach anyone, please keep trying.
If you hear "that bill is dead" please point out that there were 3 new co-sponsors added last week and say that the midwives are confident they can get a committee assignment if they can get a good floor count, so could s/he please co-sponsor or vote yes?
If they want any details about the issue over the phone, the following are some good details.
There are not enough legal providers to serve the approximately 800 - 1000 babies born at home in Illinois every year. Unlicense midwives fill in the gaps in the underserved areas - "delivering" babies for many families, But without regulation there is no assurance that a particular midwife is skilled. There is no smooth mechanism for transport and transfer of care if the woman needs to go to the hospital for a C-section. There is no easy way to get a birth certificate that is filled out properly. And there is no easy way to do the baby's blood test that screens for metabolic or genetically inherited disorders (such as cystic fibrosis). Failing to screen and treat certain disorders early on, can be devastating for baby’s health.The Homebirth Safety Act, HB226 can remedy these issues in a way that our current system does not.
Please contact us to let us know of any response you get from your rep. If you get a meeting, we'll try to send someone with you or coach you ahead of time. Let us know by sending email to Jamie at Charis490@gmail.com
Home Birth mothers and babies in Illinois are counting upon you to make this phone call.
Remember your Reps work for YOU. THANK YOU!
Rachel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
Friday, March 26, 2010
Update - more great news!!
We've got more great news! Our momentum is building. The Homebirth Safety Act now has two more co-sponsors - one from each side of the aisle - Representatives Mike Tryon (R) and Mike Boland (D). If they are your reps, please send them a thank you! If they are NOT your reps, please keep helping us build momentum by contacting your rep TODAY! Be absolutely sure to tell them about HB226's new co-sponsors. Then ask them to co-sponsor too!
While you're waiting for their return call, enjoy this fantastic article by Illinois Times journalist Amanda Robert. She follows the life of one Illinois midwife of 30 years ago and reports on the state of midwifery in Illinois over a 30 year span. The article can be found at this link:
http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-7111-home-delivery.html
Once your rep does return your call, if they say anything but YES to co-sponsoring, send them a copy of this article.
Thanks for all you do!!!
Rachel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
While you're waiting for their return call, enjoy this fantastic article by Illinois Times journalist Amanda Robert. She follows the life of one Illinois midwife of 30 years ago and reports on the state of midwifery in Illinois over a 30 year span. The article can be found at this link:
http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-7111-home-delivery.html
Once your rep does return your call, if they say anything but YES to co-sponsoring, send them a copy of this article.
Thanks for all you do!!!
Rachel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Dolan Wickersham, CD(DONA), LCCE
president, Coalition for Illinois Midwifery
vice president, Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Jiandra@aol.com
630-750-9444
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
UPDATE - WE NEED A ROLL CALL!! HB226
UPDATE – WE NEED A ROLL CALL!!
HOMEBIRTH SAFETY ACT – HB226
Dear Home Birth and Midwifery Supporters,
It's time. We are pressing the entire House Floor for support. If you've been disappointed that your legislator has not been listed on previous action alerts, NOW is your time. We need a FULL ROLL CALL of the Illinois House of Representatives. We are asking each and every legislator to COSPONSOR HB226, the Homebirth Safety Act.
When you call, you may hear "the bill is dead". NOT TRUE. We’ve learned that no bill is ever truly dead until the general assembly actually adjourns and goes home for the summer. Because of your support and dedication thus far, our bill has life! Your work, targeting specific legislators, has created a "midwife" buzz in Springfield!! Now we need to keep it alive with strong, continuous ACTION.
But, because the “official” deadline for getting bills through committee has passed we have to be absolutely sure we have the votes necessary to pass the bill before putting everyone
(you, ourselves, our chief sponsor) through the process required to get a bill assigned to committee at this point in the session. Basically we have the next three weeks to work it all out.
This will require everyone’s help. We need constituents in each and every legislative district to write their legislator this week asking their legislator to co-sponsor the Homebirth Safety Act, HB226. This means not only must you write a letter but to truly help us get the head count, you must ask everyone you know who might be remotely supportive to write a letter too. We are going to make this as easy as possible by supplying the text of the letter (see below) but we need you to pass it along and follow up with your friends, family and anyone else who believes that women who choose homebirth, should have access to safe, nationally certified providers. Here is the letter:
Dear Representative
I’m writing today to ask you to co-sponsor HB226, the Homebirth Safety Act. Recent developments have given this bill new momentum. State Representative Beth Coulson, a legislator known for her expertise in healthcare issues and a long time opponent of the Homebirth Safety Act, has reviewed the latest changes in the bill - educational requirements added last year by the (now supportive) Illinois Society of Advance Practice Nurses - and has shifted her position. Representative Coulson now supports HB226.
The supporters of this issue are fairly confident that if we are able to count 60 votes on the House floor, we will be able to get the bill assigned to committee. So I am asking you to please co-sponsor the bill.
With the number of homebirths rising nationally (the CDC reports a 5% increase recently) and the number of Illinois counties with licensed providers remaining the same – still only 5 out of 102 counties covered - and with recent news that yet another home birth practice will soon no longer be attending home births, we are creating a recipe for disaster.
Every year in our state homebirth families have their babies without medical assistance, hire midwives from out of state, cross the border to give birth out-of-state, or hire underground midwives in their own communities. Having part of our maternity care system remain underground makes it much less safe and secure. Without regulation there is no assurance that a particular midwife is skilled. There is no smooth mechanism for transport and transfer of care if the woman needs to go to the hospital for a C-section. There is no easy way to get a birth certificate that is filled out properly. And there is no easy way to do the baby's blood test that screens for metabolic or genetically inherited disorders (such as cystic fibrosis). Failing to screen and treat certain disorders early on, can be devastating for baby’s health.
The Homebirth Safety Act, HB226 can remedy these issues in a way that our current system does not. Please support it by adding your name as a cosponsor. I await your reply and can be reached at _________________.
Sincerely….”
1) When sending this letter, you may add more text if you wish but please keep all of the text above if at all possible. Please send your rep a copy of this letter to both their Springfield and local addresses. You can find your rep’s name, address, fax number and sometimes email address by going to www.ilga.gov Click on legislator lookup and use your address to find your state Representative.
2) After sending the letter, please call your legislator’s secretary on Monday or Tuesday March29th or 30th. Say you are following up on your letter and wanted to know whether your rep will co-sponsor the bill or not. If the answer is no, ask if your rep will commit to voting yes for the bill if it makes it to the floor. If still no, ask for an appointment in the local office during the two weeks of legislative spring break, so that you can learn about their concerns and bring someone along who can possibly address their concerns.
If your rep says the bill is dead, politely let him/her know “The supporters of this issue are fairly confident that if we are able to count 60 votes on the House floor, we will be able to get the bill assigned to committee. So I am asking you to please co-sponsor the bill.”
3) Whatever your outcome, yes, no or meeting, please let us know via email to Jamie at charis490@gmail.com If you have a meeting we’ll try to send someone with you if at all possible.
4) REMEMBER YOUR REPRESENTATIVE WORKS FOR YOU! You pay his/her salary with your taxes. Do not be afraid to talk to them or ask for a meeting.
5) Forward this email to everyone you know who may be interested in helping homebirth mothers, babies and midwives. Follow up with your friends. See if they need help contacting their legislator. Also ask if they’ll allow us to add their email to our action alert list. If yes, please send their names, legislator names, and email addresses to Jamie at charis490@gmail.com
6) LAST BUT NOT LEAST – NOTHING SHOWS YOUR LEGISLATOR YOU CARE AS MUCH AS A TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD TO VISIT THEM THERE. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN MAKING A DAY TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD TO VISIT THEIR LEGISLATORS THIS WEEK, PLEASE CONTACT OUR BOARD MEMBER TONEY CROSS. She will be in Springfield this Wednesday and Thursday and can help you navigate when you get there.
Please let Jamie know at the email address above if you intend to go to Springfield this week. She will connect you with Toney’s cell.
7) Finally, please consider donating. If we DO get our bill out of committee this year, we will desperately need our lobbyist. Right now we are working without him in order to continue working off last year’s fees. BUT WE MAY NEED HIM NEXT MONTH. Please donate. Give $5 if that’s all you can do. Please give more if you can. Plan to donate $5 next month and every month thereafter until the Homebirth Safety Act has passed.
Please visit http://illinoismidwifery.org and click on paypal or mail a check made out to CFIM (or Coalition for Illinois Midwifery) to:
CFIM c/o Vicki Johnson
6092 Torchlite Trail
Loves, Park, IL 61111
Or if you are a midwife, doula, massage therapist or other provider, please consider donating a small portion of each client fee. Check out Community Counts – Better Birth Initiative at http://communitycountsbetterbirth.wordpress.com/2010/01/
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO! HOMEBIRTH MOTHERS, BABIES AND MIDWIVES IN ILLINIOS WILL BE SAFER BECAUSE OF YOU .
BEST WISHES,
THE COALITION FOR ILLINOIS MIDWIFERY
HOMEBIRTH SAFETY ACT – HB226
Dear Home Birth and Midwifery Supporters,
It's time. We are pressing the entire House Floor for support. If you've been disappointed that your legislator has not been listed on previous action alerts, NOW is your time. We need a FULL ROLL CALL of the Illinois House of Representatives. We are asking each and every legislator to COSPONSOR HB226, the Homebirth Safety Act.
When you call, you may hear "the bill is dead". NOT TRUE. We’ve learned that no bill is ever truly dead until the general assembly actually adjourns and goes home for the summer. Because of your support and dedication thus far, our bill has life! Your work, targeting specific legislators, has created a "midwife" buzz in Springfield!! Now we need to keep it alive with strong, continuous ACTION.
But, because the “official” deadline for getting bills through committee has passed we have to be absolutely sure we have the votes necessary to pass the bill before putting everyone
(you, ourselves, our chief sponsor) through the process required to get a bill assigned to committee at this point in the session. Basically we have the next three weeks to work it all out.
This will require everyone’s help. We need constituents in each and every legislative district to write their legislator this week asking their legislator to co-sponsor the Homebirth Safety Act, HB226. This means not only must you write a letter but to truly help us get the head count, you must ask everyone you know who might be remotely supportive to write a letter too. We are going to make this as easy as possible by supplying the text of the letter (see below) but we need you to pass it along and follow up with your friends, family and anyone else who believes that women who choose homebirth, should have access to safe, nationally certified providers. Here is the letter:
Dear Representative
I’m writing today to ask you to co-sponsor HB226, the Homebirth Safety Act. Recent developments have given this bill new momentum. State Representative Beth Coulson, a legislator known for her expertise in healthcare issues and a long time opponent of the Homebirth Safety Act, has reviewed the latest changes in the bill - educational requirements added last year by the (now supportive) Illinois Society of Advance Practice Nurses - and has shifted her position. Representative Coulson now supports HB226.
The supporters of this issue are fairly confident that if we are able to count 60 votes on the House floor, we will be able to get the bill assigned to committee. So I am asking you to please co-sponsor the bill.
With the number of homebirths rising nationally (the CDC reports a 5% increase recently) and the number of Illinois counties with licensed providers remaining the same – still only 5 out of 102 counties covered - and with recent news that yet another home birth practice will soon no longer be attending home births, we are creating a recipe for disaster.
Every year in our state homebirth families have their babies without medical assistance, hire midwives from out of state, cross the border to give birth out-of-state, or hire underground midwives in their own communities. Having part of our maternity care system remain underground makes it much less safe and secure. Without regulation there is no assurance that a particular midwife is skilled. There is no smooth mechanism for transport and transfer of care if the woman needs to go to the hospital for a C-section. There is no easy way to get a birth certificate that is filled out properly. And there is no easy way to do the baby's blood test that screens for metabolic or genetically inherited disorders (such as cystic fibrosis). Failing to screen and treat certain disorders early on, can be devastating for baby’s health.
The Homebirth Safety Act, HB226 can remedy these issues in a way that our current system does not. Please support it by adding your name as a cosponsor. I await your reply and can be reached at _________________.
Sincerely….”
1) When sending this letter, you may add more text if you wish but please keep all of the text above if at all possible. Please send your rep a copy of this letter to both their Springfield and local addresses. You can find your rep’s name, address, fax number and sometimes email address by going to www.ilga.gov Click on legislator lookup and use your address to find your state Representative.
2) After sending the letter, please call your legislator’s secretary on Monday or Tuesday March29th or 30th. Say you are following up on your letter and wanted to know whether your rep will co-sponsor the bill or not. If the answer is no, ask if your rep will commit to voting yes for the bill if it makes it to the floor. If still no, ask for an appointment in the local office during the two weeks of legislative spring break, so that you can learn about their concerns and bring someone along who can possibly address their concerns.
If your rep says the bill is dead, politely let him/her know “The supporters of this issue are fairly confident that if we are able to count 60 votes on the House floor, we will be able to get the bill assigned to committee. So I am asking you to please co-sponsor the bill.”
3) Whatever your outcome, yes, no or meeting, please let us know via email to Jamie at charis490@gmail.com If you have a meeting we’ll try to send someone with you if at all possible.
4) REMEMBER YOUR REPRESENTATIVE WORKS FOR YOU! You pay his/her salary with your taxes. Do not be afraid to talk to them or ask for a meeting.
5) Forward this email to everyone you know who may be interested in helping homebirth mothers, babies and midwives. Follow up with your friends. See if they need help contacting their legislator. Also ask if they’ll allow us to add their email to our action alert list. If yes, please send their names, legislator names, and email addresses to Jamie at charis490@gmail.com
6) LAST BUT NOT LEAST – NOTHING SHOWS YOUR LEGISLATOR YOU CARE AS MUCH AS A TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD TO VISIT THEM THERE. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN MAKING A DAY TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD TO VISIT THEIR LEGISLATORS THIS WEEK, PLEASE CONTACT OUR BOARD MEMBER TONEY CROSS. She will be in Springfield this Wednesday and Thursday and can help you navigate when you get there.
Please let Jamie know at the email address above if you intend to go to Springfield this week. She will connect you with Toney’s cell.
7) Finally, please consider donating. If we DO get our bill out of committee this year, we will desperately need our lobbyist. Right now we are working without him in order to continue working off last year’s fees. BUT WE MAY NEED HIM NEXT MONTH. Please donate. Give $5 if that’s all you can do. Please give more if you can. Plan to donate $5 next month and every month thereafter until the Homebirth Safety Act has passed.
Please visit http://illinoismidwifery.org and click on paypal or mail a check made out to CFIM (or Coalition for Illinois Midwifery) to:
CFIM c/o Vicki Johnson
6092 Torchlite Trail
Loves, Park, IL 61111
Or if you are a midwife, doula, massage therapist or other provider, please consider donating a small portion of each client fee. Check out Community Counts – Better Birth Initiative at http://communitycountsbetterbirth.wordpress.com/2010/01/
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO! HOMEBIRTH MOTHERS, BABIES AND MIDWIVES IN ILLINIOS WILL BE SAFER BECAUSE OF YOU .
BEST WISHES,
THE COALITION FOR ILLINOIS MIDWIFERY
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