About the Oregon Midwifery Council
Oregon Midwifery Council is a community of midwives, birthing people, and supporters unified around a common passion for the health and well-being of mothers and babies. Since 1978, we have promoted maternal and infant health in Oregon by increasing access to midwifery care, providing public education about birth options, and providing professional education for midwives. We represent all community midwives in Oregon.
OMC is a 501(c)6 non-profit run by a volunteer Advocacy Council composed of five regional representatives and five At-Large officer positions including President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communication Coordinator. We employ an Executive Director who is responsible for general management of the Oregon Midwifery Council and coordination of the political efforts of the advocacy council and membership.
We work in partnership with many national, state, and local organizations to support safe and accessible community midwifery.
OMC’s Mission, Vision and Legislative Bottom Lines
Mission
The Oregon Midwifery Council promotes maternal and infant health in Oregon by increasing access to midwifery care, providing public education about birth options, and providing professional education for the midwifery community.
Vision
- Birthing people in Oregon are full and respected participants in their births.
- All babies are born into gentle hands; received with love and reverence.
- Midwifery is the standard of care for healthy people in the childbearing year.
- Midwives support each other in maintaining and improving the quality of care provided to birthing people and their families.
Legislative Bottom Lines
- Autonomous LDEM Board
- No restriction in scope of practice.
- LDM majority on the Board
- Autonomous practice – no gatekeeping or supervision
- Exemption for traditional midwives
Oregon Midwifery Council Advocacy Council
Executive Director: Emilia Smith emilia@ormidwifery.org
President: Andrea Keating omcvicepresident@ormidwifery.org
Vice President: Roslyn Burmood omcvicepresident@ormidwifery.org
Secretary: Nicole Benotoff omcsecretary@ormidwifery.org
Treasurer: Jen Holland omctreasurer@ormidwifery.org
Communications: Lauren Hake omccommunications@ormidwifery.org
Portland Representative: Heather Sullivan omcrepportland@ormidwifery.org
Mid-Valley Representative: Hannah Payseno omcrepmidvalley@ormidwifery.org
Eugene Representative: Lydia Martinez omcrepeugene@ormidwifery.org
Southern Representative: Micaela Evans omcrepsouthern@ormidwifery.org
Central Representative: Dana Johnson omcrepcentral@ormidwifery.org