Certified Professional Midwifery Equity Initiative


Community Perinatal Care. 

The RI Certified Professional Midwifery (CPM) Equity Initiative (EI) addresses the disparaging data on Black and BIPOC maternal health birth outcomes in the state of Rhode Island. The efforts of the Urban Perinatal Education Center are intentionally centered in equity promotion for health care and in support of the implementation of a culturally concordant and congruent CPM workforce.

This program (or equity initiative) is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the State Maternal Health Innovation grant awarded to the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Urban Perinatal Education Center.

Aligned Priorities

The Rhode Island Department of Health Maternal Child Health has defined priorities for health equity within the perinatal continuum.  Our CPM EI is addressing one of each domain and priority of the following: 

Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum: Priority 1: Improve prenatal health by reducing perinatal health disparities

Strategy 1: Address perinatal health disparities within prenatal health programs 

                                                         Priority 2: Reduce maternal morbidity and mortality

Perinatal Infant Health Priority 3: Strengthen caregiver’s behavioral health and relationship with child

 Strategy 3c: Support efforts to expand breastfeeding services and supports 

Cross Cutting/Community Health Priority 7: Adopt social determinants of health in MCH planning and practice to improve health equity 

Strategy 7d: Amplify family voices and input Strategy 7e: Ensure health equity programming among Maternal Child Health programs 


The Rhode Island Department Executive Office of Health and Human Services has defined priorities for health equity  in their Healthcare Workforce Transformation Strategy.  Our CPM EI is addressing one of each domain and priority of the following: 

Priority 1: Build Healthcare Career Pathways

Strategy 1: Address Provider Shortages
Strategy 2: Increase Diversity and Cultural Competence

Priority 2: Expand Home and Community Based Care 

Strategy 1: Expand Community Based Health Professional Education
Strategy 2: Prepare Healthcare Support Occupations for New and Emerging Roles

Priority 3: Teach Core Concepts of Health Systems and Practice Transformation 

Strategy 1: Prepare Current and Future Health Professionals to Practice Integrated, Team Based Care




Collaboration and Partnership

Our Current Trend and Disparaging Data

Integrity and Equity. Workforce Development, Training, and Solutions 

If you need to reach us for more information: info@urbanperinatal.org Subject: CPM EI RI or you can call us at 401-229-9225