Assembly Resolution No. 1338

BY: M. of A. Rules (Zinerman)

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, Black midwives fulfill an essential role and contribute to
improving maternal health outcomes by addressing disparities and
providing culturally congruent care to Black birthing people; and

WHEREAS, The Black Midwives Day campaign was founded in 2023 by The
National Black Midwives Alliance to designate March 14th as a day of
awareness, education, advocacy, and community engagement to uplift the
legacy and ongoing work of Black midwives; and

WHEREAS, Black maternal health in the United States remains in
crisis, with Black birthing people experiencing significantly higher
rates of maternal morbidity and mortality irrespective of income,
education, or socioeconomic status; and

WHEREAS, Many U.S. cities and counties face a high number of
maternity care deserts, where women of childbearing age do not have
access to hospitals or birth centers offering maternity care or
obstetric providers, which leads to higher rates of maternal morbidity
and mortality, as most complications occur in the postpartum period when
birthing people are far away from their providers; and

WHEREAS, Integrating midwives into the maternity care system has
been shown to improve birth outcomes, reduce medical interventions, and
decrease the racial disparities in maternal and infant health; and

WHEREAS, Midwives can assist birthing people and their families with
safe and effective childbirth options, and promulgating midwifery
promotes access to safe and effective antepartum, intrapartum, and
postpartum care; and

WHEREAS, Black midwives have historically provided holistic
community-centered care, yet have been systematically excluded from
health care systems through restrictive policies and regulations; and

WHEREAS, The resurgence of Black midwifery is a testament to
midwives' resilience and their commitment to reclaiming traditional
birthing practices that prioritize respect, autonomy, and positive
health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Black midwives play a pivotal role in reducing maternal and
infant mortality, improving perinatal health, and supporting
breastfeeding by integrating ancestral wisdom with modern evidence-based
practices; and

WHEREAS, It is important to invest in midwifery to expand access to
midwifery education and training and to ensure fair compensation and
support for midwives; and

WHEREAS, To facilitate optimal health care access, midwives should
have no restrictions to practicing midwifery to the full extent and
scope of their training; and

WHEREAS, To promote the restoration of Black midwives to their
communities, all educational and certification pathways should be open,
available, and funded to build the workforce of midwives; and

WHEREAS, Observing Black Midwives Day creates an opportunity to
support and recognize the long-standing and invaluable contributions of
Black midwives to maternal and infant health in The United States; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black
Midwives Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body recognizes the invaluable
contributions of Black midwives in advancing maternal and infant health,
addressing racial disparities in healthcare, and strengthening families
and communities across New York State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.