Our Collective Movement
Through Time
The Historic Roots & Impact of
Black Midwifery Collective's Community Movement
TIMELINE
Our Collective Movement
Through Time
The Black Midwifery Collective’s history reflects a powerful, systems-wide movement to transform reproductive health for Black families and the midwives who serve them. Each milestone on this timeline highlights the tangible impact of this work, expanding community-rooted pathways into midwifery, addressing structural barriers, and advancing models of care that replace harm with dignity, safety, and cultural alignment.
Taken together, these moments show how intentional investment in community-led solutions reshapes health systems from the inside out, improving maternal and infant outcomes while strengthening the future of Black midwifery.
- January 22, 2021
HBC Incorporated in Illinois and granted 501(c)3 status
Legislation
- March 16, 2021
HB 3084 Filed
HBC authored and filed HB3084 which initiates a state plan amendment to add licensed Certified Professional Midwives to the Illinois Medicaid program that is eligible for federal-matching dollars.
Midwifery Leadership
- July 27, 2021
ICCPM Presidency
Star August becomes First Black President of Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives
Legislation
- December 14, 2021
HB 3401 Passed
Illinois becomes the 37th State to licensure Certified Professional Midwives during Star August's Presidency of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives. View Bill
CPM Education Program
- April 1, 2022
Proposal to Malcolm X College
HBC proposed CPM education program within the City Colleges of Chicago. Initial discussions commenced with Malcolm X College.
CPM Education Program
- May 27, 2022
Proposal moved to Kennedy King College
HBC introduced to administration at KKC, and initial discussion of CPM program initiated, facilitated by Rep Mary Flowers.
Legislation
- May 27, 2022
House Bill 5012 Passed
HBC authored and filed HB 5012 which Provides that a “licensed certified professional midwife” means a person who has successfully met the requirements in the provisions concerning licensure and has been licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. View Bill.
Legislation
- May 27, 2022
House Bill 5013 Passed
HBC and Black Girls Break Bread authored and filed HB 5013 which requires managed care organizations to pay for prenatal and perinatal healthcare, no matter if it’s from a contracted provider or not. House Billl 5013 adds Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) as Primary providers in freestanding birth centers. View Bill.
Legislation
- June 22, 2022
IL HB4343 Passed
IL HB4343 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly Provides that beginning January 1, 2023, licensed certified professional midwife services shall be covered under the medical assistance program.
CPM Education Program
- July 8, 2022
HBC meets with KKC administration and Mary Flowers
HBC authors booklet "LCPM Midwifery Program" and presents to KKC administrative board.
CPM Education Program
- July 13-18, 2022
KKC President Gregory Thomas fired, sparking community outrage
KKC's president fired 5 days after meeting with HBC, and recommending that the college move forward with program planning. KKC has not had health programs since 2013, and the ICCB Chancellor opposed the plan. Community groups, including Reverend Jesse Jackson, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and Rep Mary Flowers, publicly objected, calling out the CCC system for educational redlining.
Administrative Advocacy
- June - October, 2022
HFS State Amendment Plan
HBC convened the first meeting of the state-wide Illinois Coalition for Equitable Access to Community Midwifery Care to recommend real-world, practical and operational particulars of Medicaid reimbursement for Illinois Midwives i.e. which midwifery services should be covered by Medicaid and how much should be paid for each service.
Legislation
- August 12, 2022
HB5787 Filed
HBC authors and files HB5787, The The Reproductive Liberty and Dignity Act, which requires the DPH to establish reproductive health clinics meeting specified requirements throughout the State.
Provides that a Licensed CPM can provide out-of-hospital care for a childbearing individual who has had a previous cesarean section.
Ensures that a patient has the right for a physician, healthcare provider, health services corporation, or insurance company to administer specified medical tests without disclosing the results of the test to a law enforcement agency or to the Department of Children and Family Services.
View Bill.
Data Activism
- January 1, 2022
Study Approved / Funded by State of Illinois’ Exploring Alternative Healthcare Delivery Models for Birthing Persons Grant
Mixed Methods study to amplify the lived experiences of childbearing people living in the Southeastern quadrant of Cook County
Data Activism
- August 26, 2022
Community Birth Survey Launched
Online survey in Spanish and English for people who have given birth on the South Side of Chicago. To give a more complete understanding of the unmet needs from the perspective of the people directly impacted, to identify opportunities for improvement, to inform the design of a more equitable, effective, and person-centered maternal healthcare system in this region. Partner BA NIA Inc is a pivitol partner in recruiting 454 people to fill the survey.
Data Activism
- August - September, 2022
Focus Groups Held
Focus Groups with Birth Workers and Families on the South Side of Chicago to elicit their lived experience of being a birthing person and working with birthing persons in a maternity health desert. Partners BA NIA Inc and IntuWork Consulting assist with focus groups.
Legislation
- October 1, 2022
Illinois Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act takes effect
The Illinois CPM law becomes effective on this date until January 1, 2027. Learn More.
CPM Education Program
- June-November, 2023
Initial meetings with new KKC administration for program planning
CPM Education Program
- Jan 25, 2024
KKC and BMC discuss details of their partnership.
- March 21, 2024
KKC letter of support for grant funding (Skyline) for LCPM program.
- Dec 2024
Funding secured for curriculum planning team.
- Jan- April 2025
Curriculum planning.
- April 11, 2025
Program presented at Joint College District (JCDC) meeting.
- May 20, 2025
KKC dedicates on-campus space to midwifery classroom and simulation room build-out, and engages architect for design.
- June-Nov 2025
Completion of curriculum planning, including all new course syllabi, topical outlines, SLOs (student learning outcomes) and class matrices.
- Nov 14, 2025
The CCC district approves the LCPM program.
Licensed Midwife Education in Perinatal Desert with highest Illinois MMR
Establishing a new Career Technical Education (CTE) Associate of Applied Science program within the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) system. Established partnership with CCC partner and location for program
Administrative Advocacy
- February - August, 2024
Outreach and advocay with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
BMC works in coalition with IDFPR to lower the proposed cost of annual license fee and make adverse occurence reporting on par with other similar professions .
Administrative Advocacy
- August 2024
BMC Outreach and Education with Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR)
BMC performs outreach with Rep Curtis Tarver to JCAR to educate commiittee about details of CPM rules and regulations.
CPM Licensure
- August 16, 2024
JCAR issues certificate of no objection and CPM rules and regulations become effective.
JCAR isssues a certifcate of no objection for Midwives Practice Act Rules. The rules are filed with Secrearary of State and are adopted (became effective) on August 24, 2024. View Administrative Code.
Data Activism
- January 2024-December 2024
Community Birth Study analysis and write up
Partners Dr. Kiarri Kershaw and Nicollette Moore of Northwestern University and Chanell Haley of Tulane University lead analysis and assist with write up of the report.
CPM Licensure
- January 1, 2025
CPM's apply for licensure for the 1st time in Illinois history
Administrative Advocacy
- March 10, 2025
1st meeting of Inaugural Ilinois Midwifery Board
As layed out in the CPM statue, the Illinois Midwifery Board is established and holds it's first meeting. The Board is charged with providing expert knowledge and advice on disciplinary matters and professional performance and conduct. Learn more.
Midwifery Leadership
- March 10, 2025
Star August named Chairperson of the Inaugural Illinois Midwifery Board
Star August is voted in by committee members as the 1st Chairperson of the Ilinois Midwifery Board and will serve a three year term. Learn more.
Administrative Advocacy
- April - Sept, 2025
IHFS CPM Medicaid Rates negotiations
BMC builds and leads a broad coalition to negotiate codes and rates for CPM Medicaid reimbursemnt with IHFS that include CPM 100% pay parity with OBs and CNMs.
Community Outreach
- September 23, 2025
Conversation with Tatyana Ali
Actress, Advocate and Fouder of Baby Yams cohosts Fireside Chat with BMC Executive Director, Star August
Advocacy
- September 25-26, 2025
1st Illinois Community Based Birth Justice Summit
As part of a larger strategic planning project for community based birth justice in Illinois, BMC and Health and Medicine Policy Research host an historic summit to work on 3-year strategic plan for and by muliplte community based birth justice workforces.
CPM Education Program
- November 14, 2025
KKC midwifery program received JCDC approval for Fall 2026 launch
CPM Education Program
- March 23, 2026
KKC Program received Illinois Community College Board approval
CPM Education Program
- April 7, 2026
KKC Approval from the Higher Learning Commission
How to get Involved
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