About the CPM EI

Urban Perinatal Education Center (UPEC) is partnering with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Department of Maternal Child Health to establish a community-based midwifery workforce in RI and improve perinatal outcomes in the State of Rhode Island.

The mission of the Urban Perinatal Education Center is to create a space for perinatal equity through three lenses: culturally congruent care and community, supporting equity in care, and building a workforce for change. Through the Maternal Health Innovation grant UPEC is implementing the Certified Professional Midwifery (CPM) Initiative alongside other maternal health projects with RIDOH. The collaborative development plans to promote a culturally competent midwifery program with a focus on attracting a more diverse student body will serve to provide concordant care to people of reproductive age in Rhode Island, as midwives of color are uniquely positioned to address the economic, political, and social determinants of health that impact people of color.

The RI Certified Professional Midwifery Equity Initiative 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.

Rhode Island Dept of Health licenses three professions of Midwifery. The Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Midwife (CM), and the Certified Professional Midwife/Licensed Midwife (LM). The CNM and CM are trained to work in hospital based setting. The CPM/LM is exclusively trained to work in community/home based setting and birth center settings. This initiative will advance and expand the CPM/LM workforce to address both RIDOH and RI EOHHS priorities. 

UPEC will work collaboratively with Commonsense School of Midwifery (CCSM) to create a RI cohort that will be educated through a hybrid educational model. Through CCSM, the three-year midwifery student completes 832.5 classroom clock hours, 55.5 credits; 135 lab clock hours, 4.5 credits and 1350 externship clock hours, 30 credits during which time the student will complete the observation of 25 clients in the intrapartum period and the managed care of 50 clients in each of the prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods, and 50 newborn exams. After completing CCSM requirements, students will be awarded Certificate of Midwifery. This is an intentional strategic three year investment. 

Understanding Certified Professional Midwifery 

Midwives are health professionals who specialize in childbirth, primary care, gynecology, family planning, preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care. For centuries midwives upheld a wide range of expertise that qualified them as professionals who can provide health services across sectors of women’s health. Most notably midwives have traditionally been key players in childbirth practices for centuries. Certified professional midwives (CPMs) are the focus of the RI CPM EI. CPMs complete either an educational program or apprenticeship specialized in midwifery followed by obtaining a certification by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). Although their focus is non-surgical and less heavily reliant on nursing, CPMs are trained with a wide skill set that uniquely positions them to be able to provide services across the care continuum. An increased workforce for certified professional midwives will help expand birthing options for Rhode Islanders with low-risk births beyond the hospital setting which is currently RI’s only option.

Cohort 2025-2028

Preliminary Inquiry Application opens October 1, 2024

Eligibility: RI CPM EI 

High School Graduate or GED
Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts resident ONLY
Accepted and enrolled as a student into the Commonsense School of Midwifery (prerequisites completed prior)
Commit to in-person weekly class group attendance (Friday *unless placed at clinical residency prior to class start date)
Relocation and selection of CCSM to a high-volume clinical site or birth center or CCSM-approved preceptorship and onboarding

Eligibility does not denote automatic acceptance into the RI CPM EI. 

Equity Assistance Program: RI CPM EI 2028 Cohort
(upon acceptance and enrollment)

The Equity Assistance is TWO-fold

Tuition Financial Assistance (paid directly to CCSM)

Three years of tuition scholarship assistance paid in full directly to CCSM based on completion requirements in the program being met each year. RI residents must be enrolled and accepted students of CCSM by the deadline. 

Travel Assistance (arrangements made through our CPM EI Assistant) 

Up to three years of educational financial assistance support in travel coordination for required clinicals at CCSM for students. These may include days of travel and lodging arrangements. 

Sustainability Equity Assistance 

For eligible students clinical provisions of sustainability may include assistance with clinical travel, books, and childcare. 

Intentional Equity Stipends 

For eligible students to assist in the success of their progression through academics and clinical residency. 

Licensed Graduate Practice Assistance

Assistance upon the completion of State of Rhode Island (Certified Professional Midwifery) Licensure with established practice through technical assistance and support.

Let's Grow RI Midwives.