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Association Strengthening

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Strengthen Associations to develop robust internal structures, organizational effectiveness, anti-oppressive frameworks, and financial capacity to lead RMNCH/SRHR programming and advocate for the profession.

The NACM & CAM long-standing partnership serves as the foundation of our Association Strengthening approach. It has become central to all our Global programming, and we are now using our experiences, learnings, and evidence to develop an association strengthening framework for member associations in Canada.

In April 2021, CAM created a new staff position to support this pillar of work. The Coordinator, Association Strengthening works closely with CAM member associations and national midwifery networks to identify needs and develop, implement, and evaluate capacity building plans and activities that will result in stronger internal structures, organizational effectiveness, and increased financial capacity of associations and midwifery networks in Canada.

Associations will be considered expert stakeholders in sexual reproductive health and rights and their input will be sought after by policy and decision makers.

Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems Research (MITACS)

The first phase of this research (MITACS 1.0) completed in 2020 demonstrated that investing in midwifery associations can improve gender equity and overall access to sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.

In 2021, CAM partnered again with McMaster University and researchers Dr. Kirsty Bourret and Dr. Cristina Mattison for a second phase of midwifery association strengthening research (MITACS 2.0). This research aims to explore the appropriateness and responsiveness of the original framework in multiple country contexts including Somalia/Somaliland and Haiti and Canada.

Three (3) case studies were selected for study: the Association of Midwives of Newfoundland & Labrador, the Midwives Association of Alberta, and the Association of Nova Scotia Midwives.

In parallel, a national midwifery association capacity building survey was designed using the Mattison C, Bourret K, Hebert E, et al. 2021 capacity building checklist. A total of 12 midwifery associations participated. Survey findings will be used for monitoring and evaluation of CAM’s national Association Strengthening work and to inform a national framework for CAM’s national association strengthening work.

Associations will become more relevant and credible to their members.

Development of a national framework to address quality assurance and lack of access to emergency skills instructor certification.

In collaboration with the National Emergency Skills Committee, CAM completed the first phase of work on the conceptualization of a national framework to address quality assurance and lack of access to emergency skills certification for instructors faced by provincial and territorial midwifery associations with limited capacity.

CAM also began a consultation process with stakeholders and plans to roll-out a Learning Management System which will enable midwifery associations to better manage emergency skills programming for their members and instructor certification.

Strong reciprocal and bilateral partnerships will be established.

In the last few years, two new national midwifery networks have emerged:

  • The Canadian Caucus for Queer and Trans Midwives (QTM) meets virtually throughout the year and once a year in person at the CAM conference. To find out more or to become a Caucus member, contact: inclusivemidwifery@gmail.com
  • The Racialized Midwives, Students and Allied workers Council (RMC) was formed after a meeting of racialized midwives and students at the 2019 CAM Annual Conference in Halifax. The Council recently hired a consultant to develop a governance structure and Terms of Reference (TOR) for the RMC. To find out more or to become a Council member, contact: feben.aseffa@aom.on.ca; or to become a member, contact: Annie Hibbert : ahibbert@canadianmidwives.org

 In addition to NACM’s participation on the CAM Board of Directors, NACM and CAM meet bilaterally twice a year to discuss ongoing operational, program or governance issues, federal advocacy work, opportunities for partnership, and joint activities.

CAM will implement an anti-oppression approach to its partnerships and work.

 New adopted policies include:

  • Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policy
  • Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse policy (updated)
  • Anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy (updated)