Dear Lamaze Community,

I am thrilled to share with you the impactful work of our Lamaze Advocacy and Collaboration (A+C) Committee. As chairperson, I am proud of the committee’s dedication to advancing safe and evidence-based birth practices. Our mission aligns with Lamaze International’s core values, focusing on promoting access to Lamaze childbirth education and raising awareness at local, national, and international levels.

The A+C Committee consists of passionate volunteer members who play a vital role in our advocacy efforts. They assist with membership messaging, engage with regulatory bodies, foster stakeholder relationships, and organize essential events such as Lamaze advocacy/Hill days and Lamaze roundtable discussions.

Here’s a summary of the A+C Committee work projects for 2023–2024:

• The committee submitted a request for information (RFI) on behalf of Lamaze to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for a Potential Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CHAPS®) Survey on Prenatal and Childbirth Care Experiences in Ambulatory and Inpatient Settings in May 2023.

• In August 2023, A+C Committee provided input for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) notice of request of supplemental evidence and data submission to help inform the agency’s Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) program review on Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children. The feedback and experiences of Lamaze members served as an important perspective for AHRQ’s request for data submission.
• A+C Committee’s volunteer leaders worked with Lamaze’s councils and committees to develop a collaborative planning process called “Lamaze Ahead”, which informs and is designed to shape the future of the organization. Lamaze Ahead’s Strategic Priorities 2023–2024 were approved by the Lamaze Board of Directors.
• In September 2023, the A+C Committee assisted in facilitating Lamaze International’s advocacy roundtable on Demonstrating the Case for Childbirth Education as a Cost-Effective Method for Improving Childbirth Outcomes.
• A+C Committee member Krista Lumpkins was part of the team of volunteers who worked hard and was deeply involved in the planning to bring LamazeLIVE! 2024 to fruition. The virtual event featured both live and on-demand interactive sessions that focused on informing learning opportunities, networking, and advocacy for childbirth educators and community birth professionals.  

The A+C Committee continues its impactful work by working on assigned projects and taking initiatives based on recommendations by the Lamaze leadership. Currently, the committee is reviewing literature and researching published papers to update two issue briefs for submission to the Lamaze Board:

• A Key Strategy to Improve U.S. Maternal & Childbirth Outcomes

• This brief outline essential strategies to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes.
• It emphasizes the critical role of evidence-based childbirth education.

• An Essential Step in Shared Decision-Making for Maternity Care

• Shared decision-making empowers parents during pregnancy and birth.
• Childbirth education is a vital component of informed choices.

Looking ahead, we have important goals and work projects on our radar:

• During committee discussions, members are brainstorming potential solutions to enhance data collection on the positive impact of childbirth education on maternal outcomes. They aim to create questionnaires that Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCEs) can use with their clients.
• The A+C Committee is also interested in the possibility of grant funding in the future to work on projects to review research and data necessary to inform policies and regulations that would help incorporate evidence-based Lamaze childbirth education into a comprehensive and accessible perinatal care model.

Best regards,
Sujata Gami, MSc, LCCE, FACCE
Chairperson Lamaze Advocacy and Collaboration Committee

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