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Results of the 2019-2020 Midwifery Clinical Education Empowerment Project

In November 2019, ACNM and the Developing Families Center (DFC) introduced the Midwifery Clinical Education Empowerment Project. The vision of this project was to increase the capacity of the District of Columbia to support quality full-scope clinical education experiences for midwifery students representing diverse or historically marginalized populations. DFC experience has previously shown, and the evidence supports that, midwifery-led perinatal care services generate superior health outcomes for women and their families. 

As part of this project, preceptor pairing was supported with intentionally selected students in organizations that received reimbursement to partially offset the institutional cost of accommodating student needs. Preceptors were recognized and received a monetary award to support professional development activities. Later, discussion groups with the same preceptors and students were facilitated to collect qualitative data related to preceptor and student clinical experiences. 

The preceptor focus groups revolved around barriers and facilitators to clinical precepting and dimensions of diversity & cultural competence in clinical precepting.

The student focus groups broadly generated experiences of BIPOC/LGBTQ students about their institution’s and preceptors’ approach on diversity, inclusion and belonging as well as the impact of COVID-19 and political climate on midwifery practice.

Key findings from this project and focus group discussions include:

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