FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING: WHAT MATERNITY CARE PROFESSIONALS NEED TO KNOW

A Webinar for Maternity Care and Mental Health Professionals

Amidst the refugee current crisis, more pregnant women from parts of the world where FGM/C is practiced are coming to America. Therefore, it is important for U.S. maternity and mental health providers to understand culturally appropriate ways to provide care to these pregnant women who were circumcised as girls.

We will also hear from a Nigerian woman who was cut as a child and is also a nurse and midwife. She will share her personal reflections as a patient receiving maternity and gynecological care, and as a nurse and midwife caring for women who have undergone FGM/C.

ABOUT THIS WEBINAR

Intended Audience:

• Registered Nurses and LVNs working with pregnant women
• Doulas
• Health Educators working with pregnant women
• Childbirth Educators
• Certified Nurse-Midwives
• Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)
• Licensed Midwives (LMs)
• Midwifery Students
• Nursing Students
• Medical Students
• OB/GYN and Family Practice Physicians or Residents
• Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT)
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
• Clinical Psychologists
• Perinatal Psychologists
• Students of women's studies
• Public Health Students
• MPH
• CHES

CEUs

We have applied for 3 CEUs for maternity care and mental health professionals. More details will be available in January 2022.

Goals:

• Educate birthing professionals about the practices of FGM/C and its implications for childbearing people

• Clarify misconceptions about the practice of FGM/C in the United States, its legal consequences, and its prevalence in impacted communities.

• Promote an evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach for birthing professionals to create a safe space for disclosure, service provision, and referrals.

LEARNER OBJECTIVES

a) Recognize how FGM/C is situated in the US’ broader maternal health disparities discourse

b) Describe FGM/C’s scope, historical and cultural context

c) Identify key drivers of FGM/C policy, advocacy and care in the US

Part 2. Content (45 min)

a) List the three most common types of FGM/C and their associated health complications

b) Be familiar with defibulation-related decision-making

c) Cite at least one evidence-based resource for care of FGM/C-affected clients

Part 3. Care (60 min includes role plays)

a) Describe when and how to discuss FGM/C with communities

b) Demonstrate trauma-informed approach to working with families affected by FGM/C

c) Be aware of US laws related to FGM/C and how they can be communicated to clients

d) Be familiar with referral options for birth professionals and affected families and communities

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Nicole Warren, PhD, MPH, RN, CNM

Ms. Warren is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and a Certified Nurse Midwife with more than 20 years 21 years of combined research, clinical practice and fieldwork experience in women’s reproductive health in both low and high-income settings. Dr. Warren’s focus is on reducing barriers to quality reproductive health services, particularly for women affected by female genital cutting (FGC). Her focus on Respectful Maternity Care and eliminating mistreatment of childbearing women has been incorporated into two of the first FGC training curricula in the US. She has presented more than 45 educational sessions to increase capacity of nursing, midwifery, medical and social service providers to provide culturally and clinically competent care to women with FGC. Dr. Warren has collaborated with the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health on this topic and led the revision of the position statement on FGC for The American College of Nurse Midwives.

ABOUT THE HOST ORGANIZATIONS

The Nile Sisters Development Initiative (NSDI) mission is to educate, support, and offer training to refugee and immigrant women and their families to help them overcome barriers to social and economic self-reliance.

As a community-based organization, NSDI provides programs and services for low-income communities of color, including refugees, immigrants, and other underserved populations in Southern California. Programs fall into three categories: Emergency Relief, Family Education & Advocacy, and Vocational Training.

Our Women’s HEALTH program offers supportive services for individuals and families impacted by Female Genital Cutting (FGC). Services include group and individual counseling, advocacy and accompaniment for survivors, information and resources, and comprehensive referrals for employment, housing, and culturally sensitive reproductive health programs. Language assistance available.

Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance (HMHBA) s a community-based, non-governmental organization located in Los Angeles, California, USA. We are 501 (c) (3) non-profit public charity 509 (a) (2), our IRS name is Wholistic Midwifery School of Southern California, founded in 1993.

We are diverse, multidisciplinary perinatal and mental health professionals united in a common vision to promote maternal/parental and infant health, improve maternity care quality and access, reduce perinatal health disparities and achieve social justice in maternal and infant health. Our training programs and projects are evidence-based, trauma-informed, and celebrate diversity and promote social justice.

Our organization has been a training leader of the mental health and social service workforce of Los Angeles servicing mothers, infants and children since 2010.

HMHBA is focused on improving birth outcomes for all women and birthing persons, with a special emphasis in communities of color who disproportionately experience poor birth outcomes (such as high rates of cesarean section, maternal mortality, prematurity, and infant mortality) due to structural racism and provider implicit biases.

In addition, we have been a leader in the movement for Birth Equity in Los Angeles County since 2010, convening several conferences and events in collaboration with leading birthing justice advocates and organizations through our Birthing Justice Forum and MCH Advocate Awards Ceremony.

Our Community-Based Doula Program, established in 2010, was one of the first of it’s kind to provide Doula training to BIPOC persons to provide perinatal support for low-income, minority families who experience a disproportionate level of poor birth outcomes.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation must be made in writing by deadline (30 days prior to start of course). Tuition will be reimbursed less $50.00 administrative fee if notification received by this date. After this date, there will be no refunds. However in extenuating circumstances such as documented illness or emergency, the tuition is fully transferable to another person or training (this course or another topic); credit is good for the amount of training. If course registering into is higher price, the additional balance will be required. If it is a lesser price, there will not be any refund of balance. Credit will be honored for one year from the training. If not used by that time, the credit will expire.

Special Cancellation Policy for Doulas and Midwives:

If you are “on call” and have a birth during the training, please notify instructor as soon as possible that you will not be attending. The full tuition will be transferred to another person, or different training (this course or another topic) to be used within one year of the training date. If the course you are registering into is higher price, the additional balance will be required. If it is a lesser price, there will not be any refund of balance.

Meet the Instructor

Nicole Warren, PhD, MPH, RN, CNM