Join Lamaze International September 27-29 for the Lamaze 2021 Virtual Advocacy Summit.

Connect with your fellow Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators from around the world to address the most critical and timely policy issues that affect prenatal care and childbirth outcomes.

• U.S. Congressional Hill Day: Join LCCEs from your state and Congressional district to meet virtually with your U.S. Congressional representatives. Read about the 2017 Lamaze Hill Day Experience. Registration has closed to attend the 2021 virtual Hill Day. Please reach out to Molly Giammarco, Senior Manager, Policy & Government Relations, with any questions.
  • Click here to watch a recording of the "Lamaze Virtual Hill Day Preparation Webinar: Reviewing the Legislative Landscape" on-demand. This webinar is mandatory for all virtual Hill Day participants.
• Advocacy and Education Sessions: Earn valuable contact hours (total number to be determined) by attending both live and on-demand Summit sessions.
• Need help convincing your organization on why you should attend the Lamaze 2021 Advocacy Summit? Download our customizable justification letter to make your case on why you should attend.

REGISTER NOW

Registration Pricing

	Early-Bird (Through July 26)	Regular (July 27–September 20)
Members
Education	$150	$200
Education + Hill Day (closed August 23)	$200	$250
Non-Members
Education	$200	$250
Education + Hill Day (closed August 23)	$250	$300
Developing Country Attendee*	$50	$75

Cancellation Policy: We realize that some circumstances may require a registrant to cancel their plans to attend. We are happy to refund registration fees paid, less a 20% administrative processing fee, if the cancellation is provided to us in writing on or before August 16, 2021. All sales are final after August 16, 2021. Thank you for your understanding.

Other Discounts: If you find yourself unable to afford the full price of the Summit, Lamaze may be able to assist. Please send us an email to share how you would benefit from attending this event at a discounted rate.

* View Developing Country Pricing

Schedule-at-a-Glance

Monday, September 27: Opening remarks, CE sessions, virtual happy hour and watch party. 

Tuesday, September 28: CE sessions, networking; and U.S. Congressional Day overview and preparation with Lamaze Government Relations team.

Wednesday, September 29: CE sessions and U.S. Congressional Hill Day virtual meetings.

 

Thank You to Our Sponsor

 

 

Education Session Highlights*

Monday, September 27

• PRE-SUMMIT SESSION: Labor Tools for Birth Professionals | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. ET
  Presented by: Emily Wannenburg, DNDM, CLC, CD(DONA), AFAA, 4TFM
  This presentation will explore three popular labor tools: the birth ball, peanut ball, and the CUB. Attendees will learn how to better understand how to use these labor tools at the inlet, mid-pelvis and outlet to aide in the progression of labor.
• PRE-SUMMIT SESSION: Creating a Curriculum Continuum for Childbirth Education | 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Wendy Trees Shiffer, MS, FACCE, LCCE
  This session will discuss the importance of going beyond objective writing by creating a curriculum continuum for your entire childbirth education program.
• Opening Remarks | 12:30 – 12:45 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Jessica Deeb, MSN, IBCLC, LCCE, Advocacy Summit Planning Committee Chair, Lamaze International Educator Director
• Keynote: Towards a Framework of Birth Justice in Childbirth Education | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Aza Nedhari, LM, CPM, MS, Executive Director of Mamatoto Village
  This keynote address will provide childbirth educators with a historical and contextual framework to understand birth and reproductive justice as a solution and movement towards addressing racial disparities in birth outcomes. Additionally, the session will highlight strategies for examining power and privilege and the role of childbirth educators in the movement for birth justice. Presentation will be followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.
• JustBirth Space: Centering Community Solutions Through Virtual Perinatal Support | 2:15 – 2:45 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Aimée Brill, CD, CPD and Chanel Porchia-Albert, CD, CPD, CLC, CHHC
  JustBirth Space is a virtual perinatal support space that offers free, compassionate and responsive support for pregnant people and parents in New York City and northern New Jersey. Based on the expertise of community-based doula programs and grounded in anti-racist models of care, JustBirth Space puts the principles of birth justice into practice by humanizing virtual care in order to address the systems and structures that lead to racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. JustBirth Space exemplifies how programs can create adaptive community-driven solutions and equitable partnerships to address the heightened needs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic but reflect the longstanding inequities in our maternity care delivery system.
• Networking Time | 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. ET
  Take advantage of this time to reconnect with our community and foster new connections that last well beyond the Advocacy Summit.
• Dance Break! Part 1 of the Dancing For Birth™ Birth Method: Three Moves to Reduce Labor Pain and Make Birth Fun and Effective | 3:30 – 3:40 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Stephanie Larson, Founder of Dancing for Birth 
  Add a new tool to your repertoire for comfort and labor progress. Dancing during labor is evidence-based. Dancing Makes Labor Fun. Get up and join in! Learn the move "Birth Circles."
• It Starts With One: Modeling Inclusivity in Birth Advocacy | 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski, RNC, EdD, LCCE, AASECT, CSE
  Lamaze education must advocate for ALL people. Presented by speakers with nearly 5 decades of advocacy for LGBTQAI individuals, people with different abilities, BIPOC individuals, people dealing with mental health challenges, adolescents as well as sexual health during the childbearing year, this session offer real-world, practical guidance for inclusivity in language, actions and philosophy. Educators have the capacity to evaluate their philosophies and transform their teaching cultures to create safe, welcoming spaces where courageous conversations about pregnancy, birth and postpartum can occur.
• Happy Hour and Networking | 5:15 – 5:30 p.m. ET
  Grab a beverage and connect with your Lamaze colleagues in breakout rooms before the "Freedom for Birth" watch party!
• "Freedom for Birth" Watch Party and Q&A | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Toni Harman
  Join us starting a 5:15 p.m. for a meet-and-greet happy hour to network with your fellow LCCEs before we watch "Freedom for Birth," a powerful film that calls for radical change to the world's maternity systems. Filmmaker and writer Toni Harman will discuss the film and how far advocacy efforts have progressed since the film was released. This discussion will be followed by a moderated Q&A starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Tuesday, September 28

• Networking Time | 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. ET
  Take advantage of this time to reconnect with our community and foster new connections that last well beyond the Advocacy Summit.
• What Language, Please? Navigating Telehealth During COVID-19 at a Community Health Center: Lessons Learned and Implications for the Future | 11:15 – 11:45 a.m. ET
  Presented by: Claire Lama, IBCLC, LCCE
  Squirrel Hill Health Center is an urban federally qualified health care center that cares primarily for refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers. Their women's health team includes integrated care from a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and IBCLC. In this session, attendees will hear the lessons learned from providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggestions for future telehealth care. 
• Making the Case to Weave Environmental Justice Into Maternal Health Advocacy | 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Jill Wodnick, M.A., LCCE, IMH(2)
  In 2018, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called climate change an “urgent threat” to women’s health.  Since then, communities have continued to experience an increase in weather related disasters. As maternal health educators, we have a unique opportunity to center environmental justice as part of advocacy. This workshop will go into depth about one piece of the Momibus proposed legislation” Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act and explore resources from the Center for American Progress to help give advocates tools and recommendations to build on this bill, as well as other federal and state efforts, to mitigate and protect pregnant people and new parents from the worst impacts of a changing climate.
• Lunch Break | 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. ET
• Networking Time | 1:45 – 2:10 p.m. ET
  Take advantage of this time to reconnect with our community and foster new connections that last well beyond the Advocacy Summit.
• Diversifying Doulas Initiative by Patients R Waiting | 2:15 – 2:45 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Wendy Trees Shiffer, MS, FACCE, LCCE; Rae Johnson Bundy, LCCE, CD(DONA); Dr. Sharee Livingston, OBGYN; Pam Lilith Craddock, CNM; and Dr. Cherise Hamblin, OBGYN
  Patients R Waiting's Diversifying Doulas Initiative in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is directly addressing the maternal health disparities that exist for Women of Color by making access to doulas of Color more accessible. See how the tremendous response has driven a community's support.
• Dance Break! Part 2: Intro To the Dancing For Birth™ Birth Method: Three Moves to Reduce Labor Pain and Make Birth Fun and Effective | 3:00 – 3:15 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Stephanie Larson, Founder of Dancing for Birth
  Add a new tool to your repertoire for comfort and labor progress. Dancing during labor is evidence-based. Dancing Decreases Labor Pain. Your body will thank you! Learn the move "Birth Goddess."
• Self-Advocacy Made Simple – Virtually | 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE and Mallory Emerson, LCCE, CD(PALS)
  Families are faced with a multitude of important decisions and choices as they navigate the childbearing year. Your childbirth classes provide a unique opportunity to help families hone and develop self-advocacy skills, recognize evidence based care that aligns with the Six Healthy Birth Practices and be an active participant in shared decision making. These skills are especially important as families are navigating telehealth visits, virtual classes and lack of access to their full support team. Online childbirth education doesn't need to stand in the way of teaching this important topic. Explore a variety of activities designed specifically for the virtual classroom in this live, interactive session. Discover ways that families in your classes can harness their power to advocate for themselves and their babies, and leave with creative ideas for translating them to the in-person classroom.
• U.S. Congressional Hill Day Overview & Prep | 4:45 – 6:15 p.m. ET

Wednesday, September 29

• U.S. Congressional Hill Day Meetings | 9:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET (intermittent)
• Virtual Reality and Childbirth Education | 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. ET
  Presented by: Marjaana Siivola, LCCE, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA), Teacher, MSc(Tech), Lis(Tech)
  Childbirth education quickly adapted to online learning in 2020. Let's take online learning to the next step: virtual reality childbirth education. Virtual reality can improve online learning by offering an immersive experience, improve mental well-being and reduce fear of birth. In this session, Marjaana Siivola presents the first virtual reality childbirth education where the families can immerse themselves into the birthing unit and view an ongoing birth.
• Lamaze Advocacy with the International Childbirth Initiative | 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Michelle Skaer Therrien, MPH, Executive Director of International Childbirth Initiative and Liz DeMaere, BN, RN, LCCE
  Lamaze International is a partner of the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI), which developed the 12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care. These 12 steps closely align with Lamaze's Six Healthy Birth Practices and are being implemented in more than 60 health facilities in 20 countries. The rapidly expanding ICI network provides opportunities for Lamaze education to have a widespread impact and create a new platform to advocate for childbirth education. In this session, you will learn about how ICI has partnered with Lamaze International to work together to advocate for greater access to childbirth education.
• Advocacy through Equitable Access to Evidence-Based Information: A Case Study in the Role of BirthKuwait Influencing Birth Culture in Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council | 12:45 – 1:15 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Zuzana Nadova, RN, RM, LCCE and Fatima Boujarwah, PHD, LCCE
  In this session, you will learn how families have been benefiting from childbirth education classes that first started in Kuwait in 2011 and Lamaze International courses that started in 2014. This session will also explore how BirthKuwait has supported breastfeeding parents through a free WhatsApp support hotline since 2014.
• Networking Time | 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. ET
  Take advantage of this time to reconnect with our community and foster new connections that last well beyond the Advocacy Summit.
• Dance Break! | 2:15 – 2:25 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Stephanie Larson, Founder of Dancing for Birth
• Trauma-Informed Strategies for Supporting Breast/Chestfeeding | 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Selena Shelley, MA, LMHC, CD(DONA), LCCE
  There is so much that goes into having a healthy birth and postpartum experience. Using a trauma-informed lens is a critical component of that, especially when we look at the impact of trauma on attachment and breast/chestfeeding. In this session, you will explore the trauma-informed prenatal, birth and postpartum approaches to ensuring truly successful breast/chestfeeding experiences for parents and babies. 
• Preparing for the Next Generation of Perinatal Professionals Through Service-Learning | 3:45 – 4:00 p.m. ET
  Presented by: Rhonda Lanning, DNP, CNM, IBCLC, LCCE, RN
  This session will describe the impact of an interdisciplinary, service-learning college-level course that prepares future health professionals through childbirth education, breastfeeding education and doula training to serve the community and expand access to doula services at an academic health center. In this session, students describe the transformational impact the course and associated community service had on them as developing health professionals. The expansion of such opportunities to prepare developing health care providers with the critical skills of active listening, providing a supportive presence and meaningful service to the community must be considered as we work to improve maternity care. 
• Closing Remarks | 4:15 – 4:25 p.m. ET
  Join us as we reflect on the highlights of the 2021 Advocacy Summit and look forward to how we can apply what we've learned to our childbirth education practice.

* Schedule and sessions subject to change

Contact Hours

• U.S. Congressional Hill Day: Attendees may earn up to 2.50 Lamaze contact hours for participating in the virtual Hill Day trainings prior to the Congressional meetings on Wednesday, September 29.
• Advocacy Summit Education Sessions: Earn up to 10.00 Lamaze contact hours by attending both live and on-demand Summit sessions. Attend our two pre-Summit sessions and earn up to 1.50 additional Lamaze contact hours.

Advocacy Summit Planning Committee

View committee members.

Questions? Reach out to the Lamaze team at info@lamaze.org.