UNFORSEEN CRISIS - EMRGENCY UPDATE & NEEDS REQUEST

Imagine sauntering into a building where your senses are overcome by comfortably warm dense air that is unusual in altitude, only to be greeted by an impressive atrium full of vibrant life. Following the signage you turn to open the door which is lightly frosted, however you cannot help but to take notice of the silhouettes behind the glass. Extending your hand to slightly turn the door numb, instantly you are greeted with soft wind chimes and the sounds of soulful R & B music. The interior walls are bold in color, accessorized with images of beautiful myelinated humans nursing their babies. Initially, one might consider this experience serendipitous; however, every detail, every song, every color, was personally selected with immeasurable intention to stand boldly and unapologetically on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. As you finally make your way to the front desk, you experience the sacred serenade of your midwife.

I assure you this is not a fictitious snippet from a novel. This sanctuary is nestled with the majestic backdrop of Pikes Peak in the heart of Colorado Springs. You will not find any perinatal clinic in the state of Colorado that is a reflective rendition of the community that it is dedicated to serve.

A Mother’s Choice Midwifery is owned and operated by Demetra Seriki; however, all her clients refer to her as Mimi or Auntie. Over the last nine years, A Mothers Choice Midwifery has evolved to meet the needs of the community. The clinic is not federally or state funded and operates exclusively from the payments received by clients, community organizations, and owner contributions. This model has allowed A Mothers Choice Midwifery to pass on cost savings to families, ensuring families that are underinsured or uninsured to have a midwife regardless of their ability to pay. Sadly, Colorado does not have the infrastructure or legislation to support insurance compensation for the midwife credential of Certified Professional Midwife, specifically impacting A Mothers Choice Midwifery. This barrier enables Demetra from billing insurance for sufficient sustainability.

On April 25th 2024 Demetra received notification form a long term community supporter, sponsor, and partner they will not be able to support the clinic effective immediately due to unforeseen financial hardships they are also experiencing. While this came as a shock, the timing of this immediate transition has a HUGE financial impact.

The immediate need is to pay out of pocket expenses for vandalism to our external HVAC system and secure it. In the last nine months vandals have stripped the copper from our unit resulting in costly repairs. This has occurred twice. Although insurance is covering a significant portion, A Mother’s Choice is responsible for paying $4000 which is due on May 5th. Demetra self-financed the first out-of-pocket expense that incurred. To add insult to injury, this support also means A Mother’s Choice Midwifery will not be able to pay for our Liability Insurance necessary to provide clinical mental health services and basic office visits! That bill is just under $5000 which is now past due. Lastly, A Mother’s Choice is in need of an additional $7000 for operation expenses for the remainder of the year. These expenses include, utilities, phone, internet, HOA fees, insurances, and electronic medical management system fee’s. It should also be noted, the Midwives and part-time support staff are not being compensated. Sadly, we are all doing side hustles as a way of economic support to A Mothers Choice. This in itself is a disparaging fact considering we specialize in low risk prenatal, birth, and postpartum care.

Stability for the future has been an investment for the last four years as Demetra (the midwife) made the decision to transition from her very limited scope of practice to expanding her scope through furthering her education. She is now in the process of completing her last two years of school and upon completion, she will be an Advanced Practicing Registered Nurse, which will in fact, allow her to bill insurance, expanded healthcare services, and ensure A Mothers Choice Midwifery remains a grassroot lead healthcare clinic free from the rhetoric of integrated healthcare and 100% self-sufficient. Providing necessary accessible, culturally congruent, wrap-around service so desperately needed in the community.

The crux of the matter is this, A Mothers Choice Midwifery is in desperate need of financial support from now until December 31, 2024. Without support, the clinic will sit vacant, continue to accumulate bills and for full transparency, placing the facility at risk of closure as Demetra cannot practice fulltime to sustain the practice and complete the necessary higher education to end this disparity, her education is the means to an end.

Please support A Mothers Choice Midwifery NOW, feel free to contact Demetra directly with any questions at [phone redacted] or [email redacted].

Visit our website: www.amcmbirth.com

A Mothers

Choice Midwifery