Our beloved Andaluz midwives are reeling from the unexpected and unceremonious, abrupt closing of the birth center.
On Monday, 06/08, after 27 years of serving families in our community, Andaluz Waterbirth Center was forced to close its doors. This unexpected closure has left the dedicated team of midwives and support staff in a sudden financial crisis.
Andaluz employees were surprised when their paychecks did not appear on Friday (06/05) as expected. By late Monday (06/08), without pay or communication about what to expect, they had to make the hard decision to close their doors and transfer the majority of their clients elsewhere.
Many of you know that in 2021, Andaluz was purchased by a parent company, BPI (Birth Partners Inc.). While the care has remained the same, with the midwives and support staff continuing to provide compassionate, professional, individualized care, the finances have apparently been falling apart behind the scenes. Without any warning or blueprint on how to manage the clinical and interpersonal repercussions, things came to a halting stop last week.
The midwives are choosing to stay on-call and provide care for their June clients, knowing they most likely will not be compensated for this care. No one from BPI has offered any support, guidance, apology, or accountability for the unacceptable position these care providers have been put in.
These women are facing weeks without income as they wait for unemployment benefits and seek new employment opportunities. This fundraiser is intended to provide immediate financial support for the approximately 12 employees whose livelihoods were disrupted overnight.
If an Andaluz midwife or staff member has touched your life, supported your family, welcomed your baby, or made you feel seen and cared for during a vulnerable time, please consider making a contribution. Every donation, no matter the size, is a tangible way to show gratitude for the extraordinary care they have provided to our community for nearly three decades.
Thank you for helping us support the people who have spent so many years supporting others.