The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS, a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA

Holistic Midwifery School of Southern California

I think this school has morphed into The Wholistic Birth Resource Center of Southern California
 

Please e-mail Cordelia Hanna at shehina@earthlink.net for more information.

The Midwifery Licensing Act SB-350, was made law in 1993, enabling California's senior Direct-Entry midwives to go through the licensure process. In Southern California, approximately six of the regions' most experienced midwives have completed the California state midwifery licensing exam. Meanwhile, a half a dozen more Southland midwives are preparing to sit the Licensing Examination.

The senior Direct-Entry Midwives in our region have 1000s of birth's experience over twenty years time, and have trained many midwives during their careers. Now that a legal alternative to nursing school as a prerequisite for midwifery training is available, there is increased interest in the direct-entry route of entry into the profession. Direct-Entry Midwives have long upheld the tradition of apprenticeship in the development of aspiring midwives. However, it may take several years of experience and study before an aspiring midwife is accepted as an apprentice. A practicing midwife may only take one or two apprentices into her practice during each training period. Furthermore, the midwife may take three years or more to fully train each student. The time has come for a structured, professional training program in Southern California designed to meet the needs of the growing numbers of eager midwifery students. The Holistic Midwifery School of Southern California is an answer to this urgent need. This school will be an opportunity for students to prepare themselves academically, clinically and spiritually for apprenticeship. Drawing upon the expertise of regions experienced practitioners, under the direction of Shelly Girard, a California Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife with 24 years experience and Certified Massage Therapist, The Holistic Midwifery School of Southern California will help students meet the core academic requirements outlined in SB- 350, and fulfill prerequisites for sitting the California state midwifery licensing exam. Furthermore, student midwives will become familiar with other healing modalities --such as massage, acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy, hypnotherapy and yoga--which may complement their midwifery practices.

The Holistic Midwifery School of Southern California will make the midwifery option available to more women. We invite you to join us in this endeavor.