Nationwide — As the United States continues to grapple with the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, a new documentary released by The New Citizens Press Community Action Network (TNCPCAN) is shining a spotlight on a local battleground with national implications: Ingham County, Michigan.
The documentary, titled From Passion to Profession: Episode III – From Passion to Profession: Exploring Birthing Certifications and Beyond, provides a raw look at the systemic inequities in Michigan, where Black mothers and infants face a death rate three times higher than their white counterparts. However, the film moves beyond the tragedy to highlight a burgeoning solution: the professionalization and integration of community doulas and midwives.
The third episode of four documentaries arrives as headlines across the country expose a collapsing maternal care infrastructure. Recently, the nation was shocked by the story of an Indiana mother who was turned away from a hospital only to give birth in a car on the side of a road just eight minutes later. Similarly, in Texas, increasingly restrictive healthcare laws and “maternal deserts” are forcing women into life-threatening situations without adequate support.
These cases have proven that across state lines, the medical system is failing to listen to women, specifically Black women, at their most vulnerable.
“When we hear about a mother giving birth on the side of the road minutes after being discharged, it sends a clear message: the problem is systemic, not personal,” says Rina Risper, Executive Director of TNCPCAN. “If the system is designed to turn its back on you, you need someone in the room whose only job is to turn toward you. That is why the media must highlight doulas and midwives-they are the advocates who ensure every mother, regardless of her zip code, is seen and heard.”
Why This Story Matters Nationally
While the film focuses on Michigan’s 6.1 infant mortality rate, it addresses themes currently under debate in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, including:
• The Power of Midwifery and Doula Support: Why non-medical advocacy is the missing link in reducing preventable deaths and medical bias.
• Medicaid Reimbursement for Doulas: How professional certification is allowing doulas to reach low-income families.
• The Racial Birth Gap: Real-world testimony on how doulas provide the “protective buffer” against the weathering effects of systemic racism.
• Postpartum Survival: Shifting the focus from just “delivery” to the critical “fourth trimester” and home-based support.
The documentary features interviews with health equity advocates, veteran doulas, and families whose lives have been transformed by this “village” approach to care.
“This is a regional story, but the heartbeat is national,” Rina Risper continues. “What we are seeing in Region 7 in Michigan is a blueprint for how community-led advocacy can bridge the gap between traditional medical systems and the families they often fail.
According to the CDC, in 2023, Mississippi recorded an infant mortality rate of approximately 8.9 to 8.94 deaths per 1,000 live births. This rate was the highest in the United States for that year, with 308 infants dying before their first birthday.
From Passion to Profession is currently available for public viewing and is being used as a tool for community action and policy advocacy.
Watch Episode III of the Documentary: https://youtu.be/yc3Ml25J3fl
Episode II – Beyond Birth: Doulas, Breastfeeding, Families, and Community:
https://youtu.be/nAHa5v2Sr8Q
Episode I – Reviving Tradition: The Essential Role of Doulas and Midwives in Childbirth: https://youtu.be/8UppAOZTXt4
About
The New Citizens Press Community Action Network (TNCPCAN) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering underserved communities through information, advocacy, and direct action. Based in Lansing, Ml, the organization focuses on health equity, civic engagement, and social justice.