Goals

Professional & Personal

Shelly's Professional Midwifery Goals

  • Complete Midwifery Apprenticeship [2022]

  • Establish Local Birth Collective [2022 - in progress]

  • Obtain the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) Credential [2023]

  • Complete requirements for the CPM Bridge Certificate [2023]

  • Apply for Michigan Midwife License [2023]

  • Start a Non-Profit [2023-2024]

  • Finish MCU Bachelor’s Degree Program [2024]

    • A midwife of technical expertise

      • The undergraduate program aims to prepare students to practice at the full scope of the Certified Professional Midwife credential through the demonstration of broad, integrative, and specialized knowledge.

    • A midwife of professional excellence

      • The undergraduate program aims to prepare students to practice within their own communities and synthesize applied and collaborative learning. Students will engage in the maternity care system professionally and ethically at all times.

    • A midwife of personal greatness

      • The undergraduate program aims to prepare students for reflective practice and a perpetual commitment to contribute to the professionalization of direct-entry midwifery. The undergraduate program aims to prepare graduates to educate others in their profession and in their communities.

Midwives College of Utah. (2012). Midwives College of Utah Institution GoalsRetrieved from: https://www.midwifery.edu/mcu-vision-and-objectives/

  • Establish Wellness Center/Birth Center [2025]


Daily Personal Goals

  1. Be an ally, mentor, advocate, supporter, leader for birth work in my community.

    • I will work with local programs and leaders to create or improve existing programs.

      • Summer of 2019

        • Completed a service learning project with the Toledo-Lucas County Healthy Start "Getting to 1" coalition program.

        • This project information that was submitted to the county health department and they used it to re-apply for and secure additional Medicaid funds for birth support services to minority and low-income families.

          • I also created a presentation of this for SOSC 2020 (viewable here)

    • Start teaching childbirth education classes

      • Dec. 2019, develop my own course.

        • Plan to collaborate with another midwife student, develop a curriculum that we co-teach, and begin offering it to the community in early 2020.

      • Summer/Fall 2020

        • COVID19 really kicked the plans to offer CBE classes into high gear. I began offering online classes via Zoom, sponsored by the Ann Arbor Doulas in April 2020.

        • I have now had several successful online classes.

        • Next goal is to make downloadable content, so I can still educate when I am a busy midwife helping people birth babies. Passive income!

      • Fall 2020

        • I have learning and sharing about programs and birth services in my area that are available to minorities, and looking for ways to ensure they are equally accessible for all.

        • Starting an online virtual birth circle with December 2020 launch

        • I am now successfully teaching online childbirth education classes, and am forming several more.

        • Next goal is to make downloadable content so I can still educate others when I am a busy midwife helping people birth babies!

      • Fall 2021

        • Actively teaching five week series focusing on comprehensive and inclusive childbirth education.

        • Have expanded original classes and created several more to include: normal newborn care, lactation, infant feeding, and postpartum care.

        • Enrollment for classes is supported by the Ann Arbor Doula Agency; with invitation to all agency doulas to attend classes for free and learn the content, enhancing the client experience.

      • Fall 2022

        • No longer teaching, but preparing to sell the courses I have created and revised over the past three years. Content aimed at other birth educators, all content is completely customizable.

          • 10 courses sold to local birth professionals, and a few in other states across the US.

            • Revisit the expansion of this project in 2023

  2. Simplify stress triggers to increase overall well-being, daily goals.

    • I will put away the folded laundry once a week.

    • Do Yoga three times a week (even if only for 15 minutes/day).

    • Use my planner to map out daily and weekly goals.

    • Work in becoming more clear in communicating my expectations of others, and clarifying my boundaries.

  3. Financial Planning: Start saving money for self-employment taxes and future vacation

    • Put aside $10 week from massage therapy income =$520/year

    • Put aside $20 from each birth client (estimate 3/month) =$720 /year

      • That totals $1240/yr. I should reach a nice $3000.00 goal in 2.5 years!!!

Shelly's Progress at The Midwives College of Utah

  1. September, 2018: Accepted into the Bachelor's program with anticipated program completion date of 2023.

      • completed all Phase One studies and Observational clinical experiences (see Course descriptions for objectives and examples of work within all classes taken)

  2. December, 2019: Phase One Assessment completed

    • Worked diligently over the past year to complete Phase One of my midwifery studies. Maintained straight A's, completed all classes on time, attend clinic, and attend births as a non-traditional student.

    • Quit my full-time job as a cardiac sonographer in September 2019. Will meet with my advisor, with plan to take on more classes and adjust expected program completion date.

    • Traveling ALONE to Utah for our first skills assessment was a 'huge' challenge for me. I decided to rent a car and drive around to meet as many others students as I could while there. I look forward to making more connections at my the next assessment currently mapped out for August 2021.

  3. January 2020: Phase two goals include: Complete the required on-site hours for each clinical placement, keep full-time student status, take an active role speaking as a midwife during discussions, and continue to improve in my assessment skills. Demonstrate practical skill and competencies acting as primary midwife under supervision for an 'entry level midwife'.

        • January 2020: Major map revision completed, increase credit hours (average 8-11 credits per quarter) with a new course completion date of December 2022.

    • Update: Summer 2020

      • I have become much more proficient at performing all exams independently, with some guidance when needed. All classes completed, got my first B grade in a class and was congratulated, "Progress not Perfection".

    • Update Fall 2020

      • I had my first independent catch! Feeling confident with completing the newborn exam and am now teaching it to the other students.

      • Working on shifting into the primary midwife role at prenatals, births, and postpartum appointments.

    • Update Spring 2021: A natural movement towards stepping into the primary role under supervision is occurring with ease. Core competencies are gaining momentum towards being competent in all areas you would expect from an 'entry-level midwife'.

        • Phase three assessment scheduled for August 2021: Delayed due to set back in coursework, completed all clinical requirements to move into phase three.

        • Update September 2021: Experienced several issues within the didactic portion of the program that do not align with advancement to phase three. After much contemplation and external guidance, the decision was made to withdraw from MCU and pursue completion of training through The NARM Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP), while implementing. apprenticeships with several area midwives.

  4. Phase three goals include: Demonstrate practical skills and competencies with confidence while acting as a primary midwife, beyond expectations for an entry-level midwife.

        • Update Winter 2022: Completed all competency, assessments, and skills requirements for NARM review of certified professional midwife credential (CPM).

        • Need to submit all paperwork and secure date to sit for the National CPM exam.

  5. My intention for the next 5-10 years is to establish a holistic birth & wellness center (with a shared call model for all midwives).

    • I plan to continually connect with others in my community who have similar mindsets and create a collaborative business model, ensurign the sustanability of a long-term career as a professional commnuty mindwife.

    • Update: January 2019

      • I established the BirthProfessionals of NWO group/facebook page with the intention to create a network of support, foster professional alliances, and build community for birth workers serving our area.

      • Will facilitate quarterly meetings to grow connections and collaborate with other birth workers in my community.

    • Update: Winter 2020, I established the "Conscious Collaborators of NWO" local business networking group

      • Will facilitate monthly meetings to grow connections and collaborate with other businesses.

    • Update: Winter 2021

      • Intentional collaborations with like-minded individuals and midwives to move towards establishing a birth and wellness center.

      • January 2021 launched on online "Birth Circle" community for pregnant people and parents in NWO and SEM.

      • Shifting all business promotions and services to shift the public view of my services, with intention of moving into a midwifery practice immediately upon certification and licensure.

    • Update Winter 2022

      • Created the Toledo Birth Collective (TBC) helps families to thrive by offering a comprehensive collection of pre-conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting services provided by established, local, independent providers offering a range of inclusive support.

    • 2023 - Complete the CPM exam and re-enroll at MCU under the professional midwife track. Complete courses outlined in Major Map to equal a total of 121.5 academic/clinical trimester credits.

    • 2024 - Finish Bachelors Degree