Missouri Announces Certified Nurse Midwife Training Partnership to Strengthen Rural Maternal Care Workforce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 13, 2026

CONTACT: Baylee.Watts@dss.mo.gov

Missouri Announces Certified Nurse Midwife Training Partnership to Strengthen Rural Maternal Care Workforce

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), in partnership with the Department of Social Services (DSS) through its Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), is announcing a significant investment in Missouri’s maternal health workforce through a new collaboration with the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing. Many parts of Missouri are considered maternal care deserts, meaning families have little or no access to prenatal or delivery care close to home. Strengthening the maternal health workforce is an essential step toward ensuring parents in these communities receive the care they need for safe and healthy pregnancies and ongoing reproductive care.

Under the contract between DHSS and the University of Missouri, the Sinclair School of Nursing will pursue pre-accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) with the goal of opening its program in the Fall 2029. The program will integrate rural clinical training sites and offer opportunities for graduates who commit to serving in underserved communities—expanding access to skilled maternal care providers in areas with limited prenatal and delivery services.

“Mizzou Nursing is thrilled to be part of this important initiative to improve reproductive and maternal health care access across Missouri. There are currently no certified nurse midwife programs in Missouri; yet research consistently shows that women value the safe, effective, relationship-based care provided by certified nurse midwives. Healthy families are the foundation of healthy communities, and we are excited to be part of this opportunity,” said Lori Popejoy, dean and professor of the Sinclair School of Nursing.

The certified nurse midwife (CNM) program is one component of a broader set of maternal health workforce initiatives funded under RHTP. Missouri is also expanding training for doulas, perinatal home visiting staff and community health workers, along with increasing the availability of maternal behavioral health supports. Together, these initiatives strengthen the continuum of care during pregnancy and postpartum. They also help close critical gaps in rural maternal care deserts where more than half of rural counties lack reliable prenatal and delivery services and obstetrical/gynecological (OB/GYN) shortages remain severe. By developing multiple care pathways and building workforce capacity across roles, RHTP aims to improve access to care, reduce preventable complications and support healthier outcomes for parents and infants statewide.

“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is equipping states with the resources they need to deliver lasting improvements for rural communities," said Alina Czekai, Director of CMS' Office of Rural Health Transformation. "We’re proud to partner with states on practical, community-driven solutions that expand access to care and build stronger, more sustainable rural health systems."

The certified nurse midwife initiative reflects Missouri’s commitment to expanding maternal healthcare access, addressing provider shortages and supporting the long-term stability of rural health systems.

About the MU Sinclair School of Nursing The University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing prepares bachelorette prepared registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, nurse educators, researchers, and healthcare leaders. Through education, research, and practice, Mizzou Nursing is dedicated to improving health outcomes across Missouri and beyond.

To learn more, visit Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program.

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The Rural Health Transformation Program information provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $216,276,817.66, with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.