Virginia Midwifery Campaign Tackles Maternity Deserts
New education efforts target labor access gaps for rural healthcare operators in Southwest Virginia.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has launched an education campaign to promote midwifery services across 16 counties in Southwest Virginia. The initiative, backed by a $1 million federal grant, seeks to address the state's shrinking hospital-based maternity care capacity.
Why it matters
With 85% of rural Virginia counties identified as maternity-care deserts, operators are facing localized crises in access to labor and delivery services. The campaign aims to shift public perception and increase utilization of midwifery as a solution to provider shortages.
Supported by a $1 million federal Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies grant, the campaign addresses a state where only 7 of 28 rural hospitals still provide labor and delivery services. The coverage area spans 16 counties where out-of-hospital birth rates reached 13% in 2023.
The players
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
An advocacy organization operating the education campaign to improve access to maternity services.
Virginia Rural Health Association
A state-level organization that manages federal grant funding to support rural healthcare initiatives.
The details
The campaign utilizes historical narratives and personal testimonials on its website to mitigate misconceptions regarding the affordability and clinical role of midwives. Operators should note that 2023 and 2025 regulatory shifts in Virginia have formally clarified independent practice and practice-agreement requirements for these professionals. By clarifying the scope of midwifery, the initiative intends to provide a viable alternative to the recent closure of hospital-based units like those in Farmville.
Timeline
1889: Orlean Hawks Puckett began providing midwife services in Carroll County.
2023: Virginia lawmakers clarified independent practice rules for midwives.
2025: Centra Health closed labor and delivery services in Farmville.
2025: Virginia updated its practice-agreement requirements for midwives.
October 2026: The Virginia Interfaith Center launched the midwifery education campaign.
Market Landscape
The Virginia campaign follows the national expansion of the federal Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies grant program to stabilize obstetric access. This initiative marks a pivot toward utilizing non-physician providers to fill gaps created by the widespread closure of hospital maternity wards.
Operators in rural Virginia should evaluate how the integration of midwifery services can bridge coverage gaps left by unit closures. Monitoring these practice-agreement regulations is essential for assessing staffing options as rural maternity-care deserts continue to expand.
The takeaway
The growth of midwifery care serves as a key signal for how rural facilities may maintain maternity operations despite declining hospital-based capacity. Facility owners should track state-level practice agreements to determine if integrating mid-level practitioners can help stabilize local service lines.
Further reading
For more on staffing models and scope-of-practice shifts, visit Nursing Jobs.
More information
For resources on midwifery history and local services, visit the Midwifery education campaign website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cardinal News.
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