Call for Proposals for 2024 AABC Birth Institute

Deadline for Admin Proposals EXTENDED TO APRIL 20, 2024

The AABC Program Committee is seeking proposals for administrative sessions at the 2024 AABC Birth Institute (November 7-10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota). The theme of the conference is Bridging Gaps, Crafting Journeys - Uniting Birth Centers Nationwide.

The AABC Birth Institute, the annual convention of the American Association of Birth Centers, is the nation's premier conference for birth centers and brings together about 200 birth advocates from across the nation.

At this time the Committee is interested proposals on the following administrative topics: successful non-profit models, effective grant-writing, midwifery fellowship programs, human resources, complimentary services for increasing revenue, and new technologies for improving efficiencies and increasing access.

Download Call for Proposals

General Information

• It is not required to be a member of AABC to submit an abstract.

• AABC is a multi-disciplinary organization with members that include birth centers, alongside midwifery units, administrators, midwives, physicians, nurses, birth assistants, doulas, lactation consultants, consumers, and organizations that support the birth center model of care.

• AABC is an inclusive organization and as such requests that language in presentations refer to midwives and midwifery in recognition of the different types of midwives practicing in birth centers (CMs, CNMs, CPMs, LMs).

• Whenever possible, abstract submissions should include content about racism and health disparities, social determinants of health, and diversity and inclusion.

• The individual submitting the abstract is considered the primary contact. All correspondence about the abstract will be emailed to the submitting presenter. The primary submitting presenter is responsible for communicating any details and updates about the abstract and presentation to the other presenters.

• The AABC Birth Institute is an educational conference. Presentations may not be for direct promotion of a product or service.

• Topics that are of interest to the AABC Birth Institute attendees include:
  • Financial management and sustainability
  • Pay parity for midwives and birth centers
  • Birth center models
    • Reducing maternity care deserts
    • Building relationships with collaborators/specialists beyond birth
    • Providing care in multiple settings
  • Innovative practice models
  • Integration, communication and collaboration
  • Serving diverse communities and racial equity
  • Human resources – staffing and fellowships, contracts, student relationships
  • Branding, marketing and social media
  • Billing and contracting
  • Adding auxiliary services
  • Research
  • Pharmacology
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Clinical drills and skills
  • Complications in the peripartum period
  • Sentinel events
  • VBACs in Birth Center Practice
  • Risk management and CQI
  • Navigating Malpractice Insurance
  • Obtaining hospital privileges
  • Student integration
  • Public health and advocacy

• Types of Presentations

  • Half-Day Workshop (3-4 hours)
  • Education session (60 minutes)
  • Research panel presentation (20 minutes)
  • (NEW) PechaKucha (7 minutes plus discussion) – The PechaKucha 20x20 presentation format is a slide show of 20 images, each auto-advancing after 20 seconds. It’s non-stop and you've got 400 seconds to tell your story, with visuals guiding the way.
  • Poster Presentation
• Instructional Design
  • Be informed by sound learning principles
  • Facilitate knowledge transfer and development of new competencies
  • Stimulate and provoke discussion, audience engagement, and outcome-focused design
  • Use methods that draw out relevant past knowledge and experiences

Presenter Information

• All presenters agree to abide by the AABC Community Agreements.
• Honoraria and Travel/Lodging is provided only to the primary presenter of an education session or workshop.
  • For half-day workshops (3-4 hours), primary presenter is:
    • Responsible for their own travel
    • Eligible for one complimentary room night including tax at the group rate at conference hotel. If the presenter declines this accommodation, hotel expenses are the sole responsibility of the presenter.
    • Eligible for $150 honorarium
  • For education sessions (60 minutes), primary presenter is:
    • Expected to register for at least one day of the conference
    • Responsible for their own travel
    • Eligible for one complimentary room night including tax at the group rate at conference hotel. If the presenter declines this accommodation, hotel expenses are the sole responsibility of the presenter.
  • PechaKucha Presenters and Research Panelists will receive a discount of 10% on their conference registration fee and are expected to register for at least one day of the conference.
  • Poster presenters are expected to register for at least one day of the conference.

Questions?  Please contact Kate Bauer at 215.234.8068 or katebauer@birthcenters.org

How to Submit a Proposal

Use the online submission form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024biproposals to submit your proposal for an admin session by 11:59PM ET on APRIL 20, 2024. 

Only complete abstracts will be considered by the AABC Program Committee.

We recommend preparing your information in advance of submission.  

Application Overview Information

1. Title of Presentation

2. Summary Description (limit 250 words)

3. Type of Presentation (check all that apply)

   • Half-Day Workshop (3-4 hours)
   • Education session (60 minutes)
   • Research panel presentation (20 minutes)
   • PechaKucha presentation (20 minutes)
   • Poster Presentation

4. Primary focus of Presentation

   • Research
   • Clinical
   • Administrative
   • Timely Topic (please specify)

5. Should the conference need to move an online format, is the presentation translatable to an online format?

6. Presenter(s) Information

   • Name and contact Information
   • Bio (150 words); upload CV/Resume

7. Learning Objectives – Provide at least 3 learning objectives for every hour of learning that clearly state what the participant will learn from attending this session, e.g. 60 minute breakout needs 3 objectives, 4 hour workshop needs 12 objectives.

8. Content Outline – Address the topic and all the objectives. Include time that will be allotted for each section.

9. Does the session include pharmacotherapeutics for APRNs? If yes, describe the content and how much of it is related to advanced pharmacotherapeutics.

10. Bibliography – Provide at least 6 evidence-based resources. References should be within the past 5 years unless reference is a classic that is still relevant. At least 4 of the references should be from a peer-reviewed journal. Use APA format; you can use a free APA citation generator, like this.

11. Acknowledgment that you have read the Presenter Information included in this Call for Proposals.

12. Acknowledgment that you have read and agree to the AABC Community Agreements.