Wingwomen Has an Opportunity to Open a Birth Center… in Michigan!

With an opportunity to slow down the deepening maternal healthcare deserts in the United States, Wingwomen is uniquely positioned to expand access to compassionate, community-focused maternity care. We currently have an opportunity to reopen the Farmington Birth Center in Farmington, Michigan. As this initiative aligns with Wingwomen’s dedication to empowering birthing individuals and families. By revitalizing this birth center, Wingwomen aims to provide an additional birthing space for low-risk individuals to deliver their babies.

Addressing maternal healthcare deserts in Farmington and surrounding areas could involve reopening or establishing a birth center, offering an accessible, cost-effective alternative to hospital care for low-risk pregnancies, especially as such centers have proven effective in improving birth outcomes and reducing disparities.

The Vision

In 2024 Wingwomen founder, Adonica Shaw ideated the concept of a “Birth Center System,” which would redesign the birth center model as we know it - from independently owned and operated outpatient centers - into a system, which would reduce the financial burden to owners by redistributing the responsibility, resources, and outcomes amongst a Birth Center System or group of stakeholders. By providing a larger safety net for patients, providers, and owners at risk for closure, Shaw sought to slow down, the deepening of the maternal healthcare desert crisis.

The Farmington Birth Center in the Greater Detroit Michigan Area, would be the first location bought into the system, and the processes, and resources would be duplicated for other centers, as Wingwomen identifies viable locations at-risk for closure to be added to it.

Why Birthing Centers?

Studies have shown that individuals planning births in accredited birth centers have lower rates of medical interventions, such as cesarean deliveries, compared to hospital births. For example, cesarean rates in birth centers are as low as 6%, compared to national hospital rates exceeding 30%. Additionally, neonatal mortality rates for low-risk pregnancies in birth centers are comparable to or better than those in hospital settings, at about 0.23–1.3 per 1,000 births​

36%

The March of Dimes reports that over 36% of U.S. counties are considered maternity care deserts, meaning they have no access to obstetric care providers or facilities. We want to change that.

Project Phases

  • Community Feedback & Coalition Building

    We’re currently in this phase. We. are seeking feedback from local stakeholders and we are building a coalition of support from people and businesses who want to see the center reopen.

  • Planning and Fundraising

    After we’ve secured enough support to move forward, we will have planning meetings and work with grant-makers, investors, and community groups to ensure that there is a enough resources for the center to re-open with long-term success.

  • Implementation and Re Opening

    After the money is secured and leadership is in place we will look to reopen the doors and set appointments on the calendar.

Fast Facts about Farmington, MI

Farmington, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, has a population of over 11,000 residents and offers a diverse cultural environment that includes access to a range of healthcare providers and family support services. The city is part of Oakland County, which has a strong healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals and clinics catering to maternal and family health.

While Farmington itself lacks a dedicated birth center, nearby cities within Oakland County provide access to maternity services, including obstetrics and midwifery care, making it a potential hub for expanding maternal healthcare options.

Demographics By Race

Farmington, Michigan, is a racially diverse city with a population that includes approximately 60% White, 20% Black or African American, 15% Asian, and smaller percentages of Hispanic or Latino and mixed-race individuals. The surrounding areas, such as Farmington Hills, show similar diversity, with a higher representation of Asian communities due to a thriving Indian-American population in particular.

Household Income

The median household income in Farmington, Michigan, is approximately $71,000, indicating a relatively stable economic base for accessing healthcare. In the greater Detroit metropolitan area, household incomes vary widely, with some suburban areas significantly exceeding Farmington’s median, while Detroit's median household income is lower, at approximately $34,000.

Need for Culturally Competent Care

The region’s demographic diversity highlights the importance of culturally competent care, as families speak languages such as Arabic, Russian, and Korean, in addition to English, which underscores the need for inclusive healthcare practices​.

Local Hospitals & Birthing Outcomes

Michigan’s maternal mortality rate is approximately 15 deaths per 100,000 live births. Suburban hospitals near Farmington, such as Beaumont Health and Ascension Providence, are known for high-quality maternity care and modern facilities, often yielding positive birth outcomes. This center would complement local options for labor and delivery for residents.

Likely Patient Population for this Center

A birth center in Farmington, Michigan, would likely benefit low-risk pregnant individuals seeking a more personalized, community-centered alternative to hospital births. The patients likely to benefit include women from Farmington's diverse, middle-income population with access to private insurance or Medicaid, as Michigan has broad coverage for maternal care.

Adjacent Community Data

In Detroit, maternal health outcomes are more mixed due to socioeconomic challenges, disparities in access to care, and higher rates of pre-existing health conditions among patients. This center may provide an additional option for low-risk individuals to receive care.

With your support, we can bring a mixed group of providers to the area; improving birth outcomes, side-by-side.

Research has shown that continuity of care through a team approach, where doctors, midwives, and doulas collaborate throughout the pregnancy and birth, leads to improved maternal and infant health outcomes, such as reduced rates of preterm births and better postpartum mental healthel helps address the diverse needs of expectant mothers, offering comprehensive care that combines medical expertise, emotional support, and holistic approaches to childbirth.

How to Help the Effort

  • Join us in the effort to reopen the birth center in Farmington, Michigan, and help shape a vital resource for our community. As a member of the planning committee, you'll play an integral role in bringing a safe, accessible, and family-centered birth option back to the region. This initiative seeks to provide low-risk mothers with an alternative to hospital births, addressing the growing need for holistic, cost-effective care options in the area. Your expertise and passion for improving maternal health can make a lasting impact, especially as we work to ensure equitable access for all families, including those in Detroit’s underserved communities.

  • We are seeking community feedback to ensure the center meets the needs of families in the area. Whether you’re a soon-to-be parent, healthcare provider, or community member, your insights will help shape a birth center that offers the right care, resources, and support. By gathering input from diverse voices, we can create a space that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and patient-centered care. Join us in this important conversation and help us build a birth center that reflects the needs and values of our community. Your feedback will directly influence the care options available for families in Farmington and the greater Detroit area!

  • Whether you're involved in public health, maternal care, or community advocacy, your support can help us create a birth center that is sustainable, accessible, and effective. By working together with these stakeholders, we can create a collaborative network that strengthens the services available to families in Farmington and the surrounding areas. If you know of individuals or organizations who could contribute to this important cause, please connect with us.

  • As we work to reopen the birth center in Farmington, Michigan, we invite you to support this important initiative through donations or by helping us access funding and grants. Your contributions will play a crucial role in ensuring that the center provides safe, holistic, and accessible care to families in need. With the rising demand for alternative birth options and the growing need for maternal health resources in underserved communities, your support can directly impact the lives of mothers and newborns in the Farmington and greater Detroit area. If you are able to provide funding, or connect us to grant opportunities, your generosity will help make this vision a reality.

Contact us.

Do you have feedback or want to work with us? Fill out the contact form and someone will be in touch in 24-48 hours.