Welcome! 


We are delighted to bring you this inaugural issue of Labor of Love. We created this newsletter to keep our valued supporters, elected officials, partners, and community leaders informed as we work toward reopening the CHA Birth Center for deliveries in July. Over the next few months we will bring you periodic updates about our reopening progress, share what we are doing in the community, and introduce you to some of our compassionate and committed midwives. We will also provide details about our Open House event once a date has been finalized. We can’t wait for you to see the beautifully renovated facility and meet our team. 

Reopening the Birth Center would not have been possible without a state legislative appropriation championed by Rep. Marjorie Decker and support from the delegation. Thanks to these efforts, CHA received a Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant to support the major facility renovations you will read about below. We are also very grateful to Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) for the grant they awarded us to assist with training, equipment and community outreach. 

We extend our gratitude to all of you for your support of CHA and our shared commitment to advancing maternal health access and equity. Feel free to reach out to either of us with any questions. We hope you enjoy this issue!

Kim Amsley-Camp, DM, CNM, MHA, 
Director, Midwifery & Birth Center

Doug Kress

Chief Community Officer

The Road to Reopening


A great deal of planning, research, time, energy, and resources have come together to make reopening the CHA Birth Center a reality! A major effort nearing completion is a full renovation of the classic Victorian building that houses the Birth Center. When it reopens for deliveries in July it will look refreshed and updated and will be ready to meet the needs of our birthing families. 

Some renovations are structural and hidden behind walls, such as infrastructure reinforcements, upgraded wiring to support modern equipment, and fire safety enhancements. Others are more visible, such as furniture, equipment and esthetics, which we believe will result in a more equitable, safe, and memorable patient experience. Input from our midwives was essential in the design process. Birthing room walls have been painted a soothing bluegreen, contributing to the spa-like environment, and coordinating linens will arrive soon. Gorgeous new tubs have been installed for safer and more comfortable birthing and pain management. The waiting rooms and family spaces have also been updated for a cozy and welcoming feel, and beautiful new artwork is on display throughout the facility creating a warm and calming environment.

We look forward to hosting tours and an open house closer to reopening, when the final touches are in place. We can’t wait to show you this warm, welcoming and beautiful space!

Our doulas look forward to welcoming patients to the CHA Birth Center!

Community Corner


At CHA, our vision is Equity and Excellence for Everyone, Every Time. This means we are deeply committed to advancing maternal health equity, reducing disparities, and improving maternal health outcomes. As part of this commitment, we are making plans to attend and host community events to help get the word out about the importance of prenatal care and the many benefits of choosing a midwifery/birth center model of care. Our focus will be on underserved and vulnerable populations where the need is greatest and mortality rates are highest. 

We are fortunate to have a passionate team of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to assist in these education and outreach efforts. Our CHWs bring diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds to their work, meaning they are highly respected and trusted in their communities. CHW Andrea Ulloa Zelaya will be helping coordinate the outreach, and our midwives and doulas will also attend many of the events in order to engage the attendees and answer questions. Informational materials will be available in multiple languages. If you’d like to suggest an event email Andrea: aulloazelaya@challiance.org.

We look forward to sharing updates about our community events in future issues.

Meet our Midwives


This month we are pleased to introduce you to Kim Amsley-Camp, DM, CNM, MHA, our new director of Midwifery & Birth Center, who has come to CHA after a long career in midwifery. She began her career as a hospital administrator before learning about midwifery from a group of obstetricians who were recruiting midwives. Since then, she was the chief operating officer of a birth center in Virginia, before becoming a registered nurse, a doula, and a certified nurse midwife, receiving her doctorate in Midwifery in 2023.

Kim became a midwife because she believes women and birthing people are important, and valuing their role in health care decisions is paramount in their health and the health of their families. “Treating someone with dignity and respect, meeting them where they are, validates and honors them,” she said. “This validation helps them be a strong advocate for themselves, and for their families, they are empowered to make decisions.”

Midwifery is Kim’s passion. “Midwife means ‘with woman’ – you have an advocate, someone who knows you, cares about you and makes sure your birth is safe and makes sure the person is at the center of all decisions. We are high touch/low tech and our care is based on a trusted relationship between the person and the provider.” 

Kim finds that the best part of being a midwife is watching the birthing person grow over their lifespan. “It is a sacred part of their life’s journey and we are lucky enough to be part of it,” she said. Kim is a homebirth mom who gave birth surrounded by a team of certified nurse midwives, a backup OB/GYN available at the hospital, and her husband, family and closest friends. She loves to cook and cans produce and fruit to make her own preserves and juices to share with friends and family. Kim spends her spare time skiing (downhill and cross country) and mountain biking. You may also see Kim riding her bike around town.

Questions or comments about this newsletter? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at communications@challiance.org.