Shafia Monroe, IPM, CDT, MPH
Shafia Monroe Consulting
Shafia Monroe is a veteran midwife, a doula trainer, a cultural competency trainer, a motivational speaker, and a writer.
She holds an Independent Primary Midwife Certification, a BA in sociology, and a Master of Public Health.
Shafia began her midwifery education in the mid 70’s. And she is profiled in “Granny Midwives and Black Woman Authors" and “Wings of Gauze, Women of Color and the Experience of Health and Illness, “ for her ground-breaking work in bringing homebirth services to her hometown to reduce infant mortality. In 2016 Madame Noir noted her “Queen Mother of a Midwifery Movement,” for establishing the non-profit Boston Traditional Childbearing Group (TCBG) in 1978 to train Black women as midwives.
Shafia founded the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) in 1990, in response to the shortage of midwives and doulas of color and to diversify the professions. Through ICTC she advocated for the legislative concept OR HB3311 to investigate the use of doulas to improve birth outcomes, and later help pass Medicaid reimbursement for doulas.
In 2013, she created Shafia Monroe Consulting/Birthing CHANGE to help health care providers and doulas, achieve cultural competency, increase clients, and improve perinatal outcomes. She is president of SMC Full Circle Doula Birth Companion Training, the first minority woman owned company in Oregon.
Shafia is a member of the Oregon Health Authority-Office of Equity and Inclusion: Cultural Competency Continuing Education Advisory Committee, National Alliance of Black Midwives, Oregon Islamic Chaplain Organization, Oregon Doula Association, Home Birth Summit Planning Committee, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Black Mothers ACTT for Safe Care Initiative.
Shafia’s work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors; including the Dr. Hildrus A. Poindexter Lifetime Achievement Award, the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA )Lifetime Achievement Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award for Human Rights in Childbirth, the Lifetime Achievement Service Award for Community Health, and the 2019 Women of Excellence Health & Wellness Award; and she featured in “Women Making History in Portland,” Mural.
Shafia is a wife, a mother of seven, and a nana. She mentors hundreds of women to follow their passion in health care. In her spare time, Shafia enjoys cooking for family and friends, gardening, writing, swimming, and horseback riding.
