These organizations provide useful support and reliable information on a variety of pregnancy, childbirth, child, medical, and human-rights topics.
Child Genital Cutting
International Coalition for Genital Integrity An alliance of organizations dedicated to protecting the normal anatomy of males, females and individuals with intersex, and supporters of the Genital Integrity Resolution.
National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC) A 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization committed to securing the birthright of male, female, and intersex children and babies to keep their sex organs intact.
National Organization of Restoring Men (NORM) A non-profit support group for men who have concerns about being circumcised, are considering foreskin restoration, or are in the process of restoring their foreskins. Our aim is to help men regain a sense of self-directedness — physically as well as emotionally.
Jewish Circumcision Resource Center We represent Jews around the world who question circumcision (bris or brit milah).
Attorneys for the Rights of the Child A non-profit organization founded to secure equal protection for, and broaden judicial and public recognition of, children’s legal and human rights to bodily integrity and self-determination.
Hanny Lightfoot-Klein For the past quarter of a century, Lightfoot-Klein has been speaking out against Female Genital Mutilation, violently perpetrated on well over a hundred million women in 28 African and Arab counties.
Childbirth
Maryland Families for Safe Birth, Inc. (MFSB) is a grassroots, consumer-driven, 501 (c) (4) advocacy organization. MFSB’s mission is to ensure the health and wellbeing of Maryland families by expanding access to the evidence-based maternity care provided by Certified Professional Midwives. In order to meet this mission MFSB will introduce legislation to recognize licensure of Certified Professional Midwives and regulate their practice of midwifery. MFSB will monitor and deter legislation that would be detrimental to families and care providers who choose out-of-hospital birth. MFSB will also support organizations who offer, through education and other means, information, support, and advocacy regarding the midwifery model of care.
Birthing The Future The mission of Birthing The Future® is to gather, synthesize, and disseminate the finest world wisdom about birthing and the care of mothers and babies from pre-conception to the first birthday.
Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) A collaborative effort of numerous individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs.
International Alliance of Midwives If you care about natural childbirth and international midwifery, you’ll want to join the International Alliance of Midwives, a web-based organization designed to help birth practitioners everywhere work together to make the world a better place for birth.
Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA). MANA’s goal is to unify and strengthen the profession of midwifery, thereby improving the quality of health care for women, babies, and communities. MANA also welcomes student and midwifery advocate members as another valuable part of the organization.
Cesarean-Sections and Vaginal Birth after Cesarean
International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) ICAN’s mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).
For Children and Families
Alliance for Transforming the Lives of Children Our mission is to champion a culture of compassionate individuals, families, and communities who have fun with, learn from, and responsively and lovingly interact with children. We accomplish this by providing guidance about consciously conceiving, birthing, and nurturing children.
Mothering Magazine Information and practical advice on family life, covering issues from conception through teen years; emphasis on natural health and leading-edge research on controversial issues such as circumcision, vaccination, cesarean, discipline of children.
Platypus Media An independent publisher that creates and distributes fun and educational materials for grown-ups, kids, and professionals. We are committed to developing materials that help parents, and those who work with kids, to recognize and respond to the biological, emotional and intellectual needs of children. If you purchase books at Platypus Media and reference NotJustSkin, you receive a 20% discount and NotJustSkin recieves 20% of your purchase price as a donation.
Safer for Your Baby An informative booklet written by two research psychologist, Lynn Ruggeri, PhD, and Laura Costa, PhD, about protecting children from the effects of harmful chemicals at home and in the environment.
Organizations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Birth Matters Virginia is dedicated to providing evidence – based information on pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Women and families deserve to have safe and satisfying births. If you are looking for information or support, we are here.
The Birth Options Alliance is a community resource for pregnancy and childbirth related information and activism. The Birth Options Alliance is based in Takoma Park, MD.
The Diverse City Fund works to nurture community leaders and grassroots projects which are acting to transform DC into a more just, vibrant place to live. Through our grantmaking, we identify, support, and connect people in communities of color who are engaged in change work. We support the development of community-level social change by funding projects that have less access to traditional funding sources. We are run and staffed by volunteers.
Maryland Families for Safe Birth, Inc. (MFSB) is a grassroots, consumer-driven, 501 (c) (4) advocacy organization. MFSB’s mission is to ensure the health and wellbeing of Maryland families by expanding access to the evidence-based maternity care provided by Certified Professional Midwives. In order to meet this mission MFSB will introduce legislation to recognize licensure of Certified Professional Midwives and regulate their practice of midwifery. MFSB will monitor and deter legislation that would be detrimental to families and care providers who choose out-of-hospital birth. MFSB will also support organizations who offer, through education and other means, information, support, and advocacy regarding the midwifery model of care.
DC BABY is an online resource for pregnant women and the parents of young children in the Washington metro area. Daily posts share information that helps readers make informed decisions, connect with others, and meet the needs of their families.
Down There Health Collective The Down There Health Collective is a group working to better understand our bodies and care for ourselves and each other in a holistic way. Down There strives to create safe, comfortable and supportive environments to learn and share information around health, sexuality and gender.
The International Cesarean Awareness Network – Northern Virginia Chapter
ICAN of Baltimore (no web page currently, ask us for contact information)
Critical Exposure is a nonprofit that teaches youth to use the power of photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change. We empower youth and youth-serving organizations to participate in the democratic process through an approach that combines photography and advocacy to facilitate youth empowerment, public engagement, and real change.
La Leche League of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia La Leche League of Virginia And West Virginia La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
La Leche League of Virginia And West Virginia La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
Takoma Attachment Parenting Encouraging a style of parenting that encourages close bonds between parent and child and providing resources for parents and children.
Childbirth Education
Association of Labor Assistants & Childbirth Educators Referrals to local childbirth educators and labor assistants, training and certification for both.
Addressing Racism
ColorOfChange.org exists to strengthen Black America’s political voice. Our goal is to empower our members – Black Americans and our allies – to make government more responsive to the concerns of Black Americans and to bring about positive political and social change for everyone. Our members are united behind a simple, powerful pledge: we will do all we can to make sure all Americans are represented, served, and protected – regardless of race or class.
World Trust. Through education rooted in love and justice, World Trust is a catalyst for racial equity. World Trust produces programs and seminars based on our films that open minds and hearts. We offer the skills to perceive and challenge the internal and external systemthat reinforces racial oppression.
Intersex
Bodies Like Ours Intersex information and peer support.
Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) ISNA is devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with an anatomy that someone decided is not standard for male or female.
Working Outside the U.S.
Tostan, a US 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based in Senegal, West Africa, has run its Community Empowerment Program in over 2000 communities in 5 countries in Africa since 1991. This 30-month program provides non-formal education in human rights, democracy, health, hygiene, literacy, management skills, and microcredit, with the goal of equipping communities to take charge of their own development. Program results include improved maternal and infant health, increased registration of children at birth, and the abandonment of many harmful traditional practices including Female Genital Cutting and child marriage. Both the WHO and Unicef have identified the program as a “best practice” for community development and ending harmful traditional practices.
Rare Chromosomal Differences
Unique – The Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group. Unique is a source of information and support to families and individuals affected by any rare chromosome variation and to the professionals who work with them. Unique is a UK-based charity but welcomes members worldwide. Membership of Unique is free. Unique also helps member families meet other families with similar chromosomal differences.