Respectful Maternity Care Program
Respectful care for every patient, every interaction, every time.
The AWHONN Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) Program is designed to help hospitals and birthing centers create and sustain a culture where dignity, equity, empathy, and person-centered care are the standard for every birth. The ultimate goal of the program is RMC Designation, a national recognition awarded to facilities that demonstrate commitment, measurable progress, and improved outcomes in respectful maternity care.
The Journey Toward RMC Designation
AWHONN supports facilities through a structured, evidence-based pathway that moves organizations from early awareness to full integration of respectful care practices and ultimately to national recognition with an RMC designation. This journey is grounded in the RMC Framework and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline and is guided by three integrated components of the RMC Program, the RMC Implementation Toolkit, the RMC Train-the-Trainer program, and RMC Designation.
RMC Framework and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline
The Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) Framework and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline provide an evidence-based foundation for delivering respectful, equitable, and person-centered maternity care across all settings. Grounded in research and clinical best practices, the framework defines the core elements of respectful care and offers practical strategies for implementation at both the individual and organizational levels.
Through this framework, health care teams can:
- Identify the essential components of respectful maternity care
- Increase awareness of the prevalence and impact of mistreatment
- Reflect on opportunities for personal, team, and organizational improvement
- Improve the birth experience for individuals and families
- Implement and sustain respectful
Together, the framework and guideline serve as a roadmap for advancing dignity, autonomy, effective communication, and partnership in care helping organizations move from intention to action in delivering respectful maternity care.
RMC Implementation Toolkit
The foundation of the program is AWHONN’s comprehensive RMC Implementation Toolkit, built around the 10-Step C.A.R.E. P.A.A.T.T.H. and grounded in the Respectful Maternity Care Evidence-Based Guideline and Framework. This structured pathway guides organizations in integrating respectful care through the 10-step C.A.R.E.P.A.A.T.T.H. (see image).
The toolkit provides practical, customizable resources including readiness assessments, progress trackers, sample policies, patient-facing materials, communication tools, staff reflection guides, learning opportunities, and quality-improvement templates to support teams at every step.
Price: Individual Access for the Respectful Maternity Care Framework Evidence-Based Guideline & Toolkit Bundle: Free for members/ $74.95 for nonmembers
RMC Single Facility License for both EBG and Implementation Toolkit for institutional access: $300 per facility*
*For facility wide implementation please contact productsales@awhonn.org.
With the purchase of the RMC Facility License, the resources in the RMC Toolkit and the EBG may be downloaded, saved and printed for clinical use.
The RMC Implementation Toolkit will be updated each June. We encourage you to revisit the toolkit annually to access the latest materials and enhancements. Last updated 12/8/2025.
RMC Train-the-Trainer Program
To support the successful and scalable adoption of respectful maternity care practices, AWHONN offers the RMC Train-the-Trainer (TTT) Program, which equips internal RMC champions to lead education and culture change within their own facilities. Each site is encouraged to select 1–2 participants to attend. Our inaugural cohort will launch in 2026.
Read the press release to explore what’s ahead for the RMC program.
RMC Merchandise
Show your commitment to providing respectful maternity care for every patient, every interaction, every time. Explore our available shirts and merchandise that highlight this important commitment.
Acknowledgements
AWHONN gratefully acknowledges the work of the individuals who have contributed their time and expertise to the development of the Respectful Maternity Care Program.
- Team Lead: Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC
- AWHONN Nurse Leader: Catherine M. Hill, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
- Shawana Burnette, DNP, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, CLNC
- Nastassia K. Davis, DNP, MSN, RN, IBCLC
- Team Lead: Madelyne Z. Greene, PhD, RN
- AWHONN Nurse Leader: Catherine M. Hill, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
- Jennifer E. Wissemann, D.N.P., RNC-LRN, RNC-OB, CNE, C-ONQS, Co-Lead
- Laura Bacon Ruck BSN, RNC-OB
- Lisa Z. Klein, DNP, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB, RNC-LRN
- Marla Nichols, RN, BSN, MSN, CNE, IBCLC
- Madeline Virginia Tiani, RN, MSN
- Caroline Toby, DNP, CNM
- AWHONN Nurse Leader: Sarah Copple, MSN, RNC-MNN
- Shawana Burnette, DNP, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, CLNC
- Nastassia K. Davis, DNP, MSN, RN, IBCLC
- Rose L. Horton, MSM, RN-OB, NEA-BC
- Christine Kidd, MSN, RNC-MNN, FNP-BC
- Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC
Purpose: To advance the implementation of Respectful Maternity Care practices across healthcare settings, ensuring equitable, dignified, and patient-centered care for all birthing individuals and newborns. The multidisciplinary collaborative will work to increase awareness and accessibility, expanding the reach and utilization of recommended processes, policies, and programs that foster respectful maternity care. The RMCC will also help identify and address barriers to successful implementation and strategies to overcome the barriers.
Staff Members:
- Sarah Copple MSN, RNC-MNN, C-ONQS: AWHONN Staff Lead
- Karen Crowley, DNP, APRN-BC, WHNP, ANP, CNE
Members:
| Amy Ushry, MPH, BSN, RN, CCM American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists |
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| April Chavez Maternal Sepsis Survivor, Advocate & Certified Patient Family Partner |
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| Michelle Munroe, DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM, FAAN American College of Nurse-Midwives |
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| Beth Quinn, MSN-RNC, MNN Council for Women and Infant Specialty Hospitals |
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| Charles Johnson Family Advocate, Founder and President of 4Kira4Moms |
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| Heather Nixon, MD Society for Obstetric Anesthesia |
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| Kendra Bailiff, MSN, RNC-MNN Nurse Educator- RMC Train-the-Trainer Pilot Site Coordinator |
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| Sabrina Torres Doula-Patients R Waiting |
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| Sharilyn Kelly, DNP, RN, NE-BC, C-ONQS, RNC-OB Designation Advisory Board Representative/ RMC Study Implementation Site |
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| Shawana Burnette, DNP, RNC-OBNEA-BC, CLNC, FAWHONN RMC Program Expert |
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Staff Members:
- Sarah Copple MSN, RN-MNN, C-ONQS
- Karen Crowley, DNP, APRN-BC, WHNP, ANP, CNE
Members:
| Sharilyn Kelly DNP, RN, NE-BC, C-ONQS, RNC-OB |  |
| Lori Allan RNC-OB |  |
| Elizabeth Polinard Ph.D, RN |  |
| Tina Morris MSN, BSN, RNC-EFM |  |
| Bridget Funk PhD, CNE, C-ONQS, RN |  |
| Krista Jackson CNS, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, C-EFM, REC-C |  |
Sponsorship of this educational resource was provided by Huggies® Healthcare™.
© Copyright 2026 by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. All rights reserved.
