Application Deadline: MARCH 10, 2025

The AABC Foundation is accepting applications for the Amy Ellen Polk Memorial Scholarship. The annual scholarship provides a tuition grant for a How to Start a Birth Center Workshop offered by the American Association of Birth Centers. If the recipient attends an in-person workshop, an additional $500 is awarded for travel expenses.

The workshop is offered in two formats:
  • Online course that you can complete at your own pace, in your own home
  • Multi-day, in-person workshop. In 2025 the workshop will be offered September 9-11 in Portland, Oregon, immediately preceding the AABC Birth Institute
Who can apply? An eligible candidate must:
  • Be actively working on the development of a freestanding birth center in their community.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
Follow these steps for your best scholarship application.
  1. Download the Amy E Polk Scholarship Application Overview
  2. Review tips for a strong application
  3. Prepare your application answers
  4. Complete and submit the online scholarship application.
Tip: Bookmark this page so you can return to your application.

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* 1. Provide your contact information.

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* 2. How would you take the AABC How to Start a Birth Center Workshop?

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* 3. What is your experience with birth centers? (150 words)

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* 4. Why do you want to open a birth center? (150 words)

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* 5. Provide a timeline of your development process to open a birth center, and describe your progress. What and when was the last action you took in this process? (150 words)

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* 6. What resources have you brought together towards your goal of establishing a birth center? This includes, but is not limited to, staff, funds, equipment, community support, etc. (150 words)

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* 7. How do you plan to serve diverse communities and create equity? (150 words)

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* 8. Why do you need financial assistance to attend the AABC How to Start a Birth Center Workshop? (150 words)

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* 9. Which topic(s) of the AABC How to Start a Birth Center Workshop are you most looking forward to? (150 words)

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