The Birth Matters Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting equitable access to compassionate and evidence-based maternal and reproductive healthcare. Our primary mission is to support the construction, development, and sustainable operation of Costalegre Clínica de Maternidad, a nonprofit maternity clinic serving families in the Costalegre region of Jalisco, Mexico
Through collaboration with professional midwives, healthcare providers, and community partners, the clinic offers high-quality prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum, and primary gynecological care. We are committed to ensuring that every family, regardless of financial means, receives dignified, respectful, and holistic care that empowers individuals and strengthens communities.
Guided by our volunteer board of directors with expertise in midwifery, public health, nonprofit management, and business operations, the Birth Matters Foundation is dedicated to advancing maternal health equity, fostering community well-being, and creating a sustainable model of care that transforms lives.
How to support our work
Donations to our foundation are used exclusively for direct costs of clinical operations of our facility in Mexico. Click on the donate button for some specific examples of our needs at this phase in the project.
Current Boardmembers
Nicole Werner, President
Nicole Werner, PhD, BSM, CPM, is a midwife and maternal health advocate whose career spans decades of expertise in child development, family dynamics, and holistic reproductive care. She earned her PhD in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2000, launching a successful academic career as an Assistant Professor and later tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development at Washington State University, where she worked from 2002 to 2012.
Driven by a passion for improving maternal and child well-being, Nicole transitioned from academia to birth work in 2012. She became a birth doula and childbirth educator, eventually founding the Uma Center, a holistic pregnancy resource center in Moscow, Idaho, where she provided comprehensive support to women and families during the childbearing years.
In 2019, Nicole enrolled in Mercy in Action College of Midwifery, and she earned her Bachelor of Science in Midwifery in 2022. She gained valuable clinical experience working in freestanding birth centers across Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Texas.
In pursuit of her vision for equitable maternity care, Nicole moved to Mexico, where she is fulfilling her dream of creating a nonprofit maternity clinic. As the founder and Director General of Costalegre Clínica de Maternidad in Jalisco, Mexico, she is working to ensure that families in the region receive accessible, evidence-based, and compassionate healthcare, regardless of their financial circumstances.
JoAnne Bessler, Vice President
JoAnne (Joni) Bessler, MBA, serves as Vice President of the Birth Matters Foundation Board of Directors, leveraging over 40 years of global leadership for both established and start-up enterprises in both the Private and Public sectors. Joni currently serves as co-founder and CEO of Full Steam Forward–an after school STEAM enrichment program for young girls from under-resourced communities. She also serves as a consultant to Special Olympics International.
Joni’s career includes 30+ years as a Partner at Booz & co. With Booz, she lived and worked on three continents including 13 years in China. Her consulting work focused on helping organizations achieve sustainable growth, improve operating efficiency, and navigating complex cross industry challenges.
As Vice President of the Birth Matters Foundation, Joni combines her extensive expertise with a passion for social equity and community empowerment. She provides strategic oversight and operational guidance, ensuring the Foundation effectively supports the Costalegre Clínica de Maternidad in delivering accessible, evidence-based health care to families in need. Joni’s ability to drive impactful change and her unwavering commitment to equity make her an invaluable asset to the Foundation's leadership team.
Jessica Bearman, Treasurer
Jessica Bearman, MSOD, brings extensive expertise consulting on nonprofit strategy, organization development, and philanthropic effectiveness to her role as Treasurer of the Birth Matters Foundation board of directors. As the founder and principal of Bearman Consulting, LLC, she has spent decades supporting grantmakers and other mission-driven organizations to align their strategy, culture, and practice.
Jessica’s approach is rooted in her belief in the power of relationships and equity to drive lasting change, values that align closely with the Birth Matters Foundation’s mission to ensure accessible, high-quality maternal healthcare in the Costalegre region of Jalisco, Mexico.
In her role as Treasurer, Jessica leverages her strategic insight to steward the Foundation's resources, ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability as it supports the construction and operation of the Costalegre Clínica de Maternidad. Her dedication to empowering communities and advancing equity makes her an invaluable member of the board.
Christina Clay, Secretary
Christina Clay, MPH, CPM, serves as Secretary of the Birth Matters Foundation board of directors, bringing a unique blend of expertise as both a healthcare program manager and a Certified Professional Midwife. Christina is currently a Program Manager at CareOregon, where she works with healthcare providers and community organizations to implement programs that improve access to equitable and patient-centered care for underserved populations. Christina is also a Certified Professional Midwife. Her dual background in midwifery and healthcare management gives her an invaluable perspective on advancing maternal and reproductive health.
As Secretary of the Foundation, Christina ensures effective governance and smooth board operations while supporting its mission to deliver accessible, high-quality maternity care through the Costalegre Clínica de Maternidad in Jalisco, Mexico. Her dedication to health equity, combined with her clinical and administrative expertise, makes her a vital part of the board’s leadership.