AABC Chapters Application Process

AABC Chapters Application Process

The purpose of state chapters is to allow for locally based efforts that support the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) mission, including education, legislation and regulation that is favorable to birth centers and the AABC model. Chapters change the way that members work together within states, between states and between their state and AABC.

As with AABC national, the primary goals of AABC state chapters are to:

Promote regional cooperation, communication and legislative oversight for Birth Centers in each state or region in the United States and to strengthen the organization at the national level. Together, we can further the mission of AABC and promote best practices and procedures, encourage accreditation and help birth centers move forward.

  1. Promote regional cooperation amongst and between birth centers and the national organization
  2. Promote regional communication amongst and between birth centers
  3. Help birth centers with legislative issues and strategies at state and regional levels
  4. Strengthen both the state chapters and the national organization
  5. Promote best practices and procedures within the birth center model
  6. Encourage accreditation of all birth centers
  7. Help birth centers move forward

The steps to becoming a chapter are:

  • Form a committee. Three AABC members are required to form an AABC chapter.
  • Establish your chapter mission, goals and objectives. These should be aligned with AABC.
  • Establish what territory this chapter will cover. For example, does this cover the entire state? Does this cover several states in a geographic region?
  • Submit the Letter of Intent on the AABC website.
  • Download and read the documents to become a chapter on the AABC website.
  • Chapters must be incorporated as a non-profit. Incorporation helps to prevent individual members from becoming personally liable for chapter legal issues and helps to protect the national from liability for chapter acts and omissions. Submit a copy of the approved incorporation paperwork, not a receipt.
  • Chapters must acquire a tax identification number, known as the Employer identification Number. This ensures that each chapter reports their taxes as themselves. Submit the form that shows that this number has been granted, not a receipt.
  • Chapters must hold nonprofit tax exempt status. The chapter can choose to be under the AABC National 501(c)(6) Group Exemption Program or the chapter can obtain this on their own. If a chapter choose to obtain the exemption on its own, it must demonstrate that it has applied for recognition of exempt status with the IRS. The fee to be covered under the AABC National 501(c)(6) Group Exemption Program is $400.
  • Chapters will be required to hold general liability insurance that also includes Directors & Officers coverage, special events coverage and volunteer activity coverage. The chapter can be under the AABC National umbrella policy or purchase it on their own. The fee to be included on the AABC National umbrella policy for insurance is $500.
  • Submit chapter bylaws.Chapters can add other areas as long as those do not conflict with AABC. A Chapter must ensure that its bylaws bewritten in accordance with a chapter’s own state laws.
  • A $100 administrative fee will be added to the chapter application.

Annual Fees (beginning in Year 2)

Administrative Fee (sliding scale)

  • $100 3-10 members
  • $200 11-20 members
  • $350 21+ members

Insurance

  • $500 under AABC’s group policy - does not cover general liability for the chapter (OR
  • Provide verification of coverage

The packet for submission includes:

  1. Letter of Intent – completed online
  2. Chapter petition
  3. Signed chapter agreement
  4. Documents/Articles of incorporation
  5. Tax ID number (AKA Employer Identification Number)
  6. Documentation of tax exempt status
  7. Bylaws – make sure they have been examined in comparison to your state regulations.
  8. Payment for fees if the chapter choose to be included under the AABC National 501(c)(6) Group Exemption Program for tax exempt status and/or AABC national umbrella insurance policy.
  9. Signed copies of chapter policies listed below:
  10. Authorization Spokesperson Policy
  11. Confidentiality Policy
  12. Conflict of Interest Policy
  13. Document Retention Policy
  14. Intellectual Property Policy
  15. Gift Acceptance Policy
  16. Whistleblower Protection Policy
  17. Image Guidelines Policy
  18. Leadership Guidelines of Ethical Conduct
  19. Agreement to Meet Obligations
  20. Policy Acknowledgement Form

Completed packets can be sent to AABC via email to:

Also packets can be mailed to:

American Association of Birth Centers

3123 Gottschall Rd. Perkiomenville, PA 18074

American Association of Birth Centers