Sacramento County

Sacramento County invests in education and workforce development through targeted support for future midwives who plan to serve its community. Its Sacramento County Midwifery Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to California residents preparing for midwifery careers and ties that support to a clear local service goal: recipients must plan to serve in Sacramento County. The program is open to high school seniors, high school graduates, and current undergraduate or graduate students, including current nurses and other non-traditional students. The county’s priorities are defined with unusual specificity. Eligible applicants must enroll for the full upcoming academic year in one of a designated group of midwifery licensing programs, including California options such as Cal State Fullerton Nurse Midwifery, Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery, Cerro Coso Community College Midwifery program, and the University of the Pacific Midwifery Program, along with approved programs in Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, Utah, and Florida. The scholarship also centers service to Black, African American, and other identified populations, with the aim of decreasing maternal and infant birth disparities. Program administration includes a structured selection process based on academic performance, leadership and community participation, work experience, career and educational goals, three essay questions, unusual personal or family circumstances, and an online recommendation. Financial data is not collected or considered apart from an essay question. For the current cycle, applications are open until May 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM CT, applicants are notified in late June, and scholarship payments are made in August. Award amounts and the number of awards are determined at recipient selection, and students may reapply once per academic year if they continue to meet eligibility requirements.