06/13/2026
As Bay Area Birth Center enters a new chapter, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself.
My name is Talena Jones, and today I had the
privilege of becoming the owner of Bay Area Birth Center. Given the recent changes within our community, I recognize there has been uncertainty, concern, and many questions. Rather than allow assumptions to fill those spaces, I would like to share who I am, why I am here, and the vision I have for the future.
Allow me to introduce myself.
For more than 25 years, I have worked within the healthcare industry, building a career focused on improving access to care and navigating complex healthcare systems. During my corporate career, I served in leadership roles within a Fortune 25 healthcare organization, including as a Director of Strategic Initiatives. In that capacity, I led large-scale healthcare projects and worked directly with state agencies and healthcare organizations to implement managed care programs, including the onboarding of North Carolina Medicaid, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma Medicaid during critical transitions in those states.
While those experiences taught me how to build sustainable organizations, manage complex operations, and lead through change, my passion has always been centered on serving women and families.
For more than eight years, I have been part of the birth community. As a student midwife, I have attended over 200 births under the supervision and mentorship of Licensed Midwives, including Kitty Lakey at Illuminated Midwifery, Heather Wilkerson at The Rainbow Midwife, Kim Veda at Sweet Child O' Mine, and Triana Boggs at Motherland Birthing & Wellness. These experiences have provided invaluable clinical exposure while reinforcing the importance of collaboration, humility, and lifelong learning.
I am currently completing my education through the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery (FSTM) and am scheduled to graduate in August 2026, after which I intend to sit for the NARM examination and continue pursuing licensure. My academic performance has reflected the same level of commitment and discipline that I have demonstrated throughout my professional career. I remain committed to learning from those who have gone before me and currently attend births only under the supervision of Licensed Midwives.
I also want to address the recent closure of Labor of Love.
First I would like to acknowledge and thank the midwives, nurses, birth assistants, staff members, and support teams who poured their hearts into serving families through Labor of Love over the years. Their dedication helped create a space where many families welcomed their babies into the world with dignity, support, and compassionate care. The impact of their work extends far beyond the walls of a building and will continue to be reflected in the lives of the families they served.
The loss of any birth center is significant. Labor of Love served families in our community, and its closure leaves a gap that affects clients, providers, and access to out-of-hospital birth options throughout the Tampa Bay area. This is not something I celebrate; it is something I recognize as a loss for our community.
When presented with the opportunity to step in, I did so because I had both the resources and the vision to preserve a birth center within our community. Bay Area Birth Center is not a continuation of Labor of Love. It is a separate and independent entity with its own leadership, vision, and operational structure. However, I firmly believe that maintaining a licensed birth center in our community is better than allowing another birth center to disappear entirely.
My goal is not to replace what was lost.
My goal is to help ensure that families continue to have access to safe, community-based birth options and that displaced clients have continuity of care during a challenging transition.
To the Licensed Midwives currently serving our community, I ask for your partnership, your guidance, and your grace. We share a common purpose: serving women and families well. If there are clients who have been displaced by these recent events, I welcome collaboration and open communication to ensure they receive the care and support they deserve.
The future of community birth is bigger than any one provider, practice, or personality. It requires all of us working together to preserve access, uphold standards, support one another, and advocate for the families who trust us with their care.
My vision for Bay Area Birth Center is rooted in clinical excellence, operational sustainability, accessibility, and compassionate care. I am particularly passionate about improving outcomes for underserved families and addressing the disparities that continue to contribute to the Black Maternal Health Crisis. I believe every family deserves respectful, individualized care regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or insurance coverage.
I enter this role with humility, determination, and a profound respect for the work that has come before me. I do not claim to have all the answers, but I do bring decades of healthcare leadership experience, years of dedication to birth work, a commitment to excellence, and a sincere desire to serve this community well.
I look forward to building relationships, learning from those around me, and working together to strengthen birth options for families throughout Tampa Bay.
With respect and gratitude,
Talena L. Jones
Owner, Bay Area Birth Center
Student Midwife, Future LM, CPM Candidate
