Meet the Team
Tiffany Van Maren CPM, LDM, LM
I grew up in Chicago, IL and graduated from Illinois State University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. I loved my time teaching in the classroom and have used that education and experience to tutor, teach classes for the local homeschool group, and homeschool my own children. After the birth of my first child in 2001, I found myself drawn to learning about childbirth and supporting friends and family in the hospital as they gave birth to their children. Around 2010 I began assisting a wonderful local traditional homebirth midwife who had cared for me when I had my twins in 2006. This relationship grew into an apprenticeship over time, and what she has taught me will always be a huge part of my midwife heart.
Once I realized that midwifery was my long-term path, I decided to pursue formal education and licensure. After attending Mercy in Action College of Midwifery, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery in May 2024. I am certified as a Certified Profession Midwife (CPM) and am licensed in Oregon and California, allowing me to provide care to families in Curry and Del Norte Counties.
I have been married for 26 years, and we have 5 children, most of whom are quickly becoming adults. We have lived in the area for almost 2 decades. In my free time, I like to garden, walk with friends and family, play games with my family, and direct shows for our local community theater. I also love to travel to see my family and, very occasionally, to some place tropical!
In truth though, learning new midwifery skills and providing those skills to families is my favorite thing to do. I am passionate about educating and empowering women to allow them to make informed decisions about their care. I feel that providing complete information and autonomy over choices is vital to a safe and empowering birthing experience.
Dawn Norman, Birth Assistant
My family and I have lived in Brookings for 22 years. It has been a wonderful community to raise our three kids, now grown and out of the house. I started working at our local Humane Society thrift store about four years ago, after doing in-home childcare for 12 years. My husband, Kevin, and I, when not working, enjoy daily walks with our dogs, going to the beach, and participating in trivia night at the local brewery. I also love spending time with my amazing friends.
I have been interested in pregnancy and birth for a long time. I had midwives with all of my pregnancies and births. I read everything I could about birth during my pregnancies and continued to do so even after I was done having babies. My first glimpse at home birth began by attending some of my friend’s home births, as a companion for their older children. What an incredible experience! When my friend, Tiffany, asked me if I wanted to be her birth assistant, I just knew this was something I wanted to do. It has been awesome to see Tiffany’s dream of being a midwife become reality. She’s an inspiration, and her passion for birth work is contagious. Several years ago, I started training regularly with her, and attending home births with her and a local traditional midwife, Victoria. I am truly honored to be witness to the beauty and strength of women, and the miracle of birth, each and every time. I love this community, and am so glad the women here will have another option for safe, compassionate care. I look forward to many years of working with, and learning from Tiffany, at Healing Tides Midwifery.