Lamaze International

TO ADVANCE SAFE AND HEALTHY PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND EARLY PARENTING THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

CERTIFICATION, ACCREDITATION, AND EDUCATION COUNCILS - THE LAMAZE CERTIFICATION COUNCIL SERVES AS THE STANDARD-SETTING AND POLICY-MAKING BODY FOR THE COUNCIL'S CERTIFICATION. EACH YEAR TWO CERTIFICATION EXAMS ARE DEVELOPED AND ADMINISTERED. A LAMAZE CERTIFIED CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR ("LCCE") MUST RECERTIFY EVERY THREE YEARS BY EITHER DEMONSTRATING THEY HAVE ACQUIRED 25 CONTACT HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION OR HAVE RETAKEN AND PASSED THE LAMAZE CERTIFICATION EXAM. THE COUNCIL SETS STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND POLICY FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF LAMAZE CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHICH PREPARE CANDIDATES FOR LAMAZE CERTIFICATION AND GRANTS FORMAL APPROVAL TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING ACCREDITATION FOR OFFERING LAMAZE CONTACT HOURS FOR AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. THE COUNCIL MAINTAINS A HIGH STANDARD FOR ITS CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OFFERINGS USING A CLEARLY DEFINED PROCESS FOR ASSESSING NEED, PLANNING, DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING, AND EVALUATING LAMAZE CONTINUING EDUCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND ETHICS, AND MAINTAINS THE ORGANIZATION'S STATUS AS AN ACCREDITED PROVIDER OF CONTINUING NURSING EDUCATION THROUGH THE AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER ("ANCC") AND CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING ("CABRN").THE LAMAZE EDUCATION COUNCIL ENSURES THAT ALL CHILDBEARING WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO LAMAZE EDUCATION THROUGH DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING, AND EVALUATING, HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCED-BASED TRAINING FOR CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS, HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCED-BASED CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, AND HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED CONSUMER EDUCATION. THE COUNCIL'S PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR TRAINING AND RESOURCES, CONTINUING EDUCATION, PARENT EDUCATION AND INCLUDE AN LCCE MEMBER-AT-LARGE WHICH REPRESENTS THE NEEDS OF NEW COUNCIL EDUCATORS RELATED TO TRAINING, RESOURCES AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO HELP ASSURE THAT COUNCIL EDUCATION OFFERINGS ARE RELEVANT TO CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS AND RESPONSIVE TO PARENTS' NEEDS, AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF INTERESTED PROFESSIONALS.

ANNUAL MEETING - EACH YEAR THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS AN ANNUAL MEETING FOR LAMAZE MEMBERS AND OTHER MATERNITY CARE PROFESSIONALS TO GATHER FOR A ROBUST PROGRAM WITH AN ADVOCACY OR EDUCATIONAL FOCUS. THE MEETING INCLUDES EXHIBITS OF INTEREST TO ATTENDEES AND A SOCIAL PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE NETWORKING. DURING 2023, THE ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD VIRTUALLY.

COMMUNICATIONS - THE ORGANIZATION HAS A ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM WHICH TARGETS BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL AND PARENT/CONSUMER AUDIENCES THE ORGANIZATION SERVES. PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDE: THE JOURNAL OF PERINATAL EDUCATION, A QUARTERLY, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION; INSIDE LAMAZE, A MEMBER NEWSLETTER; AND CONNECTING THE DOTS, A RESEARCH BLOG ABOUT PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND BEYOND. COMMUNICATIONS FOR PARENTS/CONSUMERS INCLUDE GIVING BIRTH WITH CONFIDENCE, A BLOG WITH EVIDENCED-BASED ARTICLES AND TIPS RELATED TO PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND PARENTING, YOUR PREGNANCY WEEK BY WEEK, A 40-WEEK EMAIL SERIES WITH EVIDENCE-BASED INFORMATION FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY AND A SAFE CHILDBIRTH. LAMAZE HAS A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE (WWW.LAMAZE.ORG) TARGETED TO PARENTS, CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS AND BIRTH PROFESSIONALS, AND DOCTORS AND MIDWIVES, AS WELL AS A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM.

COMMITTEES - CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMITTEE (CEC): UNDER THE LAMAZE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THE CEC REVIEWS EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS TO DETERMINE RELEVANCY TO LAMAZE STAKEHOLDERS.FINANCE COMMITTEE: THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGARDING THE ANNUAL BUDGET, SELECTION OF THE FINANCIAL AUDIT FIRM AND INVESTMENT MANAGER, FINANCIAL POLICIES AND TRANSFERS.SEARCH COMMITTEE: THE SEARCH COMMITTEE ACTIVELY SEEKS OUT LEADERSHIP CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, REVIEWS THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDS CANDIDATES FOR THE ELECTION SLATE OR APPOINTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAMAZE INTERNATIONAL BYLAWS AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION: ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION HAVE LONG BEEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR LAMAZE INTERNATIONAL. THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO FOCUS ON ADVOCATING FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY BIRTH PRACTICES THROUGH ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION FOR ALL EXPECTING PARENTS ON LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS.INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE: THIS COMMITTEE/COUNCIL EXISTS TO REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF LAMAZE'S INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND MAKES VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ORGANIZATION'S RESOURCES AND STRATEGIC THINKING BY SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND CURRENT LCCES, DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES FOR THE TRANSLATION OF LAMAZE MATERIALS, AND STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH CONTINUUM BY PROMOTING CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES.