Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA)

Description

CAPPA is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1998 to offer the highest level of professional membership and training to childbirth educators, lactation educators, labor doulas, antepartum doulas and postpartum doulas.

The organization consists of a leadership board, regional representatives, trainers, mentors, advisors and its membership.

CAPPA is the most comprehensive pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum organization available... caring for women before, during, and after birth through education and support!

CAPPA was formed out of the need to increase professionalism and provide more options to childbirth professionals worldwide. CAPPA strives to serve its members in a timely, friendly and professional manner.

CAPPA supports the WHO-UNICEF baby-friendly initiative and the CIMS mother-friendly initiative

CAPPA is a membership and certification organization for childbirth professionals such as childbirth educators, labor doulas, postpartum doulas, lactation educators and others.

Member benefits

CAPPA maintains a web site listing of all of our CAPPA members who wish to have their contact information made public. This makes it easier for families and caregivers to locate a CAPPA professional.

CAPPA publishes a newsletter for our members (quarterly).

CAPPA is the only organization that trains and certifies childbirth educators, lactation educators, labor doulas and postpartum doulas.

CAPPA offers experienced childbirth educators and labor doulas accelerated certification programs.

CAPPA offers all of its members the education to promote and market their services.

CAPPA offers a conference to all its members, annually.

CAPPA places a strong emphasis on marketing and promotion of services.

CAPPA trainings have a structured curriculum to ensure the highest quality.

CAPPA has mentors available to speak with you directly about any questions or concerns that you may have.

CAPPA verifies all member evaluations for certification to ensure that all of CAPPA certified professionals maintain the highest level of professional behavior.

CAPPA has professional standards. All CAPPA certified professionals must be in good standing with CAPPA and the families the professionals have serviced.

Mission / Aims

CAPPA's mission is to provide the highest level of training and certification to childbirth educators, labor doulas, lactation educators and postpartum doulas and to provide the public access to these professionals. CAPPA will at all times be supportive to our members and make every effort to assure that all CAPPA certified professionals uphold the code of ethics and standards of practice at all times.

Principal activities

CAPPA will strive to:

Increase the number of trained and experienced childbirth educators, labor doulas, lactation educators and postpartum doulas available.

Provide excellent training opportunities for childbirth educators, labor doulas, lactation educators and postpartum doulas.

Offer marketing, promotional information and training to all CAPPA members.

Educate health care providers and third party payers as to the benefits of a labor doula's presence during childbirth and the postpartum doula's benefits during the postpartum period.

Educate the public by utilizing the media, The World Wide Web, and other means of public education.

Support women in their choices for childbirth.

Encourage bonding and establish realistic expectations for parents.

Provide all parents with information about their options during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.

Encourage and support breastfeeding, but also recognize that it is an individual decision.

Training / Licensing / Certification

CAPPA trains and certifies labor doulas, postpartum doulas, antepartum doulas, childbirth educators, and lactation educators. CAPPA also has advanced training in adoption support and teen labor support.