Charis Around the World

Childbirth Paths International
by Amy Elliott, CD, CCE, MA
Executive Director for Childbirth PATHS International

Dear Charis Family,

Thank you for joining us on this journey toward establishing a non-profit to better facilitate the overseas work connected to Charis! Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. has officially been registered with the state of Florida now, and we should be able to complete registration with the IRS by the end of the month. In order to prepare for some of the documentation of the purpose and plans of the organization, I had to do some extensive writing on the vision for the organization. I would like you to read through this draft and please pray for 2-3 important points that connect with your heart. It is just some thoughts I wrote kind of like a blog entry…..just part of the process of jotting down the burning vision in my heart. Please pray for the pathways God has ALREADY prepared and is preparing for us to take, and for women around the world to take, in order to improve the problems so many are facing on a day to day basis.

The vision of Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. is the best possible birth experience for every woman on the planet.

Mission: Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. nurtures communities to eliminate the impacts of poverty on childbearing women.

The mission of CPI allows for many different types of programs in various contexts around the world, which appeal to a broad network of potential participants, ultimately for the benefit of childbearing women and their families.

Who does CPI seek to serve?

1. Above all Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. seeks to serve childbearing women and children in vulnerable and economically unstable environments/developing countries.

2. Programming will be designed to also benefit other women who provide health and social services within the context.

3. Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. will also serve whole communities, interacting with them and facilitating participatory, problem solving approaches to overcome the obstacles to holistic health for each woman and each family.

4. The organization, finally, will also partner with and facilitate already skilled local and expatriate health providers to accomplish their various visions toward the common goal of eliminating the impacts of poverty upon childbearing women.

How will we accomplish our mission?

First of all, a vision of the best possible birth experience for every woman on the planet entails access to holistic care for every woman. This is care that addresses physical, emotional, social, spiritual and economic needs. Those who provide services to women may need training in a holistic approach, and communities may wish to understand and build the capacity to view women in a holistic manner, empowering them to develop in each area of life listed above. If all women have access to holistic care and development, their personal wellbeing and social capital will improve, bringing positive change to their families and communities—even as community networks are established to also bring positive change to each woman. As the services available to women, and their participation in community development increase, the possibility for economic participation will be realized and their childbearing years will no longer be fraught with trauma, isolation, discrimination, disease, harmful birth practices, debilitating injury, grief, poverty and mortality. Birth is a holistic event. Birth should be approached with a holistic vision to impact the long-term quality of life for mothers and their children.

If Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. had all the resources imaginable and accomplished every goal envisioned at this time, the ultimate result would be women all over the world who have unhindered access to holistic care and support throughout each childbearing cycle in her life (that means, attention and support to her physical, psychological, social, economic and spiritual well-being). Each woman would be provided with individualized, accurate education, counseling and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support from as many skilled caregivers as she needs and desires. She would encounter technological and invasive interventions in childbirth only when absolutely necessary, and with the ongoing support she has established around her. She would have health care which is able to identify and refer her to any required attention beyond a basic level of care (for pregnancy and birth complications, for social services, etc…) “The application of this kind of woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section!” (All of which can be life-changing and life-threatening for women in the developing world.)

In addition to a safe, comfortable, gentle birth experience for each mother and child, they would also have adequate education, sustainable livelihoods and inclusion in the affairs of their families and communities. The communities where they live would be increasingly healthy and supportive. The children of these communities would grow up with a new respect for and belief in women as positive contributors to a healthy society.

Childbirth PATHS International, Inc., plans to accomplish these goals through

Best         Practice

                Advocacy

                Training and Mentorship

                Holistic Health

and

                Sustainable Community Development

Within the first few years, CPI is likely to focus, first of all, on collaboration and assessment of the global need for this kind of programming, and the organization will initiate a global network amongst organizations seeking similar goals.

Secondly, the organization will develop Global Impact Points. These are regions of the world where representatives of the CPI vision and standards of practice live and want to implement projects in line with CPI vision. Each program facilitated and monitored by CPI will be context specific and may vary in outcomes and activities, while still achieving the ultimate overall goals of CPI. At the present time, the organization is currently working with six locations globally, which will be six different programs will be developed (maybe more if the GIP has the capacity to run more projects). One GIP might start a kitchen gardening initiative for childbearing women, and seek to educate them during pregnancy and accompany them as assistants to their births. Another GIP project, in another region, might entail research within refugee camps as to the antenatal and postpartum needs women are experiencing there. That project may end with publication of the data, or launch a new project to help refugee communities meet the needs of these women. In a third region of the world, a GIP project might look like an advocacy campaign facilitated by CPI wherein men and government officials become more aware of evidence based practice for childbearing women and the policy changes that need to be made in order to ensure best possible care is offered to all women equally. The possibilities are endless and will really depend on the CPI representatives who live in the Global Impact Points.

CPI will also work to develop a set of core competencies for childbirth professionals who are NOT doctors or nurses. Training and mentoring will be provided to increase the population of labor assistants, community health workers, childcare workers, and counselors within each context. CPI is committed to bridging the gap in education for childbearing women and lay level “helpers” and medical practitioners.

Within each context, CPI will also incorporate development initiatives into program planning. In some cases, that may be participatory learning modules within community groups. In other areas, it might mean helping a woman start a small business venture. The goal in these activities is for childbearing women to have increased community support in their choices regarding sexual and reproductive health (including childbirth and child care), as well as opportunities to generate income and increase their own knowledge base, social capital, security and sense of well-being.


Dreaming….

Ten years from now, CPI will have nurtured positive development and empowerment for childbearing women and their communities located in some of the most vulnerable populations on earth, including among refugees. The organization is committed to research, documentation and sharing best practice for facilitating the best, holistic birth outcomes for women. The organization will train and establish well trained health care workers who are committed to staying within these vulnerable communities, and will initiate robust and beneficial projects connecting communities on the ground to long-term advisors who will serve them through holistic care and support.

Childbearing women of the world deserve the option of increased well-being, increased comfort, consideration for individual needs and economic and social support through these years of their lives. Our organization will assist these women and their communities to find the PATHS that are right for them, so that they may achieve this goal.