time work within the larger healthcare community. To this end MANA launched the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). NARM became a separately incorporated entity in 1992 and since has developed a competency-based certification process. Out of the formal support network generated by MANA, the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) was established in 1991. In conjunction with NARM, it accredits a wide variety of direct-entry midwifery educational programs, including apprenticeships, thus formally validating and preserving ancient as well as modern routes to practice. Goals According to the MANA website, the organization's goals are: To engage midwives in dialog and to encourage solidarity across North America. To recognize the diversity among midwives and to foster inclusive community building. To build an identity as a cohesive organization representing the profession as well as the tradition of midwifery at regional, national and international levels. To position midwives as acknowledged authorities, working to improve perinatal health in collaboration with other professionals. To collect and disseminate high quality research about midwifery care. To promote excellence in midwifery practice. To sponsor continuing education opportunities for midwives. To increase access to midwives in all settings. To endorse the Midwives Model of Care as the gold standard for childbirth. To affirm the rights of pregnant women to give birth where and with whom they choose. Membership MANA membership includes midwives and student midwives, other healthcare providers, and families. Over one-third of MANA's member midwives are certified professional midwives (CPMs), the remainder are certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, state-licensed midwives, traditional midwives, and student/apprentice midwives. Research MANA's Division of Research maintains a registry of midwife-assisted births in the US and Canada, that can be made available for use in research upon request. Published research has provided descriptive evidence on practice and safety of recorded home births, but contribution to the data set is voluntary and direct comparisons to hospital births remain difficult. See also Childbirth Doula Midwife References External links Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) Midwives' Alliance of North America records at the Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College Special Collections Midwifery organizations Organizations established in 1982 1982 establishments in the United States