Philosophy Statement

As an accrediting body for direct-entry midwifery educational programs, the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council plays an essential role in the development and support of the profession by requiring educators to follow a path of continual growth and improvement in the delivery of midwifery education. This is achieved by supporting the development and accountability of high quality educational programs built on evidence-based and current best-practice research. MEAC views accountability as a necessary and positive component of professional midwifery, and we embrace our role as providers in this process.

MEAC sets standards for midwifery education while encouraging heterogeneity in the models used and the individuals served. The tension between upholding objective standards and maintaining a rich variety of options for students is a challenge we gratefully accept.

We uphold the principles of inclusivity, non-discrimination, and diversity in our board composition as well as in our support of varied educational models and broad student and faculty recruitment among our member schools and programs. MEAC values educational programs that train midwives to appropriately and competently serve culturally, socially and economically diverse women and families.

We believe in the Midwives Model of Care, not only as the form of care provided by midwives to their clients but also as the standard for our work. This value leads us to strive toward respectful, fair, individualized, responsive and transparent interactions among those with whom we work.

We aspire to be a source of positive influence in healthcare by collaborating with midwifery and other professional organizations. We believe in the midwifery educator’s ability to affect change in the maternity care system by making the Midwives Model of Care more accessible to all women through the training of skilled midwives and their integration as primary providers in women’s health.

Adopted on October 21, 2009

To learn more about the Midwives Model of Care, follow this link