Our Purpose
The National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) is a diverse and inclusive 501c6 nonprofit membership organization that serves as a “big tent” for those who share its mission, vision, and values and who seek to learn about, promote, and provide educational and professional support for its members.
More specifically, NEDA’s purpose is to:
- inspire, inform, and assist aspiring and active end-of-life doulas, doula trainers, and others by developing and implementing programming, informational resources, networking opportunities, and other materials that raise awareness and build skills necessary to be of service to others, including but not limited to:
- our website
- newsletters and other correspondence
- directories
- social media
- experiences and events (webinars, regional and topical groups, conferences, etc.)
- promotional tools such as presentations, press releases, rack cards, and posters, and
- proficiency assessments help individuals and organizations gain knowledge, achieve practical skills, and further develop various attributes that are necessary to help achieve better end-of-life experiences for those who are dying, their caregivers, and any others involved
- ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) principles and values are considered in all that we do as an organization
- define roles and responsibilities, attributes, core competencies; set best practice standards and measures of excellence; and provide ethical and practical guidelines
- serve as a reliable, centralized source of information that illuminates how doulas can help prepare for and experience end of life
- build partnerships and collaborative alliances and programming with other EOL-care-focused organizations and experts in the field to create synergy, additional credibility, and value
- explore and monitor issues that both enhance and challenge the effectiveness and success of the doula field of practice such as:
- perception and understanding of the doula role in the larger field of end-of-life care
- potential need for regulation, formal oversight, licensure, etc.
- commodification, monetization, and commercialization issues
- quality and continuity of care.
Our Mission
NEDA’s mission is to influence positive changes in how people experience end of life by developing and advocating for efforts that improve access to a broad spectrum of holistic, non-medical support provided by end-of-life doulas. Our goal is to elevate the role of doulas to a position that is recognized, understood, utilized, and well-integrated into mainstream end-of-life care practices.
Our Vision
To create a cultural shift, ensuring that:
- all people preparing for or experiencing end of life have access to high-quality, holistic, integrative, and ethical non-medical support in alignment with their own needs and desires
- end-of-life doula is understood to be a collective term that describes skilled, qualified, and capable providers who make themselves available to those who seek such support
- doulas hold an integral position in the mainstream end-of-life service model, worthy of recognition and compensation that is commensurate with their role
- all doulas have a strong foundation of requisite skills, knowledge, and awareness that brings value to those they serve
- NEDA is considered to be the primary resource for comprehensive and current information about doulas.
Our Values
- We value doulas who provide non-medical, holistic support, and comfort to the dying person and their family, which may include education and guidance as well as emotional, spiritual, or practical care.
- We value and respect the diverse voices and viewpoints of all doulas, trainers, and others whose practices honor the individual traditions, heritages, experiences, and unique needs of the dying and their loved ones.
- We value a nurturing environment that encourages the potential for healing exchanges among doulas and the dying, the family, and the healthcare team as part of the dying process.
- We embrace the Doula Model of Care, which recognizes the need for ethical, compassionate care for all, and emphasizes empowering nonjudgmental support. This maximizes the self-determination of the dying individual and honors significant others and family as part of the circle of care.
- We acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. To this end, we strive to create an environment that is welcoming to all, and where each person feels accepted, included, seen, heard, valued, and safe. We pledge ourselves to developing and maintaining a culture that recognizes, understands, and appreciates the impact of differences such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, education, age, sexual/affectional orientation, physical ability, language, political affiliation, economic status, immigrant/citizenship status, military experience, and legal position.