Standards of Practice for ChildBirth Educators Affiliated with BirthSkills ®
The following Standards of Practice for Practitioners affiliated with BirthSkills ® have been developed in order to preserve the integrity of the BirthSkills Program and to assure its continuity.The intent is also to provide a guarantee to the public that any woman wishing to avail herself of preparation and education in BirthSkills, at any time, and in any place, can do so, with the assurance that her childbirth education meets the high standards of quality instruction set forth by BirthSkills and Dr Shari Read.It ensures that the information and support she receives is in accordance with the philosophies, practices and program outline as defined within the BirthSkills Practitioner materials.
I.DEFINITION:
A Certified BirthSkills Practitioner is defined as any person who has been trained by Dr Shari Read and who has otherwise met all requirements for initial certification and annual renewal of her affiliation with BirthSkills.
II. QUALIFICATIONS:
A candidate for certification as a BirthSkills Practitioner must be:
a. A qualified and accredited pregnancy or birthing professional, certified by a nationally recognised organization; and who has successfully completed the BirthSkills Practitioner Training Program; or
b. Any exception to these requirements will be considered on an individual basis.
III. CERTIFICATION:
A candidate will be granted a certification document and number only after completion of the full 36-hour BirthSkills Practitioner training program taught by Dr Shari Read or an authorised associate of BirthSkills and upon submitting a successfully completed set of case study and Practitioner Review Sheets. In addition, there must be on file with Dr Shari Read or her appointed agent, a copy of the current Practitioner Agreement with signature, indicating she understands the philosophy of BirthSkills ® and the terms of the Code of Ethics and agrees to abide by them in the teaching of BirthSkills ® classes.
Attendance at a Practitioner Certification class does not equate to automatic certification. Requests for exception to any of these terms must be reviewed and determined by Dr Shari Read or an appointed associate.
IV. PRACTICE:
Only practitioners currently affiliated with BirthSkills may teach the BirthSkills ® Childbirth Preparation & Education Program. BirthSkills methods and techniques must be taught in a manner that is appropriate to the client and their requirements, clearly identified as BirthSkills ® and must be appropriately labeled as BirthSkills ® in course outlines, advertising brochures, websites, and class literature.
BirthSkills ® is a discrete childbirth preparation method. Therefore, pieces of the BirthSkills program may not be incorporated into other childbirth
education programs; i.e., HypnoBirthing, calmbirth, or other individually developed programs, etc. However, practitioners are encouraged to draw on their professional knowledge and experience to enhance clients understanding and practice of BirthSkills techniques.As such, practitioners may augment their teaching of the BirthSkills® Childbirth Education Program with appropriate and related pregnancy, birthing or parenting, readings, tapes, or activities.
BirthSkills classes are taught in a series of 5, 2 hour classes; 2, 5hr workshops or by private arrangement equating to at least 10hrs in total.The only exception to this format is if the client is close to the time of her birthing and the time frame precludes holding the class for five meetings or if the distance that the client or the practitioner needs to travel to meet precludes five meetings.
BirthSkills ® classes are not designed to be psychotherapeutic group sessions, nor are they intended to become a routine addition to a midwife’s practice.If it becomes apparent that a BirthSkills client has deeper issues or special circumstances that need to be addressed, the practitioner should suggest an individual session.If the practitioner is not an accredited counselor, or licensed health care provider, the client should be referred to a mental health professional who is qualified to work with more serious issues. Medical advice may not be dispensed by practitioners who are not otherwise qualified.
V.MATERIALS:
The name BirthSkills ® is a registered trademark, held by Dr Shari Read,and all BirthSkills materials are copyrighted. As such, they are protected under Commonwealth and International Intellectual Property laws. Except for scripts and other specific materials designated for distribution by inclusion in the The BirthSkills Book or CD and for advertising pieces, no BirthSkills materials may be reproduced or transmitted for any reason, or at any time, in any form, by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, voice recording, faxing, or any information storage or retrieval systems, except for brief quotations, without permission in writing from Dr Shari Read or her appointed agent. Any person who does not take this section seriously and commits an infringement of trademark or copyright protection is subject to cancellation of their certification and denial of further affiliationand possible legal prosecution.Only certified BirthSkills Practitioners whose affiliation is current are authorised to use the BirthSkills ® name, logo and materials.
Practitioners must provide a copy of The BirthSkills Book & CD to every client. Official BirthSkills materials, obtained through Dr Shari Read, are to be used in the presentation of a BirthSkills ® Childbirth Education class. Other materials and recordings that are appropriate to the session/s may be used in additionto the prescribed materials, provided they are compatible with the BirthSkills philosophy and are made available for review by Dr Shari Read or other BirthSkills Practitioners.
VI. MARKETING:
Practitioners currently affiliated with Dr Shari Read and BirthSkills ® are the only persons authorised to use the name BirthSkills ® . Authorised persons may use the name and logo on promotional materials, business cards, advertising in print, radio, or television, or on appropriate class handouts and materials. Any practitioner who posts a website listing BirthSkills must prominently display on the front page of the website the words, “Certified BirthSkills Practitioner”. Articles about BirthSkills composed by a practitioner for print in magazines or newspapers must be submitted to Dr Shari Read prior to their being submitted
to a publication if they specifically use the name BirthSkills ® or refer to BirthSkills techniques.
Practitioners are responsible for seeing that their promotional materials reflect current BirthSkills philosophy, including the registered trademark symbol. It will be very much appreciated if promotional materials and marketing literature could be submitted to Shari at the time of the yearly affiliation renewal.
BirthSkills ® techniques MAY NOT BE USED OR MARKETED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY NAME OTHER THAN BirthSkills ® . Your BirthSkills classes may be advertised within the structure of your other services, but must be a discrete offering, so labeled. Other services may not be included under the umbrella of BirthSkills.
VII. RENEWAL:
Affiliation with BirthSkills is renewable in February each year commencing the year after which you took your certification training.Renewal is not based on the month in which you were certified.In order to maintain certification and remain an affiliate in good standing, BirthSkills ® practitioners renew their affiliation with BirthSkills on an annual basis by submitting a renewal packet to Dr Shari Read. Renewal packets will be emailed from Shari at least one month prior to the due date for affiliation renewal each year.
Practitioners who choose to remain inactive for a year but wish to remain in affiliation with BirthSkills ® and receive notices and mailings during that year may request to remain in an inactive status and simply submit a $50 renewal fee. At such time that the practitioner wishes to return to active status, she may request to be added to the referral list and submit the renewal of certification packet at the next renewal date. Allnewsletters, notices, and updates will be provided to a member who is in a paid inactive status.
Renewal requirements include:
·A statement verifying that the current textbook (The BirthSkills Book) has been reread/reviewed within a month of renewal(Please include a statement regarding particular concepts or techniques that were reinforced by the reading.);
·A review or summary of a recent and relevant research article OR a script for a guided relaxation or meditation (this review or script will be shared with other BirthSkills ® practitioners through our online server with your authorship clearly identified);
·Evidence of Continuing Professional Development in the form of seminar or conference attendance, article or book review, case study submission, relevant certificate or qualification obtained etc.
·A copy of marketing materials currently in use by the practitioner
·Two class/workshop Evaluations from clients whom you taught during the previous 12 months;
·A signed copy of the current BirthSkills Practitioner's Agreement; and
·Annual membership dues of $250 (amount to be reviewed annually).
VIII.TEACHING:
Any practitioner currently affiliated with BirthSkills may teach the BirthSkills ® Childbirth Education Program to pregnant individuals or couples seekingprenatal education and preparation. At this stage (August 2011), only Dr Shari Read may train, in full or in part, an individual wishing to use the program, techniques and the materials to teach consumers. All practitioners are permitted and encouraged to present brief orientationprograms, talks or seminars to interested groups.
IX. EVALUATIONS:
Practitioners will give each couple a copy of the practitioner evaluation form to be completed and handed back to the individual practitioner. Renewal of affiliation requires that copies of two (2) of these evaluations be provided to Shari to support your renewal application.
X. EXCEPTIONS/WAIVERS:
Requests for exception or waiver of any of the articles in this agreement must be submitted in writing to Dr Shari Read. Requests will be considered on an individual basis.
Practitioner's Agreement
I hereby state that my application for recertification and renewal of my affiliation with BirthSkills™ complies with the terms of the Code of Ethics and Standards for Practice.
I confirm that I have read and understand the Code of Ethics and Standards for Practice and agree to adhere to them for the duration of my affiliation with BirthSkills and Dr Shari Read.
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Practitioner's name (printed)
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Practitioner's Signature
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Date
Please return to Shari by email to shari@birthskills.com.au
BirthSkills ®