LAMAZE PROGRAM
NCPA Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program
Lamaze Overview
The NCPA Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program is an accredited program through Lamaze International.
As an accredited Lamaze International, Inc. Program, the NCPA Lamaze Program offers childbirth educator training seminars to enable the learner to develop the knowledge and skills to plan, facilitate, and evaluate a childbirth education program.
Eligibility
This program is open to individuals with non-clinical and clinical backgrounds.
Basic knowledge and familiarity with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum information is very helpful before you enroll in the program.
The seminar will prepare you to build on your maternal health knowledge by adding evidence-based maternity care information and interactive teaching strategies!
After the seminar, learners should be able to offer engaging and interactive childbirth education in various formats to meet the needs of their target population and transform their birth experience!
Program Format
The childbirth educator training program uses a blended learning format, which allows you to start the program before the in-person classroom portion.
Using the blended learning approach, the first portion of your training will be self-study consisting of online materials, readings, and worksheets in the comfort of your home or office.
The self-study portion must be completed before the seminar.
The second portion of the training is a 3-day virtual seminar.
Meet the Lamaze Trainers
Tonya Daniel
Tonya holds a BA in Sociology with a concentration in the health of women and children. She is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a Fellow of the American College of Childbirth Educators, and preparing to become a DONA Birth Doula Trainer.
Accompanying families through their birth journeys since 2000, she provides labor support and lactation services to women in her community.
Tonya enjoys laughing with her husband and at her four energetic kids!
Frieda Norris
BSN, MPH, LCCE, FACCE
Frieda has been teaching Lamaze childbirth classes since first certified in 1981. Frieda joined the North Carolina Lamaze Childbirth Educator Training program in 2007.
She has served in various maternity, clinical and educational roles, including labor and delivery, mother-baby, newborn nursery, and high-risk obstetrics. Frieda works as their Perinatal Practice Specialist at the Birthplace of Caromont Regional Medical Center.
She is passionate about Labor Support and enjoys bringing evidence-based healthy birth practices into bedside care from nurses and support team members.
Debbie Petersburg
BS, LCCE, FACCE
Debbie has been teaching hospital-based Childbirth Education Classes since 1996. Debbie joined the North Carolina Lamaze Childbirth Educator Training Program in 2009 and enjoys facilitating training seminars, speaking at conferences, reviewing curriculums, and helping educators discover their unique talents and teaching styles to help expectant families reach a safe, healthy, and satisfying birth experience!
Debbie currently lives in Cary, NC with her husband.
Tara Owens Shuler
M.Ed., LCCE, FACCE
Tara has practiced as a childbirth educator since 1995. In 2005, she became the Director of the North Carolina-based Lamaze Accredited Childbirth Educator Program. She is a past President of the Lamaze International.
Tara is a certified birth doula through DONA. Tara currently serves on the NC Perinatal Association Board of Directors and co-directs the Lamaze program under the Association.
Tara works full-time as the Perinatal Health Unit Manager with the Division of Public Health/Women’s Health Branch.
Valerie Coleman
RN, MSN, IBCLC, FACCE
Valerie is the Program Director for Family Life Education and Lactation Services at VCU Health. She has over 40 years of nursing experience. She recently led a team at VCU Health to achieve Baby-Friendly USA designation.
Valerie is very involved in Breastfeeding advocacy and promotion work in Virginia. Valerie is a North Carolina native!
Lamaze Program Requirements
Options for getting some teaching experience:
- Ask a Lamaze educator if you can co-teach a class with her.
- Ask friends or family members who are expecting to participate in a small group class to practice teaching.
- If you will be teaching for your organization, set up your classes as soon as you can get clients registered.
To enhance your childbirth education training, the following activities are strongly recommended:
- Observe a childbirth educator teach a complete class series prior to your scheduled Lamaze Childbirth Educator seminar or immediately after.
- Using the sample curriculum provided in seminar, develop your personal childbirth education class curriculum.
- After you have developed your personal childbirth education curriculum, begin teaching as soon as possible.
Program Cancellation Policy
The NCPA Lamaze Program reserves the right to cancel a seminar if seminar registration is less than 6 participants.
If canceled due to low registrations, all fees paid will be refunded.
If canceled due to inclement weather, the seminar will be rescheduled as quickly as possible after the inclement weather event.
To successfully complete and receive the approved 20 contact hours for the Lamaze Seminar, the following activities are required:
- Complete online modules, readings, and assignments before your scheduled seminar.
- Strongly recommended to start your self-study with the Lamaze Learning Guide. The Lamaze Learning Guide is separate from seminar registration. It can be ordered directly from the Lamaze website.
- Present a 10-minute teaching demonstration (individually or as part of a small group) on the topic assigned by the Program Director during the seminar.
- Attend and fully participate in the two-day classroom training.
Program Refund Policy
Participants, who register for a seminar and are not able to attend, may:
- Reschedule for another seminar date.
- Send a substitute
- If cancellation is greater than 2 weeks, refund amounts will be based on the subtraction of any expenses (learning guide/toolkit bundle; online modules; and administrative fee) incurred by the Lamaze Accredited program.
- If cancellation is less than 2 weeks, no refund will be provided, only a voucher for a future seminar.