As we empower each other thus we empower others.
- Neda's purpose is to help individuals gain knowledge, achieve practical skills, and further develop other attributes such as cognitive and emotional self-awareness that are necessary to best serve people who are preparing for or experiencing the end of life.
- Membership is open to any and all who support the mission, vision, and values, agree to abide by the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics, and meet the requirements of the membership category level that they join (EOLD, EOLD Trainer; Doula/Trainer Combo, Friend/Organization-Business). NEDA welcomes aspiring and practicing EOLDs, trainers, and other interested parties, regardless of experience, training, area of focus, or application--paid or unpaid.
- NEDA serves as a reliable, centralized source of information that illuminates the need for and benefits of EOLDs, by reaching various audiences beyond its members (e.g., potential partners and referral sources such as hospices, medical professionals, long-term care providers; other EOL orgs, community/family caregivers and members of the general public).
- NEDA is a leading force in defining the roles, responsibilities (scope of practice, doula model of care), attributes, and core competencies of EOLDs, setting best-practice standards, ethical and practical guidelines, and measures of excellence.
- NEDA offers various educational resources and networking opportunities to help members raise awareness and to build skills and visibility necessary to be of best service to others, including but not limited to:
- NEDA also seeks to build partnerships/collaborative/cooperative alliances and programming with other EOL-care focused organizations and experts in the field to create synergy and added credibility/value.
- NEDA explores and monitors issues that challenge and opportunities that enhance the effectiveness and success of the EOLD field of practice:
- perception and understanding of the EOLD role in the larger field of EOL care
- confusion, conflict, competition, wariness due to such broad diversity of the field
- monetization/commodification/
commercialization issues - need for regulation, formal oversight, credentials/certification/licensure, etc.
- quality assurance—how to avoid mediocrity and harm in both individual practice and training programs
- Neda's purpose is to help individuals gain knowledge, achieve practical skills, and further develop other attributes such as cognitive and emotional self-awareness that are necessary to best serve people who are preparing for or experiencing the end of life.
- Membership is open to any and all who support the mission, vision, and values, agree to abide by the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics, and meet the requirements of the membership category level that they join (EOLD, EOLD Trainer; Doula/Trainer Combo, Friend/Organization-Business). NEDA welcomes aspiring and practicing EOLDs, trainers, and other interested parties, regardless of experience, training, area of focus, or application--paid or unpaid.
- NEDA serves as a reliable, centralized source of information that illuminates the need for and benefits of EOLDs, by reaching various audiences beyond its members (e.g., potential partners and referral sources such as hospices, medical professionals, long-term care providers; other EOL orgs, community/family caregivers and members of the general public).
- NEDA is a leading force in defining the roles, responsibilities (scope of practice, doula model of care), attributes, and core competencies of EOLDs, setting best-practice standards, ethical and practical guidelines, and measures of excellence.
- NEDA offers various educational resources and networking opportunities to help members raise awareness and to build skills and visibility necessary to be of best service to others, including but not limited to:
- NEDA also seeks to build partnerships/collaborative/cooperative alliances and programming with other EOL-care focused organizations and experts in the field to create synergy and added credibility/value.
- NEDA explores and monitors issues that challenge and opportunities that enhance the effectiveness and success of the EOLD field of practice:
- Website
- Member Newsletters
- Directories
- Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
- Education: Informational webinars, book clubs, special events, etc.
- Networking opportunities: member socials, listening circles, regional and topical groups, etc.
- Promotional tools such as presentations, press releases, rack cards, posters (in the member portal)
- Ethical and Professional guidelines
- Proficiency Assessment Processes
our vision
NEDA’s vision is for a cultural shift that ensures that:
- all people preparing for or experiencing end of life have access to excellent holistic, integrative, ethical, and appropriate 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 and capable non-medical providers who make themselves available to those who seek such support
- end-of-life doulas hold an integral position in the mainstream EOL care service model, worthy of recognition and compensation that is commensurate with their role
- all end-of-life 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 EOLDs
our values
- We value individuals and organizations 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 cultural environment that encourages the potential for healing exchanges between doulas and the dying, the family, and the healthcare team as part of the life-death process.
- We embrace the Doula Model of Care that recognizes the need for ethical, compassionate care for all, and emphasizes empowering, non-judgmental support to maximize the self-determination of the individual and honor 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 an environment 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.
our mission
NEDA’s mission is to influence positive changes in how people experience end of life by developing and advocating efforts that improve access to a broad spectrum of holistic non-medical support provided by end-of-life doulas (EOLDs). Our goal is to elevate the role of EOLDs into a position that is recognized, understood, utilized, and well-integrated into mainstream end-of-life care practices.
