ICM Global Standards, Competencies and Tools
The use of global standards, competencies, tools and their guidelines, ensures that midwives in all countries have effective education, regulation and strong associations, and offers a powerful context for assessing and strengthening U.S. midwifery and fostering a basis for unity among U.S. midwives. ICM has developed various interrelated ICM Core Documents which guide Midwives Associations and their Governments to review and improve on the education and regulation of midwives and midwifery, and enable countries to review their midwifery curricula for the production and retention of a quality midwifery workforce.
Background
Council Delegates at the 2008 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, voted to update existing, and develop new ICM Core Documents. The work that was accomplished during the 2008-2011 Triennium constituted what has become known as the “Three Pillars” of ICM’s global efforts to strengthen midwifery worldwide in order to provide high quality, evidence-based health services for women, newborns, and childbearing families.
ICM’s Three Pillars are Education, Regulation, and strong Member Associations and are built upon the foundation of updated core competencies. These Three Pillars are interdependent and provide a complete package of information for midwives, policy makers, and governments. The work on the ICM ‘Three Pillars’ was carried out by expert Task Forces that focused on:
1. Updating and expanding the 2002 Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice, and affirming the evidence base
2. Developing Global Standards for Midwifery Education along with Companion Guidelines
3. Developing Global Standards for Midwifery Regulation
4. Strengthening Midwifery Associations
USMERA
Since the release of these new and updated ICM Global Standards, Competencies and Tools in 2011, NACPM collaborated in a facilitated process with the seven U.S. organizations and agencies that hold responsibility for the CPM, CNM, and CM credentials, to unify and strengthen U.S midwifery in light of the ICM Global Standards. This collaboration, US MERA, US Midwifery: Education, Regulation, and Association) is made up of NACPM, MANA, ICTC (International Center for Traditional Childbearing), MEAC, NARM, ACNM (American College of Nurse-Midwives, AMCB (American Midwifery Certification Board) and ACME (Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education). This collaboration met in person in annually from 2013-2016, and published Principles for Model U.S. Midwifery Legislation and Regulation , and Statement on the Licensure of Certified Professional Midwives. These consensus agreements are used to develop and strengthen midwifery licensing and regulation throughout the U.S.
The US MERA collaboration was made possible by generous support from the Transforming Birth Fund.
ICM Documents: