CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM PROFESSINAL ASSOCIATION (CAPPA) ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW BRANCH IN ECUADOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracy Wilson Peters

Ph: 888-My-CAPPA

Email: tracy@cappa.net

Web: www.cappa.net

CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM PROFESSINAL ASSOCIATION (CAPPA) ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW BRANCH IN ECUADOR

July 23, 2010 Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. CAPPA announced today the launch of their new branch in Ecuador, and introduced CAPPA Ecuador Executive Directors Jennifer Bertha and Priscilla Loor. More information is available at www.cappa.net/.

The first step in establishing CAPPA Ecuador was to implement the translation of the Labor Doula and Lactation Educator curricula and certification packets into Spanish; a first time occurrence in the history of CAPPA. CAPPA Ecuador Executive Directors Jennifer Bertha and Priscilla Loor will conduct Labor Doula and Lactation Educator trainings on a regional level in Latin America. Gradually, they will incorporate Childbirth Educator and Postpartum Doula trainings. The global expansion of CAPPA will mean a greater standardized level of professionalism in the childbirth and postpartum support fields. CAPPA Ecuador will promote and oversee the planning and implementation of program specific manuals and certification processing requirements, and ensure national standards and recommendations are included. Different regional medical models will be in use, as well as cultural and historical practices, and experiences that are specific to Ecuador, as well as tailored certification and advanced programs will meet the professional needs of the area.

CAPPA Ecuador Executive Directors

Jennifer Bertha, BA, CLE, CCCE, CLD, started her career in Corporate America as a systems analyst. After ten years she met her Ecuadorian husband and moved to Guayaquil to start a family, leaving her career behind with the intention of becoming a ‘stay at home mom.’ After the birth and breastfeeding experience of her child in 2005 she became disappointed at the fact that many of her friends were not breastfeeding their babies. Jennifer became involved in Priscilla Loor’s childbirth education classes. She then became CAPPA certified as a Lactation Educator, Childbirth Educator, and Labor Doula. She is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor.

Jennifer and Priscilla were teaching childbirth education at the local hospital, and providing lactation consulting as needed. As the need became greater, the hospital Clinica Kennedy in Guayaquil became interested in their services, and formed the birth and breastfeeding center, CENIDEL (Center for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding), an independent entity with the leadership of Priscilla and Jennifer, and the backing of the hospital’s name. CENIDEL covers every need of a starting family.

Priscilla Loor, IBCLC, CHBE, ICCE, CNFPE, is a certified nurse who practiced at the local maternity hospital where 100 babies are born every day. Bothered by the treatment the women faced she decided to become a childbirth educator and doula to improve the experiences of women during labor and birth. Now with more then ten years experience Priscilla teaches childbirth education with one of the most important hospitals in the city of Guayaquil. She also became interested in breastfeeding when taking specialty courses in Costa Rica; one of the countries in Latin America with the most rigid breastfeeding laws.

Priscilla and Jennifer Bertha formed CENIDEL, the Breastfeeding and Pregnancy center of the Clinica Kennedy in Guayaquil, to formalize and centralize all of the services that for years were done informally and upon request of birthing mothers.

CAPPA Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tracy Wilson Peters said, “CAPPA Ecuador will provide excellent training and certification options to those who would like to become childbirth professionals within Ecuador. These materials will be presented by CAPPA Faculty living in Ecuador. This provides the best opportunity to impact maternal child health in Ecuador.”

Ms. Peters said, “I am extremely excited about the launch of CAPPA Ecuador. Both Jennifer and Priscilla are committed to the CAPPA Vision and Mission. They understand the needs within Ecuador, and are willing to do the work to make a difference,”

Each branch of CAPPA will recognize the common experiences of the country, and education will therefore be tailored to regional needs. Ms. Peters, along with CAPPA Chief Financial Officer Donna Johnson, founded CAPPA in 1998. CAPPA Canada was launched in 2003, and CAPPA India and CAPPA Israel were simultaneously launched in 2009; and now 2010 has seen the launch of CAPPA Ecuador. Each branch offers a unique program, which includes manuals, certification packets, workshops, required reading, training content, and pricing for membership and materials.

This new branch will increase confidence in the birth and postpartum information and resources shared with expectant and postpartum families. Promoting a culturally safe environment, recognition of changing demographics, and implementation of support strategies for growing diverse and vulnerable populations will also bring positive changes. It is with the growth of our International Branches that we in CAPPA can work in unison towards our Global Vision.

CAPPA

PO Box 491448

Lawrenceville, GA 30049

Web: www.cappa.net

www.cappaecuador.com