Certification         

Why become certified by us?

With the initials BLFA or BLD after you name, you show that you have been through a rigorous, intense course of training and preparation to help families who are newly bereaved or who have other needs.

Our program includes an intensive, gold standard in-person-training component. While this means more time and some travel, it also means we take our students to a high level of competence and confidence that includes practice and critique. Just ask our students how prepared they feel after attending our course, reading the 30+ books and booklets along with the rest of the certification requirements.  There is no better program. 

We screen our applicants, require references, and expect active involvement in their learning. 

Parents who have a loss deserve the best care and support possible. We take that seriously, providing the highest standards and expecting the best from each student.

Once you are certified, you may all yourself any title you prefer, since you are an independent care provider. Some call themselves Care Companions, others Loss Doulas  (though they are not necessarily Doulas), some Mentors and some Family Loss Advisors™  You may also choose how you give service to others whether as a hospital/clinic subcontractor, volunteer, through Hospice or own your own business. Some our our independent caregivers connect up with Doulas to provide the loss care. 

CE Contact Hour Options

If you are a nurse, doula or other birth professional who can use Nursing CEs, you will need to do the following for either 18.25 or 41.5 CE contact hours: 
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          18.25 Contact Hours 
              LIVE TRAINING 
1. Attend the LIVE training activity and sign the roster with your name and contact information and
4. Complete and submit the Evaluation Form(s) as directed before you leave at the conclusion of the LIVE activity. 

          41.5 Contact Hours 
     WEBINAR LIVE, ENDURING,
          and IN PERSON LIVE  
1.ENDURING - Read, view and respond to the books, handouts and videos which are pre-work for the LIVE activity. Sign out at the end of each video and send the responses for all videos and each reading response electronically in order to receive CE credit. Awarding of ENDURING contact hours expire two days week prior to the LIVE class you attend and  
2. Attend the 180 minute LIVE webinar(s) scheduled in the weeks prior to your LIVE training. We will receive a list of attendees and we will generate an electronic printout showing you attended the webinar(s) which will be proof of your attendance and
3. Attend the LIVE training activity and sign the roster with your name and contact information and
4. Complete and submit the Evaluation Form(s) as directed before you leave at the conclusion of the LIVE activity. 

This continuing Nurses Education Activity has been submitted to  the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 
    What are the basic steps?

  • Send an email  with your contact info to sherokeeilse@yahoo.com   asking to  be put on the list of candidates.
  • Look over the Certification Road Map for the details of what do do prior to training, related to training, and post training.
  • Order the Certification Packet found in the STORE on this website.  There are well-selected readings and videos to watch prior to training, which provide the basis for the training and certification process. The sooner you do this pre-work, the better. Once ordered, you will receive all the necessary paperwork and can begin your preparation of reading, viewing and responding in writing.
  • Select a training to sign up for or offer to help one come to your community.
  • Work on filling out the application and begin getting references.*  Does not need to be DONE prior to training, but in order to be certified, this is imperative.
  • Read and respond to 3 books--  Empty Arms (Ilse),  and Companioning After a Loss (Eustis and Jenkins) prior to training if a birth professional.  All others need to ALSO do a deep review of the book The Birth Partner  (Simpkins)
  •  Watch 4 (of the 10) Training Modules (#2,3,4 and 7 videos), a few short videos such as the Cuddle Cot and pre-read a few of the handouts from the Manual. All this is covered in your Reading/Viewing Response Packet 1 which you will receive after you have registered.
  • Sign up for the in- Training (6 of the10 Modules)
  • Two Pre-training classes via phone/computer are required to help prepare you for the training.  The above materials (books, handouts, and 8 hours of web-based) will be reviewed and discussed. They also connect students prior to class and help keep students on track to get the pre-work done.  An alternative is offered for those who absolutely can't make one or both of these calls.  
  • Attend the Training and do the two short survey monkey exercises.
  • Use the Certification Roadmap for the next  steps after the training  which include: 
          Further reading and responses
          Practical experience
          and more...

*To improve your chances of being certified, it is wise to fill out the application and secure letters of reference prior to attending a class. It is our intention to do our best to certify those who seem ready and able to reach out to help others in need. There are times when candidates have been asked to do more work and/or wait until they are in a better place.

How do I renew my certification?
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What certifications are offered?
1. Baby Loss Family Advisor™ for well-healed parents and family members, and Birth Professionals, counselors ,and others who care for bereaved familes.  The  Loss Doula®  certification is specifically for Doulas who wish to be certified in the area of loss.

2. *Postpartum Loss Family Advisor™/Postpartum Loss Doula®  (June 2017)     This certification is in the creation phase.  Expected to be available in September 2017.  Web classes and in person options.

3. *Rainbow Baby Loss Doula™, Subsequent Pregnancy Family Advisor™, Rainbow Baby Loss Doula®    Subsequent Pregnancy Loss Doula®  (May 2017) This certification is in the creation phase.  Available in October 2017. Web classes and in person options.

We are open to work with others to create additional certification programs.
If you have an idea and/or a passion to create another related certification, we invite you to contact us. 
* Please note that we have captured and applied for, or already have secured these names in order to protect our brand and our work.  If you see anyone else using these phrases please let us know immediately.  We have been advised that Trademarking requires constant vigilance.  Thank you for your help and for respecting our hard work and our trademarks. 
Where and when are the courses?

           Upcoming Courses for 
       Baby Loss Family Advisor™                          Loss Doula®  
                  2017 Courses
​​San Diego - May 20-21, 2017  DONE
Calgary - Sept. 15-16, 2017 DONE
Calgary - November 11-12, 2017 
Tucson - ONE day 7 CE hours Oct. 7, 2017 and Nov.4, 2017 
Orlando - tentatively planned for Friday-Sat. Jan 19-20,  2018
 OR help us plan one in your community...
In discussion - Northern CA, Cincinnati, Winnipeg, Vancouver,  Nashville, Texas TBA, and Phoenix/Tucson, New Jersey

Email Sherokee to get on the mail list or help plan one for your community.  Sherokeeilse@yahoo.com
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Your organization can be a sponsor for these courses or help us organize one in your community.

Workshop Fee + Manual + Certification Materials:
 $450  
Workshop Fee + Manual + All Cert. Materials + 16 Library/Required Books/booklets/eZines
​$620 (US)
Audit the course only (Excludes manual and Certification materials.  You will be able to borrow a manual for the training)
$350  
Add $50 for 17.9 CEU contact hours

Membership of $50 is not included in any of the above options. 

​Library/required reading books can be ordered from www.BabiesRemembered.org

              Training Programs in the works:
 
 Neptune NJ  Sept 31-Oct. 1, 2017
 Front Royal VA  Oct. 13-14, 2017
 Calgary AB 
 Orlando FL
 Phoenix or Tucson AZ
 Nashville, TN
 

Visit our STORE to sign up before the classes are full.