Given the interest in midwifery by women with young families, the distance delivery combined with monthly seminars seems the most logical way for a student to complete the theoretical side of her education. Apprenticeships, which is what her assistant position really is, IMO, used to be a common method of training in many professions. Now, employers tend to prefer that employees do that in post-secondary institutions. So, Jill, it seems, is doing a demanding juggling of academic and practical education requirements as well as the demands of her children, husband, and family.
In the case of the Mercy In Action College of Midwifery, the organization claims that it prepares students to take nationally recognized exams. It, itself, is not a certificate granting body.
http://www.mercyinaction.com/college-of-midwifery/
Information on other programs may be found at sites such as:
https://homsgroup.wordpress.com/midwifery-schools/
http://www.socalbirth.org/pathways/study.htm
http://www.midwife.org/Education-Programs-Directory
http://www.mothering.com/forum/1693...s-midwifery-training-program-experiences.html
I'd be interested to hear what Joypath or K_Z have to say about distance learning programs in the field of midwifery.
Well, for me, it depends on the overall quality of the program, and rigor and quality of the preceptorship requirements-- along with state law. I think distance learning for some of the didactic component of some programs is reasonable-- even many "traditional" university settings and programs use self-directed internet based learning modules. But I am not willing to put a blanket stamp of approval on all programs that include distance learning. One of the things that concerns me about some of the distance based programs is the rigor of the science/ biology/ physiology component-- which can be lacking as a foundation in many "religious" home school high school curriculums, that conclude with a GED.
Admittedly, I am certainly more open minded toward direct entry midwives than many of my traditionally educated colleagues in the health sciences. As long as I can appreciate and observe that there is a strong component of didactic scientific knowledge, coupled with a strong basis of experiential apprenticeship, as well as a willingness to educate to "when" to refer to a higher level of care, then I can support home birth and community based midwifery for the right (healthy) candidates, delivered from the "right" kind of educated and trained direct entry midwife.
One of the things I have noticed is that NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) has done (they are the main provider of education and licensure exams for direct entry midwives) is that they have stopped counting out of country (overseas) experiences as valid for their initial certification evaluation. That means that "mission trips" to foreign countries no longer "count" for preceptorship experience for initial certification. I think that is a very good thing, as some marginally educated/ marginally qualified individuals have attempted to use a couple of mission trips to fulfill their homebirth preceptorships.
We also have to acknowledge that a significant proportion of those who are not formally trained or certified, but self-identify as "midwives" in religious communities, are NOT formally educated, or have completed supervised preceptorships. Many (ok, most) of these individuals are very informally trained, with extremely limited knowledge and abilities for competent midwifery care.
Most home schooled GED holders are not qualified for baccalaureate study for general admission to science based majors at traditional universities-- it is the rare home school student who is well-educated in the sciences. That does NOT mean home school students cannot achieve admission to traditional universities-- but just that those who have completed a primarily religious based homeschool education face a particular set of challenges to compete for health care and science based majors.
Twenty six states are willing to license direct entry (not formally educated in traditional universities) midwives. All of the 26 that I'm aware of use the NARM criteria. I have personally examined the NARM criteria, and believe it is sound for what they are proposing for client population and scope of practice-- and I have personally arranged and completed a home birth for me with a certified professional midwife (quite controversial among my colleagues).
The bigger issue, as I see it, is "what" is the curriculum proposed by the distance education provider, and what part does the preceptorship play in the process.
A bunch of links to further explain!
http://meacschools.org/
http://meacschools.org/member-school-directory/
http://narm.org/certification/
http://narm.org/entry-level-applicants/
http://narm.org/preceptors/
http://narm.org/preceptors/narm-policy-on-preceptorapprentice-relationships/
http://narm.org/news/revised-policies-ooc/
http://cfmidwifery.org/mmoc/define.aspx