Our Purpose
The National End-of-Life Doula Alliance “NEDA” is a diverse and inclusive 501c6 non-profit membership business league that serves as a “big tent” for those who share its mission, vision, and values (see below); and who seek to learn about, promote, and provide educational and professional support for its members.
More specifically, its purpose is to:

• Inspire, inform, and assist aspiring and active end-of-life doulas (EOLDs), EOLD trainers, and others by developing and implementing programming, informational resources, networking opportunities, and other materials that helps  to raise awareness and build skills necessary to be of best service to others, including, but not limited to our Website; newletters and other correspondence; directories; social media; experiences and events: webinars, book clubs, regional and topical groups, conferences, etc.; promotional tools such as presentations, press releases, rack cards, and posters; and proficiency assessment processes
• help individuals and organizations gain knowledge, achieve practical skills, and further develop various attributes that are necessary to help achieve better end-of-life experiences for all those who are dying, their caregivers, and others involved
• ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) principles and values are considered in all that we do as an organization
• define roles and responsibilities, attributes, core competencies; set best practice standards and measures of excellence; and provide ethical and practical guidelines
• serve as a reliable, centralized source of information that illuminates how EOLDs can help prepare for and experience end of life
• build partnerships and collaborative alliances and programming with other EOL-care-focused organizations and experts in the field to create synergy and additional credibility and value
• explore and monitor issues that both enhance and challenge the effectiveness and success of the EOLD field of practice such as:
  • perception and understanding of the EOLD role in the larger field of EOL care
  • need (or not) for regulation, formal oversight, licensure, etc.
  • commodification, monetization, and commercialization issues
  • quality and continuity of care

Our Mission
NEDA's mission is to influence positive changes in how people experience end of life by developing and advocating numerous 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 to a position that is recognized, understood, utilized, and well-integrated into mainstream end-of-life care practices. 

Our Vision
To create a cultural shift ensuring that

• all people preparing for or experiencing end of life have access to high-quality, holistic, integrative, and ethical non-medical support in alignment with their own needs and desires
• "end-of-life doula" (EOLD) is understood to be a collective term that describes skilled, qualified, and capable providers who make themselves available to those who seek such support
• EOLDs hold an integral position in the mainstream end-of-life service model, worthy of recognition and compensation that is commensurate with their role
• all EOLDs 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 EOL doulas 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.

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