MIDWIVES RESPONDING TO DISASTERS REVIEWS

As someone who has desired to work overseas for most of my life, this course was invaluable. Often, I feel it is difficult to know where to start and how to prepare for serving in a disaster area. This course gives concrete information on preparation. The course is taught by experienced midwives who have spent time working in disasters, giving personal stories as well. Vicki does an excellent job in discussing the elements of disaster, the midwife's role, as well as how disaster response should be initiated. After taking this course, I had a good idea of what preparatory equipment and classes I wish to attain in order to better prepare myself. Thank you to Vicki and everyone at Mercy In Action for sharing your wealth of knowledge and expertise!

- Hannah Brown, CPM

The Online Midwives Responding to Disasters is an excellent course for anyone interested in learning more about how to best serve a childbearing population in disaster situations. After taking this course I feel not only more knowledgeable about disasters in general, but how to best respond and care for women and newborns in a manner that is evidence-based when limited resources are available. The case study presented in this course which details how Mercy In Action kept the 10 Steps of the IMBCI in a disaster zone in the Philippines is inspiring, amazing, and so helpful for anyone who wants to be prepared to respond when disaster strikes. I highly recommend this course!

- Kristen Benoit, CPM, LM, NHCM

I have taken several of your online classes before and found them to be very informative (evidence based), clear, concise and easily applicable for inclusion in my practice guidelines. Even though I have completed The Bridge certificate, I am committed to keeping my skills and knowledge up to date for any situation that can arise in my community. A few weeks ago, the USA and the Caribbean were facing several massive hurricanes; each threatening to create severe destruction. Even though I had taken this course in person several years ago and have served in the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda, I felt I needed a refresher. I began this course as Hurricane Harvey was causing major damage in Texas and completed the course as Hurricane Maria approached the Caribbean. When I am able to travel to a natural disaster zone area again if one occurs near me, I am sure my skills will be of value.

- Claudia Booker, CPM

The Online Midwives Responding to Disasters course was time well spent and worth the cost. Vicki Penwell teaches the modules in a relaxed manner and the self -paced study is helpful for busy people. Vicki shares knowledge from years of birth work and a very successful response to a devastating natural disaster. She gives insights as both a health care responder and someone personally effected by disaster. The material is geared to midwives but it is not a 'how to deliver babies' type course...anyone interested in disaster/recovery work would benefit. The recounting of supply lists and how the clinic was staffed and set up is particularly useful. The perspectives offered on the unique needs of women and infants in times of crisis is helpful for all emergency and health care workers.

- Cindy Thompson LVN

The Online Midwives Responding to Disasters course is a well-designed, knowledge rich course that has provided me with specialized and concrete tools and skills. As I embark on an educational and practical skill building path as a student midwife, this course has shed light on a topic I otherwise would not encounter in my educational program. As someone with an interest in disaster response and midwifery, this course provided me with knowledge unique to these fields and therefore felt highly applicable and relevant as a future practicing community midwife. As I plan my professional future and the inclusion of my passion for disaster preparation and response in the U.S. and beyond, I plan to use the knowledge gathered from this course to effect positive change.

- Emily Jones

I took your course, Midwives Responding to Disasters, in anticipation of enrolling in your certificate program in International Maternal Child Health. I had heard you speak about your time responding to the Super Typhoon in the Philippines at a midwifery conference I attended as a doula years ago. I had no idea just how much more I would learn taking this online course. I was thoroughly engaged throughout the course by your deep and heartfelt description of the trials and tribulations of doing that kind of international midwifery. Thank you for providing these high-quality, online learning experiences for midwives and birth professionals!

- Nicole Werner

Dear Vicki, all of your classes were powerful for me, Thank you for all you do; Thank you for the class on responding to disasters- this class offers real life preparation for disaster work in a culturally humble perspective and has broadened my perspective so that the way I practice midwifery in S Florida has also been greatly impacted- thank you for this fine class - Also, being able to work out or eat breakfast while watching from home or wherever was awesome- it’s a win win investment of time and money.

- Mary Rainer

I recently took the course Online Midwives Responding to Disasters where Vicki Penwell offers an extensive first-hand perspective of what it takes to be a midwife responding to a disaster. In this course Vicki shares her personal accounts of responding to Typhoon Yolanda at ground zero. The information that she provided was invaluable to me. I hope to have the ability to volunteer my time providing disaster relief someday and with the knowledge I gained in this course I feel that I have a clearer idea of what to expect and how to better prepare. Even though this is a course for midwives, it would be beneficial to anyone looking to increase their knowledge of effective disaster response. The course is clear and easy to follow, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to further their knowledge of disaster preparedness. Thank you to Mercy in Action for another great learning opportunity.

- Katie Shaffer

I completed the Midwives Responding to Disaster course and was very pleased with the focus and content. The course was easy to use and navigate, resources easily accessible and relevant. I particularly appreciated the focus on helping people rebuild their homes, business and lives without the goal of taking over. I have been in difficult circumstances myself and it was very hard accepting help when the ones who came only wanted to do what they felt was important or worthwhile. Their outside view was not always appropriate for my family and therefore was not helpful. I loved the firm yet gentle focus of finding what survivors need, collaborating with various resources available and restoring what was working well along with establishing an avenue to continue to support and improve the quality of life and care at the disaster site. The goal was to provide up to date, best care practices in a culturally respectful way that supported the needs of people in dire circumstances rather than take advantage of disaster conditions to impose outside agendas. It was a thought provoking course filled with relevant practical solutions to very large overwhelming problems. I would recommend for all care providers wether you are planning to go to a disaster site or not! Thank you for your service, commitment and heart for serving others in need.

- Carrie Jividen, CNM