NBDA® Member Code of Ethics And Professional Conduct

Be patient and courteous. Be inclusive. We welcome and support people of all backgrounds within the African Diaspora and identities. This includes, but is not limited to members of any sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, social and economic class, educational level, color, immigration status, sex, age, size, family status, political belief, religion, and mental and physical ability. Our purpose is to provide a safe cohesive environment for support and growth. Be considerate. We all depend on each other to support and uplift each other in a respectful manor. NO ABUSE of any kind will be tolerate within this membership. Including, verbal, written, mental and emotional. Being an NBDA® member of the National Black Doulas Association® requires the utmost level of professionalism at all times, both in conducting your business as a Doula and within this body itself. If any of this standards are violated, it will be grounds for immediate dismissal and removal of membership with no chance to rejoin. Please be cognizant that your decisions and conduct can and will affect your clients and fellow NBDA® members, and you should take those consequences into account when making decisions and operating as a professional within the birth industry. Be respectful. We won't all agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for disrespectful behavior. We will all experience frustration from time to time, but we cannot allow that frustration become personal attacks. An environment where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive or creative one. Nor will it be tolerated within the National Black Doulas Association®. Choose your words carefully. Always conduct yourself professionally. Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down others. Harassment and exclusionary behavior aren't acceptable. This includes, but is not limited too:

  • Threats of violence

  • Discriminatory jokes and language

  • Sharing sexually explicit or violent material via electronic devices or other means

  • Personal insults, especially those using racist or sexist terms

  • Unwelcome sexual attention

  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

  • Repeated harassment of others

  • Peer to Peer Horizontal Violence

  • Community Relationships

In general, if someone asks you to stop something, then stop. When we disagree, try to understand why. Differences of opinion and disagreements are mostly unavoidable. What is important is that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively. Our differences can be our strengths. We can find strength in diversity. Different people have different perspectives on issues, and that can be valuable for solving problems or generating new ideas. Being unable to understand why someone holds a viewpoint doesn’t mean that they’re wrong. Don’t forget that we all make mistakes, and blaming each other doesn’t get us anywhere. Instead, focus on resolving issues and learning from mistakes. We honor and valuable all members of the National Black Doulas Association®. By signing this you agree to adhere to this standard of conduct and Code of Ethics within this body.

National Black Doulas Association®