History, Policies, and Legalities
History
| 1998 | Midwives on Missions of Service (MOMS) was founded as a humanitarian organization in Ashland, OR. |
| 1999 | A team went to Senegal to train local midwives and traditional birth attendants and to work in a poor village. |
| 2000 | International School of Traditional Midwifery (ISTM) began, with the hope of teaching West African midwives. |
| 2001 | MOMS received tax-exempt status from the IRS. 9/11 ended the attempt to bring West African students to the US. |
| 2002 | ISTM agreed to a “teach-out” of the Oregon School of Midwifery, gaining a distance program in the deal. |
| 2003 | MOMS started a free clinic in Ashland to serve poor women. |
| 2004 | ISTM gained state approval to teach Legend Drugs and Devices for Oregon midwives. |
| 2005 | A team went to Senegal to work in a clinic and teach birth attendants. |
| 2006 | A team went to Sierra Leone to assess needs. ISTM stopped adding onsite students, to focus money and energy on West African projects. |
| 2007 | MOMS piloted programs in Sierra Leone. The Board recommitted to MOMS’ original mission of working with women who have the fewest choices. |
| 2008 | MOMS registered with Sierra Leone as an NGO and expanded into two more Chiefdoms. |
| 2009 | Valid statistics and clinical evidence present a clear picture of impressive improvements to maternal and infant health! MOMS teaches a new cohort. |
Our Contact Information
We try to make it easy to reach us.
- To send an email, click on Contact Me at the bottom of each page on this web site, or use the form on the Contact MOMS page.
- To call us, dial 415.387.1126.
- To write us, mail to: MOMS; 215 Tenth Avenue; San Francisco, CA 94118
Policy Matters
Legal Status
MOMS is a 501(c)(3) corporation (non-profit) organized in the state of Oregon. As we are registered with the IRS as a non-profit, your donations are tax exempt. We are also registered with the Government of Sierra Leone as an International Non-Governemental Organization. We make every effort to fully comply with all laws and hold to high ethical standards.
Humanitarian Effort vs. Religious
We are a charitable institution, providing education and maternity care to women who would not otherwise have access to it. We are not a religious group, although we find this work a spiritual calling. We represent many faith traditions, including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, among our Board, volunteers, and staff.
Paid Staff
We have no paid staff in the US and we have no plans to hire any; we do pay our Sierra Leonean staff a living wage. Our volunteers pay their own airfare when they travel. MOMS provides housing, food and travel while in country, but does not pay any stipend or salary for volunteers.
Anti-discrimination Statement
MOMS does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender role or identity, marital status; religious preferences; racial, ethnic or national origins or affiliations; or age, veteran's status, or income level. We hope to keep and increase our diversity.
Distance Program Eligibility
MOMS’ distance learning program is open only to those who reside outside the United States. As MOMS’ mission is to serve those who have fewest choices, and US midwifery students have several choices among onsite and distance programs, we do restrict entrance to this program.