Legal Status
MOMS is a nonprofit organization, under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Our EIN is 93-1254632. You can link to the IRS site to confirm our status, here, then enter the EIN.MOMS also has current registration as a national, non-governmental organization in Sierra Leone. MOMS works with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. MOMS makes every effort to work legally in both countries.
Diversity
MOMS does not discriminate on the basis of…- Race, ethnicity, or nationality
- Marital or parenting status
- Gender, gender identity, gender role, or gender orientation
- Age (except volunteers must be at least 21 years old, for legal reasons)
- Religious preferences
- Veteran's status
- Economic status
- Abilities or challenges that do not affect the person's capacity to work. In Sierra Leone, we cannot provide accommodations for people who rely on electricity, medication, or medical devices to maintain their health.
Privacy
MOMS respects your autonomy and privacy. When you give us information, we use it simply for the purpose you gave it. We do not share it with others.We use Constant Contact for our newsletters. You can readily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the email.
We use Little Green Light for our donor database, and they guard your information.
Many of you donate through Facebook, PayPal, or Zeffy. All protect your information. If you give anonymously, please put your receipts in a safe place, as we cannot send you any information — we do not have it.
In the major town of Segbwema, the women gave Trish Ross and Chris McManus lengths of fabric that match their uniforms. This is more than a gesture, but a sign of unity.
History
MOMS was founded in 1999 by a few midwives to help educate birth attendants in West Africa. They wanted to bring high-potential women from Senegal to the US to study midwifery. However, international relations are such that this wouldn't work. So, MOMS changed gears, to training US midwives in the hope they would go to developing nations.In 2005, the Board of Directors re-evaluated the programs and goals, and decided to focus directly on providing education and service directly to West Africa. Ultimately the US programs closed, allowing MOMS to concentrate tightly on West Africa.
In 2006, we were invited to go to Sierra Leone. We conducted a needs assessment, and worked with local people and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to create and run a pilot, then make appropriate updates. We have made over 25 trips to Sierra Leone since then, and have built good relationships with national and district-level officials.
The MOMS program teaches the Traditional Birth Attendants to function as authorized Community Health Workers. The government-authorized certificate allows them to work anywhere in the country. Liberia and Guinea also recognize our certificates. The MOMS CHWs provide evidence-based maternity care under the supervision of the local clinic. They also work as agents for change, identifying and solving problems.
Statistics show marked improvement in maternal and newborn death and harm where MOMS has taught. Compliance with government regulations is higher, as is cooperation between clinic staff and CHWs. One clinic leader, Veronica Foday, says, "When anyone asks me how our results improved so much, I tell them that MOMS CHWs make the difference!"
Contact information
MOMS was organized in the state of Oregon and operates from California. You can write us at PO Box 1656, Gualala, CA. 95445. Our phone is +17078843621.