Our Mission
To promote health and social welfare through non medical supportive care and education to mothers, infants, and families during the childbearing year and beyond.  CEF strives to reduce infant mortality and morbidity and foster family beginnings by providing the highest quality childbirth assistants, doulas, and educators to poor, underprivileged and low income women and their families.  We seek further to provide innovative and effective training of childbirth assistants and doulas and to enhance community outreach via referral services to other leading health and social service agencies in the field. The Foundation is committed to building the capacity of our community to address complex social issues through a grass roots effort to improve mother, infant, and family well-being.

Accomplishments
Currently, the Foundation has over 100  birth assistants providing services in 14 counties in Florida, with programs extending nationally in 1998.  CEF is at the forefront in the development of partnerships with hospitals to provide childbirth assistant/doula programs, with the first program established at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women in Orlando Florida in 1997. Our birth assistants/doulas attended 66 births the first month.

Our Belief
The Foundation believes that birth is a natural process and women should have access to information that will help them make an informed, educated decision concerning the care of themselves and their infants.  CEF encourages active participation by women and their partners during the childbearing years, emphasizes good communication with the care provider and believes that labor support greatly enhances the birth experience.