The origins began in 1995 as a program of the Oregon School of Midwifery (OSM) started by Darcy Erickson and Daphne Singingtree that provided free health care outreach and medical services to the community. In 1998, it became a separate entity called Aviva Institute. During that time Daphne started a distance learning program at OSM which became the first web-based direct entry program in the US. Through her work with Aviva she had a vision about the importance of community-based education in keeping mothers home with babies and how that can make a real difference in the world. She saw the importance of midwives as members of the maternal/child health care team working with established medical services. She also saw a need for community health care workers who knew holistic health as well as basic medical skills.
" Service is Love in Work Clothes"
Original Aviva Motto |
After the OSM closed in 2002, Daphne retired from clinical practice and Aviva Institute became inactive. Daphne became a student in a online program and became even more committed to the distance education model. She continued educating midwives with her textbooks and learning materials but saw a need for a comprehensive online midwifery school which would allow students to remain in their own communities with their families. In 2004, she started MidwiferyOnline.com a private consulting service for schools that wanted to offer a midwifery distance program. She developed a program based on the MANA Core Competencies as a base program that other schools could offer, and in January 2006 designed a series of courses, ran a 2006 Needs Assessment Survey and did beta test group of 15 women across the US. Her intent was to house the program in an existing school, as she did not want to take on the entire project of opening another midwifery program. However, unable to find the right fit, with growing need for the program evident, she was inspired to move forward and bring her original vision to reality. With the help of her family, an Executive Board was recruited to take on the legal, administrative and financial responsibilities, and they hired an Administrative Director and Business Director.
In April of 2007, Aviva Institute was reborn, the web site was updated, and the process of hiring faculty and staff began, as well as completing all the work needed to be ready for the incoming students in Fall of 2007. In every step of the process, the right people fell into place, beginning with the hiring of Sharon K. Evans as Administrative Director. A long time midwifery educator, Sharon’s experience serving on the NARM board, owner of a distance midwifery program, and a massage school approved by the Alaska Board of Higher Education proved to be invaluable for Aviva Institute. Her knowledge and background not only in midwifery but holistic health will provide the leadership needed to move Aviva forward.
In May of 2007, Aviva purchased Via Vita, a correspondence based midwifery program approved by the State of Alaska as a route to become an Alaska Licensed Direct Entry Midwife. The program will be integrated in Aviva existing materials, providing a wealth of great information.
The trend of the right people coming on board was true with the addition of Kim Perry, CPM, CNM and Jennifer Hanson, CPM to the faculty and development team. Kim received all three of her degrees through distance education, and is currently an instructor at two different nursing schools. Her teaching and distance education experience provides valuable perspective to the professionalism of the course work. Jennifer is also a graduate of a distance midwifery program and has a Masters degree in English and Education, as well as teaching degree. As she heads up our general education department, her experience as a practicing homebirth midwife brings needed background to the midwifery program, and, coming from a family of educators, Jennifer brings valuable insight, knowledge and skills to Aviva Institute.
The right people continued to come on board with some of the best and brightest midwives and holistic educators in the US hired as faculty. Great staff was hired as well. Business Director Melissa Kelly brings years of experience as a business director for a non profit school and as a bookkeeper, as well as being a doula and midwifery consumer.
In July, 2007 Sandra Ross joined the faculty as our Global Health Educator. She is the organizer of our Ghana Midwifery Exchange, which will provide Ghana midwives with professional development and Aviva students with experience in midwifery, women’s and general health care in West Africa.
The official birth date of Aviva Institute is August 6, 2007 with the launch of the web site. Our first classes began September, 10, 2007, and our first group of matriculating students are scheduled to begin January 6, 2008. We experienced a long pregnancy, a short labor, and a sweet birth. As a newborn midwifery and health education college our history is just beginning and we are excited to see what the future brings.
