About the CABC
The Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers is:
- The only accrediting authority dedicated exclusively to the quality of the operation and services of all birth centers regardless of ownership, primary care provider, or population served.
- An independent authority that accredits developing and existing birth centers in the United States of America, according to established national standards.
History and Purpose
In 1985, the CABC was founded as the result of more than a decade of work by the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) to:
- evaluate the quality of birth center services
- promote the development of national guidelines for licensure
- review state regulations for birth centers
- explore and evaluate the programs of other accrediting agencies
AABC also provided the foundation for the operation of today’s CABC by:
- Developing the first national Standards for Birth Centers.
- Conducting a two-year pilot program to develop and test the optimum mechanism for evaluating:
- the quality of care in birth centers
- the birth centers’ compliance with established standards
Today, the process of accreditation is continually reviewed and revised to assure that the program continues to:
- meet the needs of applicant centers
- provide for the highest level of quality improvement
- evaluate the criteria for accreditation based on the best available evidence for maternity care
The CABC has been independent from the AABC since January 1, 2002.
Who is the CABC?
The CABC work is performed by a paid administrator and many volunteers including:
- representatives of birth center consumers
- professionals in:
- midwifery
- obstetrics
- family practice
- nursing
- neonatology
- pediatrics
- health care administration
- public health
What do Commissioners do?
- establish the policies and procedures of the CABC
- evaluate each applicant birth center’s compliance with the established standards