What are the ICEA's three core values?

• A. Integrity, Excellence, Accountability
• B. Respect, Diversity, Innovation
• C. Care, Service, Professionalism
• D. Compassion, Collaboration, Choice

Answer: (D)

Understanding ICEA's guiding values means recognizing the three principles that shape how childbirth educators approach care with families. The trio is compassion, collaboration, and choice. Compassion involves offering empathetic, respectful support that acknowledges fear, pain, and vulnerability, aiming to make the experience as positive as possible. Collaboration emphasizes working closely with clients, their families, and other members of the care team, valuing each person’s knowledge and input to reach shared goals. Choice centers on honoring informed decisions, clearly presenting options, and respecting the client’s preferences and values in birth planning.

These values together support ethical, person-centered care grounded in informed consent and cultural sensitivity. The other options, while important in healthcare generally, do not reflect ICEA’s stated trio of core values.