The ACNM Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice identify health promotion, disease prevention and health education as hallmarks of midwifery.  Almost all of ACNM’s members and consultants are nurse-midwives who were trained in nursing before midwifery and many members are faculty on nursing and midwifery programs.

The Department of Global Outreach has received numerous grants and cooperative agreements from USAID, DHHS, private foundations and PVOs and has worked as a subcontractor on several global USAID-funded projects.  The direct result of this work has been expanded capacity for midwives and nurses in developing countries to provide safe and satisfying maternal and newborn care, to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, and to increase the public health impact of midwives and nurses in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eurasia .

ACNM has provided substantial technical assistance to USAID cooperating agencies such as John Snow, Inc on the MotherCare, SEATS and TASC projects, IntraHealth International, Inc. on PRIME I and II,  and JHPIEGO on the Maternal and Neonatal Health and ACESS Projects. ACNM also works with non-governmental organizations such as Save the Children, Pathfinder International, Project Hope, CARE, Mercy Corps and Catholic Relief Services to improve the delivery of maternity and reproductive health care in developing and transitional countries.