Community-Based Doula Programs

Overview

Unlike hospital-based programs, the independent, community-based doula program emphasizes the primacy of the doula-client relationship. While participating doulas endeavor to work collaboratively with their clients’ medical team members, the doula’s first loyalty is to her client. In hospital-based models, on the other hand, the doula is an employee of (or sponsored by) the hospital. Potentially, the employer-employee relationship may trump the doula-client bond.

starting nonprofitStarting a Nonprofit Organization

IRS 501(c)(3) Applications

  • Do you have a fabulous idea for founding a non-profit corporation to meet a special need in your community?
  • Are you unsure whether or not you qualify for 501(c)(3) status?
  • Are you feeling daunted by that IRS application?
  • Are you under the impression that you need to hire a lawyer and/or accountant to accomplish this task?

Think again! Let a nonprofit and doula program development expert help you get started. I can save you time, money, and sleepless nights. See consulting services below.

Available Services

  • Coaching to focus your concept
  • Education on the pros and cons of going non-profit — support to answer the question, “is this the right direction for you/your group?”
  • Assistance in creation of the all-important Mission Statement
  • Help in forming your Board of Directors
  • Completion and filing of the Articles of Incorporation
  • Completion of the IRS application
  • Program planning guidance
  • Strategic planning facilitation (setting goals and priorities for fundraising, grant writing, and marketing)

Intent upon doing it on your own?

Reinventing the wheel is a waste of time. Plus, this stuff is boring! Purchase these sample Articles and Bylaws for your organization. Includes instructions for customization. Use as a template and then customize to meet your organizational needs and goals. 100% Money Back Guarantee if you cannot use these.

Sample Nonprofit Articles & Bylaws ($25)
 

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Additional Supports Available

The Doula Business Guide ($29.95)
 

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“Patty Brennan’s book was an inspiration and practical guide as we started our non-profit community doula program. Her thorough, clearly written advice was invaluable as we made decisions about how to structure our organization, manage risk, plan our service model and draft our data collection instruments. We appreciated her honesty about the challenges of operating as a non-profit and, because of her book, feel that we have realistic expectations. We also recommend Patty’s book to all doulas who take trainings through our organization. This is a comprehensive source of information for new (and experienced) doulas, who are passionate about their profession, but frequently not comfortable with the business aspects of their work.”
— Susan Petrus, Co-Founder of BirthWell Partners Community Doula Project, Birmingham, AL

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Two Program Models

Doulas Care

Doulas Care was founded in 1999 by Patty Brennan, as a grassroots, community-based, volunteer doula program serving families throughout southeastern Michigan. Patty served as executive director of the nonprofit, providing leadership through 2007. During her tenure, Doulas Care attracted numerous community partners and funders, expanding program capacity to provide free doula care to over 250 families annually. In 2004, Doulas Care was awarded the DONA International Founders’ Award for Excellence in a Doula Group.

Community-based doulasProgram Concept-Win-Win. Doulas Care was conceived, from the beginning, as a win-win proposition. Women who had recently completed doula training and were eager to get to births were matched with low-income expectant mothers who desired doula support. The new trainees were thereby provided with a ready opportunity to complete professional certification requirements, while moms who might otherwise face birth alone or with inadequate support, were provided with support from a mentor — a trained volunteer doula from their own community. Since many of the volunteers were themselves low income, the opportunity to become a professionally trained and certified doula proved to be a career development strategy and pathway to gainful employment. In this model, a Volunteer Coordinator matches women seeking doula support with an appropriate doula volunteer.

Services Provided. Birth Doulas provide a minimum of three prenatal visits, attendance at the birth, three postpartum visits, and phone consultations as needed. If the client has special needs, transportation to enable access to prenatal care or childbirth classes might be included in the service package. Postpartum Doulas provide a minimum of two three-hour visits per week for a period of two weeks. In many cases, additional hours are provided, with the overall goal of growing confidence in the mother and gradually weaning her from dependence on doula support. In special circumstances, such as families with multiples, single moms with toddlers who may also be post-cesarean, families with premature or sick babies, or moms suffering from postpartum depression, care may be extended up to three months. Sometimes a team of doulas provide additional hours of care in high-need circumstances.

Volunteer Training. Doulas receive core doula training that fulfills DONA International professional doula certification requirements. In addition, a two-part Volunteer Orientation program was developed. Part I enrolls qualified doulas as volunteers in the program and addresses program policies and procedures. Part II expands the role of the doula as a community outreach worker and provides training on perinatal risk factors and related topics. Issues such as domestic violence awareness, cultural competency, substance abuse, and the needs of temothers are covered.

Funding. The community-based volunteer doula program model is likely to be primarily (though it should not be wholly) a grant-funded program. As a public health intervention, it is both innovative and proactive. In addition, there is a growing evidence base that doulas improve lower medical interventions in the birth process, birth outcomes, and save money. With its focus on prevention and early intervention strategies, the model is not a hard sell to the right funder. Many foundations and government agencies identify priority funding areas that are a natural fit with doula programs (i.e., women’s health, infant mortality, promoting community volunteerism, family health initiatives, and so on). Learn to write a competitive grant proposal and think strategically and you will get funded! Past funders for Doulas Care included:

  • Michigan Women’s Foundation
  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • March of Dimes
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
  • Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
  • Ypsilanti Area Community Foundation
  • And more!

Michigan Doula Connection

Community-based doula This web-based, nonprofit, volunteer doula program was founded in 2011 by Patty Brennan who serves as executive director. It retains all the aspects of the original Doulas Care program model except the need to fund a volunteer coordinator. With the web-based approach, we have made the program more accessible to families in need who can now directly access potential doula volunteers. Clients simply need to enter their zip code on the homepage and the system will generate a list of volunteer doulas, ranked in order to whomever is closest in proximity to the woman/family seeking help. The web-based model is also more sustainable. Funding is still needed to provide scholarships for low-income community women to become doulas and do the “pay back.” However, staff support is not essential and seed funding for the website launch can establish a resource that will generate benefits to families for years to come. Learn more at Michigan Doula Connection.
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Doula Program Consultantdoula program consultant

If you are interested in establishing a community-based volunteer doula program, why re-invent the wheel? Patty Brennan is a doula program development specialist and grant writing trainer/ consultant. She can help you sidestep hard lessons learned and launch your program. Start helping families in your community today! Patty’s expertise in the field of maternal/infant health includes:

  • Grant Writer (16 years; 85% funding rate for proposals submitted)
  • Doula Program Development (16 years)
  • Non-Profit Start-Up and Management (16 years)
  • Adult Education/Curriculum Development/Public Speaking (33 years)
  • Doula Trainer (16 years)
  • Childbirth Education (33 years)
  • Small Business Start-Up and Development (37 years)
  • Volunteer Management (16 years)
Purchase One Hour of Consulting with Patty Brennan ($100)
 

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Questions?

Email [email protected].

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