Doula Trainings
BirthWell Partners is committed to growing the doula workforce in Alabama. We host multiple, DONA-Approved Birth Doula Trainings each year. Those with financial need can apply to our Work-Study program to receive FREE training, mentoring, and hands-on experience with clients. Work Study priority areas for 2023 include: residents of the City of Birmingham, residents of rural counties, and Certified Recovery Support Specialists.
DONA-Approved Birth Doula Training:
Birth Doula Training- meets DONA's certification requirements for attending an "Approved Birth Doula Workshop" as well as the "Introduction to Childbirth for Doulas"
Breastfeeding Support Training- meets DONA's certification requirement for a "Basics of Breastfeeding" class
Together, these meet all classroom education requirements for certification with DONA International.
The Perinatal Health Advocate Training is required for doulas providing services to BirthWell clients, and recommended for anyone interested in supporting under-resourced and/or marginalized families to address inequities in health outcomes. This class is not required for DONA certification.
Hands-On Experience that Matters
Work-Study- If the cost of doula training is a barrier, you may qualify for a work-study position. Recipients receive free training in exchange for providing doula services for up to 3 BirthWell clients
Volunteer Doula Opportunities- Gain experience while serving our community. Prospective volunteers must attend our Breastfeeding Support Training, Perinatal Health Advocate Training and attend an Orientation.
Thank you to our 2023 workshop sponsor
Adrian Ward, LMT Relaxation Room
Interested in hosting a workshop for your organization or group? Contact us at 205-614-3297.
Birth Doula training
Learn how to support individuals through pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. This multi-day workshop is one step in the process of becoming a DONA International Certified Birth Doula.
Do you want to be a Birth Doula?
This training meets 2 of the education requirements for DONA Birth Doula Certification: a DONA-Approved Birth Doula Workshop and Introduction to Childbirth for Doulas
Birth Doula Trainings are held multiple times a year in Birmingham.
Cost: $650
What you'll learn:
-
Why birth matters
-
What doulas do before, during, and after labor & birth
-
The proven benefits of doula support
-
Labor support techniques
-
The evidence on common labor practices
-
Pain coping techniques
-
and MUCH more
Who should take this course?
Anyone who works with people during their childbearing years:
Doulas, nurses, midwives, community health workers, WIC providers, social workers, Early Head Start/Head Start staff, support group facilitators and more...
Breastfeeding support Training
"Encouraging and Supporting Breastfeeding
in a First Food Desert."
Learn how to help new parents get breastfeeding off to a great start! This training addresses barriers to breastfeeding, how to maximize influence to promote breastfeeding and tips for supporting continued breastfeeding success.
This 4-hour training meets the breastfeeding class requirement for DONA certification.
What you'll learn:
-
Why breastfeeding is important
-
Skills to get breastfeeding off to a good start
-
How to identify an effective latch
-
Ways to meet clients where they are and provide useful information about breastfeeding
Who should take this course?
Anyone who works with people during their childbearing years:
Doulas, lactation specialists, nurses, midwives, community health workers, WIC providers, social workers, Early Head Start/Head Start staff, support group facilitators and more...
Do you want to support breastfeeding success?
BirthWell Partners Doulas must attend our Breastfeeding Support Training.
Breastfeeding Support Trainings are held 2-3 times a year in conjunction with our regular Birth Doula Trainings.
Cost: $50
Perinatal Health Advocate Training
A Perinatal Health Advocate is a Community Health Worker who focuses on connecting families with resources and support for pregnancy, birth and for parenting.
What you'll learn:
-
Awareness of Maternal and Infant Mortality rates, both how they are calculated and how our community compares nationally and internationally
-
How the environment in which a parent lives affects their pregnancy and birth
-
How to connect families to the resources they need to complete healthy pregnancies
Who should take this course?
Everyone who is concerned or wants to learn more about health inequity: Doulas, lactation specialists, nurses, midwives, community health workers, WIC providers, social workers, Early Head Start/Head Start staff, support group facilitators and more...
Do you want to be a Perinatal Health Advocate?
Perinatal Health Advocate Trainings are held 2-3 times a year in conjunction with our regular Birth Doula Trainings.
BirthWell Partners Doulas must attend a Perinatal Health Advocate Training.
Cost: $40
About the trainer:
Executive Director of Program Operations
Dalia Abrams, M.A., M.P.H.
BDT(DONA), CD(DONA), LCCE, CLC
Dalia is the co-founder of BirthWell Partners. She is a DONA International approved Birth Doula Trainer, a DONA certified Birth Doula, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and a Certified Lactation Counselor. She has been engaged in birth work, supporting growing families since 1996.
Work study opportunity
If you want to become a doula, but the cost of training and certification is a barrier, apply for a work-study position! We provide all the classroom requirements for completing DONA birth doula certification = STUDY. You provide birth doula support to 2-4 BirthWell Partners clients = WORK. It's a win-win: you get classroom training, plus mentoring AND get hands-on experience with clients. BirthWell's under-resourced clients get the support of a trained and compassionate doula.
Applicants for Work-Study Must:
Key information:
-
We Look at a Range of Applicants: We want to make doula training and DONA certification widely accessible.
-
We Look at a Range of Financial Need: We have full and partial work-study options. This approach allows us to spread our limited resources to more applicants.
-
All Work-Study Program Participants Agree to Attend Births for BirthWell Partners: After training and orientation, we require attendance at 3 births (full work-study) or 2 births (partial work-study), and completion of client data-collection paperwork in a timely manner.
-
Work-Study Participants Receive Mentoring: All participants can take advantage of mentoring from staff, who are experienced doulas.
-
Work-Study Participants are not prohibited from taking private clients while fulfilling your work-study commitment: In fact, we encourage establishment of a private doula practice as soon as one feels ready.
Work Study Application Process
-
Be at least 21 years of age
-
Live in the Greater Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, or Anniston area
-
Have reliable transportation
-
Have a valid driver's license and automobile liability insurance
-
Have financial need
Note: Please read the first 3 pages of the application carefully. These pages contain important information about the application process, commitment required, and training schedule.
Volunteer with Us!
Gain hands-on experience, benefit from mentoring and support from Birthwell Partners staff, and serve families that cannot afford the cost of a doula. Volunteers are the HEART and HANDS of BirthWell Partners!
How to volunteer:
-
Complete our DONA approved Birth Doula Training, or, if you are already certified or have completed a doula training, contact Dalia to see if you can join us!
-
Attend Perinatal Health Advocate Training
-
Attend Breastfeeding Support Training (or get a waiver from Dalia)
-
Attend a BirthWell Partners Doula Orientation
-
Have a Valid Driver's License and proof of automobile insurance
-
Complete a background check
Click here to download a .pdf with complete details about our doula trainings and volunteering: