Stronger Together:
Doula Support for Black American Women

Are you passionate about supporting women through pregnancy and childbirth?
Become a doula with HMHB’s Stronger Together program!

According to March of Dimes, a racial and cultural match between a doula and client is a consistent predictor of better communication and can promote a greater understanding of the social, cultural, and economic factors that positively affect health equity. From 2017-19, the maternal death disparity rate was 3.6 in Palm Beach County (Florida Charts). In other words, Black women died from childbirth complications at a rate of over 3.5 times more than White women died.

The Journal of Perinatal Education reported that women who were socially disadvantaged and doula-assisted for birth were four times less likely to have a low birth weight baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding as compared to non-doula-assisted women of the same socio-economic group (2013). Evidence suggests that the presence of doulas in a traditional healthcare setting allows them to serve as advocates for women of color. A recent study found that doulas have the potential to provide a “buffer” against racism in health care for pregnant women of color by providing advocacy, patient-centered, tailored, and culturally appropriate care (National Health Law Program, May 2020).

HMHB’s Stronger Together program is designed to improve maternal health in Palm Beach County through a focused project dedicated to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality for Black women. Stronger Together provides doula certification to a cohort of Black American women in Palm Beach County. Once certified, these women are matched with pregnant Black American clients of HMHB who reside within specific areas of our community where higher rates of poor birth outcomes and infant mortality are prevalent.

Doulas assist with birth planning, provide support during labor and delivery and remain engaged with their clients for three months postpartum. Cohort members connect with other Black doulas as part of the training to become educated about hospital practices and common labor and delivery procedures to allow for even stronger advocacy for mom-to-be.

Doulas who are selected for a cohort will receive all training and materials at no cost. Additionally, each doula will be paid a stipend for two births during their training period.

Interested in becoming a doula?

  • -Birth doula provided by BEAM Birth Network

    -Postpartum doula provided by BEAM Birth Network

    -Maternal Mental Health (Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders)

    -Women’s Health Training Series

    -Childbirth and Breastfeeding

    -The Fourth Trimester: Providing Support & Services to New Mothers

    -Child Abuse & Neglect

    -Trauma Informed Care

    -Racial Disparities in Birth Outcomes

    -Breaking Through Implicit Bias in Maternal Health Care

    -Business & Marketing

    -Healthy Beginnings System Overview

    -And more!

    Doulas who are selected for the cohort will receive all training and materials at no cost. Additionally, each doula will be paid a stipend for two births during their training period. HMHB doula certification is completed in 9-12 months.

  • Doulas selected for the cohort must meet the following requirements:

    -Be a resident of Palm Beach County

    -Identify as Black/Black American

    -Commit to an intensive 9-12 month training program and complete all training requirements (training is inclusive of Birthing AND Postpartum doula)

    -Complete all required application documentation and pass a Level II background screening

    -Complete required reading from the Stronger Together Required Reading List

    -Be mentored by a practicing Doula, Midwife, Nurse Practitioner or Obstetrics provider through phone, email or video throughout the training program

    -Observe/participate in a minimum of 2 sponsored births

    -Be available to attend 2-3 prenatal appointments with your client

    -Be available to remain partners with your client for three months postpartum

    -Complete an Independent Contractor agreement

  • Applications for the Fall 2024 cohort are closed.

    Click here to complete your online application for the Spring 2025 cohort.

    Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Once submitted, you will be contacted with next steps.

    Please note: cohort selection is limited.

For more information:

Email Latoya Rawls at lrawls@hmhbpbc.org.

Thank you to the Stronger Together funders:

Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Community Project Funding through the Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration, Florida Blue Foundation, Kingdom Charitable Trust, Quantum Foundation, and The Fledgling Fund

Are you pregnant and interested in having doula support?

Click here to meet the doulas who have been trained and certified through Stronger Together.