Full-Spectrum Community-Based Doula Training
April 10–12 • April 17–19 • April 24–26
Fridays 6:30–9:00 PM | Saturdays & Sundays 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: New Jersey | In-Person Training
This three-weekend immersive, in-person training in New Jersey prepares participants to serve as full-spectrum, community-based doulas grounded in birth justice, human rights in childbirth, cultural humility, and trauma-informed care. Designed for those committed to supporting pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people—particularly within historically marginalized communities—this course blends evidence-based knowledge, hands-on skill building, and a justice-centered framework for care.
Across 45 hours of instruction, participants will gain the competencies required to provide prenatal, labor, birth, postpartum, and advocacy support in homes, hospitals, birth centers, and community settings.
Training Schedule (45 Hours)
Fridays: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Foundations, reflection, and integration)
Saturdays & Sundays: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Core content, practice labs, and role play)
What You Will Learn
Foundations of Birth Justice & the Role of the Doula
History and evolution of community-based doula work
Birth and reproductive justice framework
Scope of practice, ethics, and professional boundaries
Cultural humility and implicit bias in maternal health care
Anatomy, Physiology, and the Stages of Labor
Physiologic changes in pregnancy
The pelvis, hormones, and the process of labor
The four stages of labor and what doulas observe and support
Understanding medical interventions and informed consent
Labor Support Skills Lab
Comfort measures: positioning, touch, breath, counter-pressure, rebozo
Supporting unmedicated, medicated, and cesarean births
Partner support and family dynamics in the birth space
Creating calming, empowering birth environments
Advocacy, Communication, and Informed Consent
Supporting clients in navigating hospital systems
Language of advocacy without practicing medicine
Trauma-informed communication and de-escalation
Documentation and data collection practices
Postpartum and Newborn Support
Immediate postpartum period and the “golden hour”
Basics of lactation and infant feeding support
Postpartum warning signs and maternal mental health
Building sustainable postpartum care plans for families
Community-Based Doula Practice
Working in shelters, homes, and community settings
Case management and referral networks
Professional sustainability and preventing burnout
Pathways to certification, Medicaid enrollment, and mentorship
Training Methods
Interactive lectures
Hands-on practice labs
Scenario-based role play
Small group discussion and reflection
Real-world case studies from community settings
Who This Training Is For
This training is ideal for:
Aspiring doulas
Community health workers
Birth workers seeking a justice-centered framework
Individuals passionate about improving maternal health outcomes in their communities
No prior medical experience is required.
What Participants Receive
Comprehensive doula training manual
Skills practice and competency checklists
Provisional Certificate of Completion (45 training hours) issued after the training weekend series and completion of additional required classes and a final assessment
Clear guidance on remaining certification requirements
Connection to mentorship and a community of practice
Certification Pathway
Upon successful completion of the three training weekends, participants enter a provisional certification phase. During this phase, trainees complete additional required coursework and a final assessment to demonstrate competency.
Once all certification requirements are fully met, participants are eligible to apply for full certification as a community-based doula.
Commitment
Because this training is immersive and experiential, full attendance across all three weekends is required to receive a provisional certificate.
Outcome
By the end of this training, participants will be prepared to:
Provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum
Advocate for clients using a birth justice and human rights framework
Work confidently in hospital, home, birth center, and community environments
Progress along a clear pathway toward professional doula certification and practice
Cost & Payment Options
Cost of Training: $1,600
Payment plans are available to ensure this training remains accessible to those committed to serving their communities. Details on installment options will be provided upon registration.
This is more than a training.
It is an invitation to join a movement of community-based birth workers committed to dignity, safety, and justice in childbirth.