"A doula provides support consisting of praise, reassurance, measures to improve the comfort of the mother, physical contact such as rubbing the mother’s back and holding her hands, explanation of what is going on during labour and delivery and a constant friendly presence."
Care in Normal Birth: a Practical Guide. Report of a Technical Working Group. World Health Organization, 1996
Outreach doulas provide services to women and their families who need more intensive support during pregnancy and early parenting. Outreach doula services begin early in pregnancy and continue up to 2 years after delivery. In addition to doula training, outreach doulas receive training in assessment, case management, and other social service skills. Outreach doulas are of and from the communities they serve and are committed to helping women in their communities have satisfying birthing and parenting experiences.
The Outreach Doula model is based on a national program pioneered by Chicago Health Connection. The Outreach Doula model relies on strong community partnerships which involve a number of key stakeholders including service professionals, local health and social service organizations, funders, community residents and health care providers. The Outreach Doula projects hold the promise of far reaching impacts for communities and families.
Outreach Doula Projects
Currently, Open Arms has two outreach doula projects.
White Center Early Learning Initiative (WCELI) – A Thrive Community
Open Arms provides birth and outreach doulas to families in White Center as part of the integrated home-based services for WCELI – A Thrive Community.
Otter Women Project
In 2005, the South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA), in collaboration with the Region X Office on Women’s Health conducted an assessment of women’s health services in southwestern Washington tribal communities. The assessment revealed that there is no prenatal, delivery, or postpartum care for these communities.
Through funding from the Region X Office on Women’s Health, the Otter Women Project will provide outreach and education to low-income, high-risk women of childbearing age in the tribal communities of southwest Washington. The project is designed to provide outreach and education from within the natural social and communal networks of the tribal communities. The Otter Women Project is currently working to evaluate the use of outreach doulas as an effective method to respond to the need for perinatal care in these communities.
Ultimately, the Otter Women Project will work to reduce the disparities in health outcomes for the women of the southwestern Washington tribal communities.
