Collaborative initiative seeks an executive director
After months of behind-the-scenes planning and preparation, the Doula Alliance of Arkansas is ready to begin its collaborative effort to improve maternal health outcomes in Arkansas. The initiative aims to advance the profession of birth work through advocacy and education, improve access to high-quality doula services statewide, and provide a professional support system for Arkansas doulas.
Since its Summit in the fall of 2023, Excel by Eight has served in an advisory role to a group of Arkansas doulas during their process of establishing a statewide organization for their profession.
“We’ve been working about as long as it takes to grow a baby to get to this day,” said Anna Strong, health policy lead for the Excel by Eight Foundations executive committee and executive director of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We’ve been seeking funding, thinking about policy agendas, talking with partners, and really trying to build a case to make sure doulas are part of the conversation about moving maternal health care forward in Arkansas.”
Strong added that access to doula support is a proven solution to improving the health of mothers and babies.
“I work with physicians in my job, and they are an integral part of leading a health care team,” Strong said. “But they know they cannot do it all, and they respect and value the other members on their health care teams, including doulas.”
The Doula Alliance of Arkansas was founded with a $250,000 seed grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, which focuses on improving maternal health and women’s economic empowerment in Arkansas. The Arkansas Community Foundation is facilitating the funds, and Excel by Eight will continue to serve as advisors to the organization.
“Establishing the Doula Alliance of Arkansas is a transformative step toward addressing our state’s maternal health crisis,” said Olivia Walton, founder and CEO of Ingeborg Initiatives. “As Arkansas faces the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, the Alliance creates a vital partnership between doulas and physicians, providing an added layer of support for moms during pregnancy and the challenging postpartum period. Ingeborg Initiatives is proud to support this collaborative effort to ensure that every mother receives the comprehensive, compassionate care she deserves.”
The Doula Alliance of Arkansas aims to develop an infrastructure that acknowledges doulas as a profession, elevates the standard of doula practice throughout the state, provides a pathway to a shared definition of certification, and ensures doulas are paid equitably for their services.
The Alliance also plans to increase the number of certified doulas across the state and promote the use of certified doulas by women throughout the perinatal period – from the time they get pregnant through the first year postpartum – particularly in areas of the state with higher maternal mortality rates and lack of access to maternity care and birthing services.
“Doulas work alongside the medical team to offer emotional, physical and informational support to expectant mothers before, during and after childbirth, which has been shown to contribute to better birth experiences and outcomes,” said Nicolle Fletcher, certified doula, co-founder of Ujima Maternity Network and board chair of the Doula Alliance of Arkansas. “This Alliance will allow doulas across the state to present a unified voice for public policy advocacy, formalize our certification process, and provide the structure for us to work more seamlessly with providers to ensure that every mother in Arkansas has access to the care and support she needs.”
Seven Arkansas doulas and several members of the physician and midwife communities comprise the Doula Alliance of Arkansas’s founding board:
- Nicolle Fletcher, doula, chairperson
- Cora Crain, doula, vice chairperson
- Kwaeisi Golliday, doula
- Dr. Christina Green, OB-GYN, Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton
- Sarita Hendrix, doula
- Dr. Nirvana Manning, professor and chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine
- Sondra Rodocker, doula, treasurer
- Liyah Wasson, doula, secretary
- Jamie Washington, doula
“We are excited about the partnership with the Doula Alliance of Arkansas and are grateful for Ingeborg’s dedication to improving maternal health care in Arkansas,” said Dr. Manning. “The maternal health crisis in Arkansas is complicated, and there’s unfortunately not just one solution that will fix the problem. The creation of the Doula Alliance of Arkansas is a positive step in the right direction. By bringing together doulas and health care providers, we can create a more integrated approach to maternal care that benefits all mothers and families in Arkansas and will help us create a lasting impact.”
Currently, the Doula Alliance is seeking a compassionate, skilled executive director to lead the organization in its mission to advance the profession of birth work through advocacy, education and collaboration with the medical community. To learn more, visit doulaallianceofar.org.
About the Doula Alliance of Arkansas
The Doula Alliance of Arkansas is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes by advocating for the professionalization of doulas, providing education opportunities for doulas and the public and fostering intentional collaboration with the medical community. The Alliance aims to increase the number of certified doulas and ensure their services are recognized and reimbursed by healthcare payers. Learn more at doulaallianceofar.org.
Media Coverage:
Group to promote doulas in Arkansas | Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Groups create initiative to improve maternal health in Arkansas | THV11
$250,000 grant kickstarts Doula Alliance to boost Arkansas maternal care | KATV