Community Birth and Doula Integration Initiative

Challenge

Doulas, midwifes, and community birth centers offer expectant mothers tremendous benefits. Yet fewer than 1% of births in Massachusetts occur in these settings. While a 2024 maternal health law aims to increase this percentage by expanding access to doulas, midwives, and community birth centers, there are some key barriers to overcome, including limited infrastructure and public and provider awareness.

In the Community Birth and Doula Integration Initiative, EDC and the Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) are collaboratively advancing the state’s goal to improve maternal health outcomes. EDC and DPH are developing systems and resources designed to bring doulas, midwives, and birth centers into the state’s maternal health system and promote provider professionalization. Using quality improvement and health communications strategies, the initiative is also supporting the use of effective transfer-of-care protocols to ensure the safe transition of patients between health care providers.

Key Activities

The project is carrying out the following activities:

• Launch and manage a comprehensive statewide Doula Certification System
• Lead the statewide integration of licensed certified professional midwives and community birth protocols
• Lead a Doula Partner Advisory Group that will actively guide the certification and integration process
• Coordinate and manage an online resource hub on the DPH website
• Develop and implement a comprehensive statewide system to ensure respectful, person-centered, and clinically sound transfers of care from community birth settings to hospitals

Impact

The Initiative will transform Massachusetts’ maternal health system by integrating doulas and community birth into the broader continuum of care.