Okunsola's Community Doula Training©

BECOME A CERTIFIED DOULA

What is a Doula?

A Doula is a professional pregnancy, birth and postpartum support person, and are experts at uplifting and honoring women & birthing people through the process of labor and birth, while supporting them into the transition of the immediate postpartum period and rites of passage of motherhood & parenthood.

Do you feel called to become a Doula?

Would you like to provide cultural and evidence based care to your community, offering solutions to combat systemic and structural racism in Black Maternal Health?

Do you desire to learn ancient and modern cultural traditions & ceremonies that were created for the overall spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being of Black  expectant families?

If so, this training is for you, and we're ready to take those first steps to assist you in becoming a community-based, Certified Doula.

Jamaa Birth Village offers a scholarship based, 60-hour hybrid community Doula training, featuring virtual pre-requisites and live virtual learning modules, with additional in-person hands-on learning & practice sessions, for Black & African-American people living in the St. Louis region.

jamaa doula training
Total # of Doulas trained since 2016
DOULAS TRAINED

FREE CULTURALLY CONGRUENT BIRTH DOULA TRAINING

As a part of the Merck for Mothers Safer Childbirth Cities Initiative & the STL 360 Doula Initiative, we're currently offering 250-full scholarships, making this training free for 250 Black women & men who're interested in serving their community as culturally congruent, community-based, Certified Doulas, in an effort to improve pregnancy, birth and postpartum outcomes for Black women, babies and families in the St. Louis region.

Ready to begin your Doula journey?

Here are your next steps>>>> If you're low-income, or have trouble paying for doula training, click the doula training scholarship & registration form below, complete the application in its entirety, and be sure to sign-up for a virtual doula training info session in July. The virtual doula training info session registration link will pop-up once you submit your application. If you don't attend an info session, your appliciation will not be considered. If you're not low-income and can afford to pay for Doula training, click the non-scholarship registration link below to register.

birth doula training

YOU WILL BE WELL VERSED IN:

  • Birth Rights & Advocacy
  • Preconception & Prenatal Care and Wellness
  • Labor & Delivery support, comfort, complication navigation, and the clear understanding of informed choice for their clients
  • Postpartum wellness for women & postpartum people, babies and families
  • Cultural congruence, Reproductive Justice, the foundation and application of cultural ceremonies and traditions from varying ethnic backgrounds
  • Business Sense and community enhancement
  • Individual and personal celebration, self-care inner-outer wellness

Still curious about what a Doula is?

Doulas support physiologic normal birth, high risk pregnancies and attend births in all settings. Doulas are not healthcare providers and do not provide clinical services. They are trained to provide cultural, physical, and emotional supportive care and education.

Okunsula's Community Doula Training© is hosted and taught by Jamaa Birth Village™ through the STL 360 Doula Initiative. Jamaa Birth Village does not offer private classes for business, institutions or groups. If you're interested in a private Doula training, please click here for a list of recommendations. 

Doula Training Costs & Details:

Doula training scholarships are available for 250, income qualifying individuals who complete the required application process.

For those who can afford to pay, Doula training costs are $1100 to be paid in full, 10-days before training.

Doula Mentoring Program

Need a mentor as a new doula? Request a mentor through our Doula Mentor Program using the button below.

Learn more & register

To secure your spot in our upcoming Doula training, complete the application below:

Ready to register and don't need a scholarship? Click the link below to complete the doula training registration form:

Required Course Prerequisites

This is the only Doula training in the nation preparing students for excellence with foundational maternal health prerequisites, prior to beginning the official doula training.

Hybrid Learning

Doula training students will experience both live virtual learning and in-person hands on learning and practice sessions, with national, senior level, advanced and experienced Doula trainers.

Doula Exam

An exam will be provided at the end of training to ensure the success of each Doula.

Required mentorship

Each Doula student will undergo a required mentorship, with a pre-approved Elder-Senior Doula, prior to certification.

Certification

A 2-Year Certified Doula Certificate & Doula Collective Membership will be granted to Doula graduates.

Doula Business Start Up

Each Doula graduate will receive a business listing on our Collective Doula Directory website with a Certified Doula start-up kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Friday I walked into my first day of Doula certification training not knowing what to expect. We graduated yesterday, and today I am having withdrawal symptoms. I miss being surrounded by their love. I miss seeing the happiness and sadness on their beautiful faces. I miss hearing their personal struggles. I missed how the room naturally filled with love. I miss those warm hugs. I miss the loudness. I miss how Ms. Tru looked at us with pride. I miss how they loved & respected me. I miss all of those strangers that became my tribe.

- New Doula Sharon
jamaa birth doula workshop

I’m on cloud nine right now I can’t even fall to sleep you’re an amazing inspirational instructor can’t wait to do more work with you’re so dope BOSS!!!!!

- Micai

I took Jamaa's doula class. It was life changing for me and so many other people that were in our class. Thank you Okunsola, you are amazing."

- Kimberly Winston