Objective

Improve access to care and decrease disparities in outcomes via the "community-based doula" model of care that provides enhanced outreach and support during the perinatal period.

Community-based doulas are community health workers with additional doula training who live in the underserved community they serve and engage in extended involvement with the family.
Community-based doulas are shown to improve access to early and regular prenatal care; improve continuity of care; increase breastfeeding and improve mother-infant bonding; reduce the rate of C-sections and epidural usage; and reduce postpartum depression.
A pilot project in Marion County will test the effectiveness of this model for possible statewide replication