BLM NH Doula Certification Cohort & Curriculum

Expanding Birth Equity Through Community-Rooted Doula Training

This spring, BLM NH is launching its first Doula Certification Cohort, an essential step in strengthening maternal health outcomes and expanding access to culturally grounded care for Black, Indigenous, and other families of color across New Hampshire.

We are developing our own doula curriculum, built intentionally to center the experiences, histories, and needs of BIPOC birthing people. Our training prioritizes culturally responsive support, trauma-informed practices, and advocacy skills that reflect the realities of navigating healthcare systems that too often overlook or dismiss the concerns of marginalized families.

  • Doulas play a critical role in improving maternal health outcomes. Research consistently shows that doula support can:

    • Reduce the likelihood of birth complications

    • Increase feelings of safety, dignity, and agency during pregnancy and childbirth

    • Improve communication between birthing people and healthcare providers

    • Strengthen emotional and physical support before, during, and after birth

    For BIPOC families—who face disproportionate rates of maternal morbidity and mortality—the presence of a trained, culturally aligned doula is not just supportive; it can be lifesaving.

    Yet New Hampshire currently has a limited number of BIPOC doulas, creating gaps in access and representation during one of life’s most vulnerable and powerful moments.

  • Our goal is to build a pipeline of highly skilled BIPOC doulas who are equipped to:

    • Provide compassionate, culturally grounded birth support
      Advocate for birthing people inside medical settings

    • Address systemic inequities contributing to birthing disparities

    • Strengthen community care networks

    • Expand the maternal health workforce across the state

    By offering this training at no cost to participants, we remove financial barriers and uplift emerging doulas who are deeply connected to the communities they will serve.

APPLICATIONS OPEN:

BLM NH Community Doula Training Cohort

APPLY NOW
APPLY NOW

Black Lives Matter New Hampshire is excited to announce that applications are now open for our Community-Based Doula Training Cohort. This program is designed to expand New Hampshire’s perinatal workforce while advancing equity and culturally responsive support for birthing families across our state.

Through this training, BLM NH will support 10–12 participants each year to become trained doulas at no cost to participants. The program is rooted in our mission of advancing the liberation, healing, and empowerment of Black and Brown communities through advocacy, education, and community-centered care.

Doulas provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Research shows that doula support can improve birth experiences, increase breastfeeding rates, and reduce unnecessary medical interventions. Yet many families—particularly Black and marginalized families—still lack access to culturally responsive birth support. This training seeks to change that.

Participants will receive a comprehensive curriculum aligned with New Hampshire’s proposed doula certification competencies and grounded in reproductive justice and Black maternal health advocacy. Training topics will include prenatal and postpartum care, labor support techniques, patient advocacy, navigating healthcare systems, cultural humility, and trauma-informed care.

As part of the program, trainees will also have the opportunity to participate in clinical shadowing experiences through partnerships with local hospitals and colleges, allowing them to observe births and gain hands-on experience needed to pursue certification.

This initiative is part of BLM NH’s ongoing commitment to strengthening community-based care and building a more equitable maternal health system in New Hampshire.

Who should apply?
We encourage applications from individuals who are passionate about supporting families, advancing birth equity, and serving their communities. No prior medical experience is required.

Program Highlights

  • Free training for selected participants

  • Hands-on skills practice and mentorship

  • Education on Black maternal health and reproductive justice

  • Clinical shadowing opportunities

  • Preparation for New Hampshire doula certification

Applications are open now, and space is limited. Apply Now.

Join the BLMNH Maternal Health Committee

Join the BLMNH committee members working to improve Black maternal health through research, programs, and more.

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Join Now