Following are practical tools and strategies that health systems, maternal care providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use when seeking to create or improve doula programs.
Best Practices for Medicaid Coverage of Doula Care
This resource compiles best practices and lessons learned from states to support planning, implementing, and sustaining Medicaid coverage for doula services.
State Approaches to Supporting the Community-Based Doula Workforce
This brief highlights state efforts to recruit, support, and retain community-based doulas to expand access to maternal care services.
Toolkit for Expanding Doula-Friendly Hospitals
This toolkit supports hospitals in developing policies and practices to support integration of doulas into maternity care teams.
Implementing Community-Based Doula Training Programs
This guide provides a framework to help health centers design, implement, and maintain community-based doula programs through workforce development, planning, and community engagement.
Doulas in Medicaid: Case Study Findings
This brief explores how state Medicaid programs are implementing coverage of doula services, outlines the challenges of integrating this non-clinical service into Medicaid, and highlights the necessary support doulas need to aid Medicaid members.
Covering Doula Services Under Medicaid: Design and Implementation Considerations for Promoting Access and Health Equity
This brief provides a practical guide for states that are pursuing doula coverage under Medicaid based on the experiences of six state agencies.
Four State Strategies to Employ Doulas to Improve Maternal Health and Birth Outcomes in Medicaid
This report examines policy, financing, and programmatic strategies states have implemented to support doula services for Medicaid-eligible individuals.
Doula Integration Toolkit
This toolkit provides practical approaches to integrating doulas into maternal care teams and fostering team-based care in hospital and health system settings.