work-study: Financial Assistance for becoming a community birth doula
If you have financial need, you may qualify for free or reduced cost training through our work-study program.
How does It Work?
We provide all the classroom requirements, mentoring for completing DONA birth doula certification, and 6 required doula coaching session = STUDY.
Participants provide birth doula support to 2-3 BirthWell Partners clients = WORK.
It's a Win-Win!
Participants receive classroom training, mentoring and hands-on experience with clients, while BirthWell's under-resourced clients get the support of a trained and compassionate doula.
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Summer Training Timeline
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Deadline to apply: April 20th
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Interviews: April 29th, 30th, May 1st, 2nd
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Provisional acceptances given: May 9th
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Final acceptances given after background check is complete​
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Admin fee due: May 25th
Work Study is only available to Alabama residents. Number of people accepted will depend on current funding and priority areas. ​​
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If you are a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS), please use this link to access a separate training application
Please note that starting in 2025, all approved work-study participants will have to pay a $75, non-refundable administration fee. This fee signals your commitment to follow
through with the program and covers associated costs including your background check.
Note: Please read the first 3 pages of the application carefully. These pages contain important information about the application process, commitment required, and training schedule.
Applicants for Work-Study Must:
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Exhibit financial need
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Be at least 21 years of age
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Have reliable transportation
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Have a valid driver's license
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Carry automobile liability insurance
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Pass a background check
key information about work-study
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We Look at a Range of Applicants: We want to make doula training and DONA certification widely accessible.
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We Look at a Range of Financial Need: We have full and partial work-study options. This approach allows us to spread our limited resources to more applicants.
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All Work-Study Program Participants Agree to Attend Births for BirthWell Partners: After training and orientation, participants agree to provide doula services (prenatal visits, labor support and postpartum visits) to 2-3 clients that we match them with (number of clients depends on whether it is a full or partial work study). Services provided in the state of AL.
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All Work-Study Program Participants Document Services Provided: Doulas document services provided and de-identified client outcomes via data collection forms.
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Work-Study Participants Receive Coaching and Mentoring: All participants are required to have 6 coaching sessions with Renee', an experienced doula and member of our staff.
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Work-Study Participants are not prohibited from taking private clients while fulfilling the work-study commitment: In fact, we encourage establishment of a private doula practice as soon as one feels ready.
The work-study commitment
BirthWell Partners Agrees to Provide:
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A comprehensive Birth Doula Workshop that fulfills the Introduction to Childbirth + Birth Doula
Training Workshop requirements for doula certification through DONA International
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Reimbursement for attendance of Breastfeeding Basics for Doulas online webinar through DONA
International ($65 fee is paid by trainee and reimbursed after trainee submits certificate of
attendance)
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A Perinatal Health Advocate Training
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An Orientation to working with BirthWell Clients
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Meetings and continuing education to assist you with meeting certification requirements through
DONA International
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Mentoring and support from experienced doulas
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Reimbursement for a one-year DONA membership and certification application fees when work-
study recipient has attended client births and submitted all required paperwork in a timely
manner.
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Work Study Participant Agrees to:
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Pay a $75, non-refundable administration fee. This fee signals your commitment to follow
through with the program and covers associated costs including your background check
• Attend the Introduction to Childbirth Education for Doulas course
• Attend the Doula Training Workshop
• Attend the Breastfeeding Basics for Doulas online webinar through DONA International within 2
weeks of attending the Birth Doula Workshop (Note: this training costs $65 and will be reimbursed
after you present proof of completion)Attend the Perinatal Health Advocate Training
• Attend the Doula Orientation -
• Attend 6 coaching sessions with BirthWell staff
• Follow the DONA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Birth Doulas (Attachment A) -
• Check and respond to messages (email, phone, or text) within a 24-hour period of time, and
stay in regular communication with program staff.
• Update staff regarding contact with doula clients and promptly notify staff if client loses
contact or a situation arises in which doula is unable to fulfill a commitment to a client.
• Provide birth doula services to the required number of BirthWell Partners’ clients (3 for
full work-study/2 for partial work-study) within 12 months of attending the classroom
training. Services include 2 prenatal visits, birth support, and 2 postpartum visits.
• Abide by the BirthWell Partners Primary Labor Support and Backup Protocol for
Volunteer/Work-Study Doulas (Attachment B)
• Arrange backup with another doula in the program for each client doula is assigned
• Provide backup to other doulas in the program (Note: if you attend a birth as a back-up, it
will count toward your required births)
• Complete and submit documentation for each client in a timely manner as outlined in
procedures. In order to count a birth as “attended,” we must receive all required
documentation (prenatal visit forms, birth data, postpartum visit forms). If a doula
provides services but does not provide documentation, BirthWell will not count the birth
toward the work-study commitment.
• Represent BirthWell Partners in a professional manner at all times