Supporting healthy perinatal experiences and an empowered doula workforce in Los Angeles County.
Our Vision
The Doula Hub’s ultimate vision is to contribute to healthy perinatal experiences by supporting an empowered doula workforce that prioritizes birthing families most at risk of adverse birth outcomes and to advance birth justice for families that reside in the culturally diverse communities of LA County.
What is a doula?
A doula is a birth worker who provides health education, advocacy, and physical, emotional and non-medical support for pregnant and postpartum persons before, during and after childbirth (perinatal period) including support during miscarriage, stillbirth and abortion. Doulas are not licensed or clinical providers. (Source: DHCS)
What is full spectrum doula care?
Full-spectrum doula services encompass prenatal and postpartum doula care, presence during labor and delivery and doula support for miscarriage, stillbirth and abortion. Doula care includes physical, emotional and other non-medical care. (DHCS)
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) provides a description of doula services for Medi-Cal members along with additional resources. Learn More
A DOULA ON EVERY BLOCK
Doulas, attend our amazing events:
We believe that any Medi-Cal beneficiary who desires the affirming support of full spectrum doula care should be able to receive it.
Become a Medi-Cal Doula
Together, we’re building a stronger, supported doula workforce.
Help families get better birth outcomes while getting paid for your care.
Whether you are a new or existing doula, you can get trained and connected to a growing network of support with the LA County Medi-Cal Doula Hub.
Join California’s new Medi-Cal Doula workforce and support birthing people before, during, and after pregnancy - at no cost to them.
If you are an approved Medi-Cal doula provider, join the community and receive assistance navigating this new workforce opportunity at our various events.
We center Birth Equity, Reproductive Justice, and Human Rights at birth and beyond.
For Families
Families on Medi-Cal now have access to doula care. We connect families to resources and bring awareness to doula care across Medi-Cal communities. Your Managed Care Plan (MCP), will help you find a doula.
While we don’t provide direct doula services, our project advocates for equitable access to this new benefit for all pregnant and postpartum families receiving coverage through Medi-Cal.
To find out if you are eligible for Medi-Cal, learn more here.
Due to the high demand of approved doula providers, families seeking doula care directly through Medi-Cal or their Managed Care Plans may face challenges in being matched with a doula.
We value the voices from our communities and uplift those who have been historically marginalized and lack access to equitable culturally attuned support before, during, and after birth.
Educate.
We Educate
by sharing information and innovative care approaches with doulas and families, and by guiding doulas to navigate this emerging professional workforce.
Connect.
We Connect
communities, families, caregivers, and providers to resources and the safe spaces needed to cultivate healthy perinatal ecosystems within LA County.
Advocate.
We Advocate
for doulas and the birthing families they serve to improve full spectrum birth and postpartum outcomes in LA County.
Are you a doula or birthing person who is experiencing problems or challenges with the Medi-Cal Doula Benefit?
Please share your valuable experience in the CA Medi-Cal Doula Benefit Feedback Form below.
This form is managed by independent advocates for the California doula benefit who are not affiliated with any government or state agencies.
Contact Us.
Do you have questions about the Doula Hub or our other programs? Reach out! We’d love to connect with and support you.
Stay informed.
Connect with us and join the conversation. Together, we can commit to birth justice in our community.
Subscribe to the Doula Hub Newsletter.
About the LA County Medi-Cal Doula Hub
The Los Angeles County Medi-Cal Doula Hub (The Doula Hub), in collaboration with the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH), will support the roll out of the Medi-Cal Doula Benefit by providing workforce development for doulas and public education to county residents about the positive impact of doula care in efforts to address the current perinatal and infant health disparities.
Frontline Doulas, in partnership with Diversity Uplifts, Inc., is the lead community agency for the Los Angeles County Medi-Cal Doula Hub. Click here to read the LA County Medi-Cal Doula Hub’s press release and original public announcement.
The Doula Hub works collaboratively with birthworkers, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs), community partners, and Medi-Cal beneficiaries through a strategic community centered approach to increase access to doulas for birthing and postpartum families, particularly those in marginalized communities who need it most.
Creative Solutions to Systemic Challenges
The Doula Hub will focus on five key areas to ensure the success of California’s groundbreaking Medi-Cal Doula Benefit, which became available in 2023:
Training and System Integration: Preparing new and existing doulas to thrive in healthcare systems.
Public Awareness: Educating Medi-Cal members, providers, and communities about the value and availability of doula care services.
Technical Assistance for Doulas: Supporting doulas to become approved, contracted Medi-Cal providers, from application support to billing and legal resources to meet contracting and compliance requirements.
Workforce Development: Strengthening and expanding the doula workforce via trainings and continuing education.
Model Evaluation: Measuring the Doula Hub’s impact to inform future efforts.
The Doula Hub and partners will convene a quarterly Doula Hub Advisory Council, with representation from doulas, advocates, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and community partners, to guide these areas and ensure equity and inclusivity remain at the forefront.
The Doula Hub is Brought to You by:
Frontline Doulas, in partnership with Diversity Uplifts, Inc., is the lead community agency for The Doula Hub and is spearheading this groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH).
With Funding from:
This project is funded through the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment with support from the Annenberg Foundation, Ballmer Group, California Health Care Foundation, Cedars-Sinai, Health Net, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and L.A. Care Health Plan.
The innovation and creativity of the LA County Medi-Cal Doula Hub’s, lead community agency was intentionally fashioned and “birthed” by our Hub Directors and core Hub Team. Our staff is majority Black and Brown identifying and built of amazing women/femme experts, visionaries and passion-filled radical peoples. Every concept, color, image, statement and verbiage is from our hearts and lineages. We don’t always get it right, but we work to move with transparency, integrity, and love.
We are joyfully a part of the liberation and care work of Los Angeles County and beyond. We are an independent community agency and do not work for the Department of Health Care Services or the State of California. We are in mindful collaboration with the LA County Department of Public Health and are grateful for this opportunity to serve.