Becoming a doula in Missouri involves several key steps:
1. Choose Your Doula Path
Doulas offer various types of support, so it's essential to decide which area aligns with your interests:
- Birth Doula: Provides support during labor and delivery.
- Postpartum Doula: Assists families in the weeks following childbirth.
- Antepartum Doula: Supports individuals with high-risk pregnancies before birth.
- Bereavement Doula: Offers care during pregnancy loss or infant death.
Understanding these roles will help you select appropriate training and certification programs.
2. Complete a Doula Training Program
Enroll in a reputable training program that offers comprehensive education and practical experience. In Missouri, several organizations provide such training:
- Jamaa Birth Village: Offers a free, scholarship-based, 40-hour hybrid doula training program available monthly in St. Louis. This program is supported by the State of Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services and Uzazi Village.
- Uzazi Village: Provides doula training programs focusing on culturally competent care. They offer various training sessions throughout the year.
- DNT Network: DNT Network offers an accessible and affordable online doula certification course. This program is self-paced, designed to support a range of learning needs, and includes modules on non-medical birth support, postpartum assistance, and client care. The Birth Doula Certification course is priced at $99, making it an economical choice for aspiring doulas.
These programs typically include coursework, hands-on practice, and may require attending births under supervision.
3. Obtain Certification
While Missouri doesn't mandate certification, obtaining it can enhance your credibility and client trust. Certification requirements vary by organization but generally involve:
- Training Completion: Successfully finishing an approved doula training program.
- Practical Experience: Attending a specified number of births or postpartum sessions.
- Examinations: Passing written or practical assessments.
- Continuing Education: Engaging in ongoing learning to maintain certification.
Organizations like DONA International offer certification processes that include training, clinical experience, and examinations.
4. Obtain Missouri Doula Credentialing
To provide services to Medicaid clients in Missouri, doulas must obtain the Missouri Doula Credentialâ„¢. This process involves submitting your credentials and training documentation to the Missouri Community Doula Council.
By following these steps and considering the associated requirements, you can establish a fulfilling career as a doula in Missouri, providing essential support to families during significant life transitions.
