Doula Alliance of Maryland

Connecting and supporting doulas and birth workers across Maryland

Our Work

Mission

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We connect and support Doulas and birth workers in Maryland while expanding access to doulas for Black birthing people to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.

DAM is working to bridge the gap between community doulas and Medicaid reimbursement opportunities.

DAM is the first grant-funded Doula advocacy group in Maryland. Since 2022, DAM and its members have been working to ensure Medicaid reimbursement is accessible and equitable. Our legislative priorities focus on community access to Doula support, safe workplaces, ensuring a professional pathway for Doulas in Maryland, transparent maternal data reporting, and preservation of sustainable Doula professions.

Our advocacy focus includes:

Legislative advocacy
Livable wages and benefits
Safe workplace facilitation
Technical support
Community engagement
Workforce and programmatic research

In the News

Alliance says doulas can reduce mortality rate for Black mothersThe Doula Alliance of Maryland said the maternal mortality rate for Black Maryland mothers is 2.3 times higher than white moms.

Mother and DAM Founding member, Ana Rodney, was featured on WBAL during Black Maternal Health Week to uplift the importance of access to doulas for black mothers and families.

The Baltimore Banner honors third class of Emerging LeadersEach honoree was selected from a pool of community nominations by a committee of local leaders.

Congratulations to Molly Doran with the Aaron Straus & Lillie Straus Foundation who was honored as an Emerging Leader by the Baltimore Banner this week.

The Doula Alliance of Maryland is a proud grantee of the Straus Foundation, continuing the work of improving and expanding Medicaid reimbursement and access to doulas for Black Marylanders.

Publications

Writing Ourselves into (BE)ing

by Micknai Arefaine et al.

arefaine-et-al-2025-writing-ourselves-into-(be)ing.pdf

Read the Article

Improving the Maryland Medicaid Doula Program: Recommendations from Community Doulas and Leaders

Improving Maryland Medicaid Doula Program.pdf

Read the Report

Maryland Medicaid

To get the latest updates from the Maryland Department of Health about the Medicaid doula benefit, email mdh.medicaidmch@maryland.gov and request to be added to their distribution list.

The Maryland Department of Health was re-engaged by doulas and stakeholders in November 2023.

Latest Quarterly Report from DAM + Maryland Department of Health

Doula Alliance of Maryland leadership recently met with the Maryland Department of Health to discuss updates and requested changes to the Maryland Medicaid Doula Program. Our last meeting was November 2024 so there was a lot of ground to cover!

Previously, DAM has requested:

1. A compensation plan for consulting doulas and birth workers.

Status: The state does not currently have an ability to compensate doulas and birth workers who consult on the Doula Medicaid Program. This is something they have been looking into, but do not currently have a mechanism to do so. This is exacerbated by the ongoing uncertainty around Medicaid cuts at the federal level and the state budget cuts.

2. A mobile-friendly doula certifying nomination form, open year-round.

Status: A mobile-friendly online form is expected to be live when the next nomination period opens. MDH expects to open it this summer and will notify via their official listserv. Email mdh.medicaidmch@maryland.gov to be added. This will likely be the only nomination period for doula certifying organizations in 2025.

New requests:

1. DAM would like to have a better understanding of the certification approval process and would like MDH to move towards a more flexible doula approval approach using Core Training Competencies, Experience/Legacy Pathways, and Reciprocal Certifications.

Status: MDH currently uses a rubric amongst a team of program and clinical advisors when reviewing submissions. It was not mentioned if any doulas or birth workers are on the reviewing team. MDH is open to learning about other approaches that are less resource-intensive.

2. DAM requested a longer visioning session with MDH for more relationship building and strategic planning.

Status: Members of DAM and MDH staff are currently organizing the visioning session. Our hope is representatives from Medicaid Managed Care Organizations will also join the session.

Our next quarterly meeting with MDH is scheduled for September 2025.

If you have feedback related to the Maryland Medicaid Doula Program that you would like relayed to the team at MDH, you can submit via our anonymous form or email us directly at hello@doulaallianceofmd.org.

To receive notifications directly from Maryland Medicaid and the Maryland Department of Health, send an email to mdh.medicaidmch@maryland.gov requesting to be added to the doula listserv.

Information for Doulas from Maryland Medicaid

Feedback for MD Department of Health

If you have feedback in regards to the Medicaid Doula Program, please fill out the below form.

All feedback will be relayed to Maryland Department of Health at quarterly stakeholder meetings.

Past Events

Legislative Advocacy Training

hosted by Community Health Workers Empowerment Coalition of Maryland (CHWEC-MD) and Doula Alliance of Maryland (DAM)

Wednesday, January 22nd | 6-7pm | Zoom

Please join us for a free legislative advocacy training event for community members, community health workers, and doulas.

This training will arm community members with information about Maryland's legislative process and how to make your voice heard on issues that impact your profession and the communities you care for!