Why We’re Pausing Our Doula Training Program — and What Comes Next
- Janean W.
- Aug 13
- 2 min read

We’ve officially met our milestone: 100 Doulas trained through our free, DONA-based training program. That’s 100 community-rooted birth workers prepared to support families across Chicagoland. But now, to train the next 100 — and to protect the jobs of those already trained — we need your help.
We’ve temporarily paused enrollment for new trainees. Not because interest is low — demand is higher than ever. But the cost of running a single training cohort has become too great for our small organization to carry alone.

Each cohort costs over $90,000 to support. That includes paying Doulas a fair wage of $765 per client, while still offering services on a sliding scale that begins at $200. We also pay certified instructors, rent training spaces, and compensate our all-Black staff.
At the same time, we’re navigating a broader employment crisis — and we are working tirelessly to keep our current Doulas and staff employed. That means raising the funds not just to train new birth workers, but to sustain the deeply committed team already showing up for our community.
To date, every dollar has been raised by one person: our Executive Director, Lakeesha Harris. That model simply isn’t sustainable.
We remain committed to providing care to Black and Brown birthing people in a healthcare system that too often fails them. But we can’t do that — or expand our reach — without broader investment.

So while our interest list remains open, we won’t launch another training until the necessary funding is secured.
If you believe in our vision — equitable birthwork, led by Black Doulas, rooted in justice — we invite you to give, share, or connect us with funders who do too.
Support the future of birth justice: bit.ly/fundfrontline25
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