Community Doula

Position Summary

Morris Heights Health Center is seeking a compassionate and culturally responsive Community Doula to provide social, emotional, educational, and non-clinical support to pregnant and postpartum individuals. The Community Doula will support clients throughout the prenatal period, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period, with a focus on improving maternal and infant health outcomes in communities that have historically experienced disparities in birth outcomes.

The Community Doula serves as a trusted support person, advocate, educator, and connector to resources. This role is especially important in helping clients navigate pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, parenting, and access to community-based supports.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Community Doula will:

• Provide culturally appropriate emotional, social, and educational support to pregnant and postpartum clients.
• Conduct home visits and maintain consistent communication with clients during pregnancy and after delivery.
• Support clients in preparing for labor, delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, and newborn care.
• Develop trusting relationships with clients and help strengthen their support systems.
• Collaborate with the nursing, clinical, care management, and maternal health teams to support coordinated care.
• Clearly communicate roles and responsibilities with clients, families, and care team members.
• Provide referrals and linkages to community resources, including food pantries, housing assistance, diaper programs, breastfeeding support, behavioral health resources, and other social service programs.
• Support clients in identifying barriers to care and help connect them with appropriate resources.
• Practice culturally competent and evidence-informed support that is responsive to the needs, values, language, and background of each client.
• Provide one-on-one and small group education related to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum care, infant care, and maternal wellness.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of client contacts, visits, referrals, and services provided.
• Participate in team meetings, trainings, case conferences, and quality improvement activities as required.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with organizational policies, HIPAA, and all applicable regulatory standards.

Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Human Services, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience and/or doula training may be considered.
• Completion of doula training required.
• DONA International certification preferred, or must be obtained within six months of hire.
• At least one year of experience in childbirth education, labor support, breastfeeding education, lactation support, maternal health, community health, or a related field preferred.
• Certified Lactation Counselor certification preferred.
• BCLS certification required.
• Bilingual proficiency in two or more languages preferred; Haitian Creole strongly desired.
• Experience working with diverse communities and individuals impacted by health disparities, social determinants of health, and barriers to care preferred.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to provide compassionate, respectful, and nonjudgmental support to clients and families.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical team members.
• Strong understanding of culturally responsive care and community-based support models.
• Ability to follow detailed written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to respond appropriately to client needs and problem-solve within defined guidelines.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group settings.
• Basic computer and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple client needs and maintain timely follow-up.

Physical Requirements

The employee is regularly required to talk, hear, use hands, handle objects, and perform documentation-related tasks. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally be required to sit, lift, or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Work Environments

This position may require work in health center locations, client homes, community settings, and hospital or birthing environments. The Community Doula must be comfortable working with clients and families in a variety of settings and maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and safety at all times.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Morris Heights Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and culturally responsive workforce. We encourage candidates who reflect the communities we serve to apply.