Working with a health care professional with a shared cultural background can make a big difference in health outcomes, especially for pregnant BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) women as they have greater risk of birth complications.

Full scholarships are available from Everyday Miracles to train people from BIPOC communities in Duluth, Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and St. Cloud to become and work as doulas. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota works with Everyday Miracles to provide doula services to our Blue Plus members with a Minnesota Health Care Program plan, as was shared in this article.

Applicants will receive training, certification, and be registered as a certified doula on the Minnesota Department of Health Doula Registry. Training classes start as early as August 12 in some areas and there is still time to apply.

• • Duluth/St. Louis County residents can begin the application process here.
  • Detroit Lakes/Moorhead residents can begin the application process here.
  • St. Cloud area residents can begin the application process here.

Training as a doula

A doula is a trained professional, providing physical, emotional and informational support throughout the entire pregnancy, labor and childbirth as well as post-partum assistance. The doula staff at Everyday Miracles is diverse and passionate about supporting and empowering women.

“We need to have more trained Black doulas and more providers of color. And it’s important to connect more Black women with more Black providers,” says Sierra Leone’ Williams, birth doula, birth educator and lactation counselor who works both independently and through Everyday Miracles.

Sierra shared more about her training and experience as a doula in this earlier article on our blog. She points out that, in the United States, doulas have traditionally been used by white women and seen as more of a luxury for those who are able to pay for doula services out of pocket. Working to change this so BIPOC women have increased access to doulas is one of the reasons she works through Everyday Miracles.

Everyday Miracles is committed to improving maternal health, and specifically to reducing health disparities in communities at risk for poor outcomes. They provide compassionate, culturally aware support and a nonjudgmental, welcoming community.

In fact, a 2016 study published by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health showed that Everyday Miracles clients had lower rates of C-sections and pre-term births, a positive outcome as reducing these rates have been shown to result in lower rates of birth defects and infant mortality.

“Becoming a doula is a wonderful opportunity and a great way to have a positive impact on health outcomes for mothers and babies,” says Debby Prudhomme, executive director of Everyday Miracles. “Everyday Miracles was founded on the belief that everyone should be empowered, supported and celebrated during pregnancy, birth and post-partum regardless of age, race or socioeconomic status.”