NJMIHIA Celebrates Graduation of Community-Based Doulas Strengthening Maternal Health Across New Jersey
Graduation marks milestone in statewide effort to strengthen New Jersey’s perinatal workforce and expand access to trusted, community-centered maternal care
TRENTON, NJ – JULY 28, 2026 – The New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (NJMIHIA) recently celebrated the graduation of 30 community-based doulas and 22 facilitators through its Community-Based Doula Training Program, marking an important milestone in the Authority's efforts to strengthen New Jersey's perinatal workforce and improve maternal and infant health outcomes statewide.
The graduates completed NJMIHIA's Community-Based Doula Training Program, a statewide workforce development initiative designed to prepare culturally responsive full-spectrum doulas to support families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery.
Developed "by doulas for doulas," the program combines classroom instruction, mentorship, hands-on birth experiences, and workforce readiness support to help build a sustainable pipeline of trusted birth workers across New Jersey. The program also helps participants prepare for workforce entry and navigate opportunities to provide care within New Jersey’s evolving maternal health landscape. Since the launch of the curriculum in September 2025, NJMIHIA has trained four cohorts of doulas across the state, a total of nearly 40 doulas.
"Doulas are trusted messengers, advocates, and partners who help families feel seen, heard, and supported during some of life's most important moments," said Lisa Asare, President and CEO of NJMIHIA. "Our graduates represent more than a workforce milestone. They represent a growing movement of community-rooted leaders helping strengthen maternal and infant health across New Jersey. By investing in doulas, we are investing in healthier families, stronger communities, and a more equitable maternal health ecosystem."
The graduation ceremony on July 23 brought together doulas, trainers, community partners, family members, and maternal health leaders to celebrate the graduates' accomplishments and recognize the critical role doulas play in supporting healthy pregnancies, healthy births, and positive postpartum experiences.
“Every family deserves to feel supported, heard, and cared for throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. Community-based doulas build trusted relationships that empower families through one of life’s most important moments,” said Dr. Raynard E. Washington, New Jersey Health Commissioner. “As we celebrate this graduating class, we also celebrate an investment in a healthier New Jersey — one birth, one family, and one community at a time.”
Research has shown that doulas can help improve communication, continuity of care, and overall birth experiences while providing emotional, informational, and practical support throughout the perinatal journey.
"Every mother deserves to feel supported, informed, and empowered throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Community-based doulas play an essential role in helping families navigate that journey with dignity and culturally responsive care," said Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz. "These graduates represent the future of a stronger maternal health workforce and a healthier New Jersey. I'm proud to support initiatives like NJMIHIA's Community-Based Doula Training Program that expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and help ensure every family has access to the care and support they deserve."
"Improving maternal and infant health outcomes requires investing in the people and programs that support families where they are. As trusted partners throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, these newly trained doulas are an important step toward expanding access to compassionate, culturally responsive care in communities across New Jersey,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. “I congratulate each graduate and applaud NJMIHIA for its continued commitment to strengthening New Jersey's maternal health workforce and building a healthier future for mothers and babies."
NJMIHIA launched the Community-Based Doula Training Program to expand pathways into the doula profession, strengthen New Jersey’s perinatal workforce, and increase access to culturally responsive, community-centered care. The program reflects NJMIHIA's commitment to supporting community-driven solutions that improve maternal and infant health outcomes, advance equity, and strengthen integration between community-based birth workers and the broader healthcare system.
"The NJMIHIA Doula Training was a truly impactful experience that strengthened both my skills and my calling. As a Latina, it was especially meaningful to return to the community where I was born and raised to prepare for the work God has placed on my heart—to serve and support families during one of the most sacred seasons of their lives," said graduate Emily Cancél. "One of the greatest outcomes of this cohort was the community we built with one another. We encouraged, uplifted, and even ‘doulaed’ each other through personal experiences that arose during our time together. We learned not only from the curriculum, but from the relationships and sisterhood that were formed."
A distinguishing feature of the program is its emphasis on mentorship and hands-on learning. Participants receive guidance from experienced doulas who help prepare them for real-world care settings and workforce entry.
"Serving as an educator for both the inaugural cohort and the fourth cohort of the NJMIHIA Community Doula Training Program has been an incredible honor. It has been inspiring to witness the growth of the program and the dedication of each doula committed to supporting families across New Jersey," said Kayla Lloyd, a training facilitator. "These graduating cohorts represent more than the completion of a training program. They reflect a growing workforce of compassionate, community-centered birth workers who are helping to improve maternal health outcomes and expand access to culturally responsive care. I am proud to have played a role in their journey and excited to see the impact they will continue to make in their communities.”
The graduation comes as NJMIHIA continues to expand efforts to strengthen New Jersey's maternal health workforce through initiatives such as the Community-Based Doula Training Program, Train-the-Trainer model, Doula Town Halls, workforce readiness supports, and partnerships designed to help doulas build sustainable careers and strengthen their role within New Jersey’s maternal health ecosystem. During the ceremony, NJMIHIA also recognized Community-Based Doula trainers who completed the Authority’s Train-the-Trainer program and received certificates acknowledging their role in preparing and mentoring the next generation of doulas across the state.
Together, these efforts are helping build a stronger, more diverse, and more sustainable maternal health workforce capable of supporting families across New Jersey for generations to come. By investing in doulas and leaders who train them, NJMIHIA is advancing its vision of a world where all mothers and babies flourish.
星空无限传媒appMIHIA's Community-Based Doula Training Program
NJMIHIA's Community-Based Doula Training Program is a statewide workforce development initiative designed to prepare culturally responsive doulas to support families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Developed "by doulas for doulas," the program combines classroom instruction, mentorship, hands-on birth experience, and workforce readiness support to strengthen New Jersey's perinatal workforce and expand access to trusted, community-centered maternal care.
About the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority
The New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (NJMIHIA) empowers the village that supports the health and well-being of all mothers and babies through transformative partnerships and community-rooted innovation. As the first state authority of its kind in the nation, NJMIHIA works to strengthen the maternal and infant health ecosystem through cross-sector collaboration, workforce development, community engagement, innovation, and strategic investments designed to improve outcomes and advance equity for families across New Jersey.