{"id":24,"date":"2025-08-26T20:22:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T20:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/maternal-health\/?page_id=24"},"modified":"2025-11-19T16:10:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T16:10:52","slug":"doulas-and-community-health-workers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/maternal-health\/pregnancy-and-postpartum-resources\/doulas-and-community-health-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Doulas and Community Health Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-24\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-24-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-24-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-24-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_media_image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/doulas.jpg\" class=\"image wp-image-152  attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/doulas.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/doulas-300x103.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/doulas-1024x351.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/doulas-768x263.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/doulas-1536x527.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/div><div id=\"panel-24-0-0-1\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><style type=\"text\/css\">\n\/* 1. Add bottom border to each panel *\/\n.sow-accordion-panel {\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;\n  margin: 0 !important;   \/* removes vertical gaps between panels *\/\n}\n\n\/* 2. Remove left indent (reserved for icons) *\/\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-panel-header,\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-title,\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-title-icon-left {\n  padding-left: 0 !important;\n}\n\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-title-icon-left::before {\n  content: none !important;\n  display: none !important;\n  width: 0 !important;\n}\n\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-title h3 {\n  margin-left: 0 !important;\n}\n\n\/* 3. Remove right padding (around the toggle button) *\/\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-panel-header {\n  padding-right: 0 !important;\n}\n\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-open-close-button,\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-open-button,\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-close-button {\n  margin-right: 0 !important;\n  padding-right: 0 !important;\n}\n\t\/* 4. Remove left\/right padding inside expanded panels *\/\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-panel-content,\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-panel-border {\n  padding-left: 0 !important;\n  padding-right: 0 !important;\n\t  padding-top: 0 !important;   \/* remove top padding inside content *\/\n}\n\n.sow-accordion .sow-accordion-title h3 {\n  margin-bottom: 0 !important; \/* remove space under the title text *\/\n}\n\t.sow-accordion {\n  margin-top: 0 !important;\n  padding-top: 0 !important;\n}\n<\/style><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-24-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"2\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-24-0-0-2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>If you are looking for extra support during your pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, doulas and community health workers can be excellent resources! This section explains what these are and how you can find them.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"margin-bottom: 0px;\">Doulas<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-24-0-0-3\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-accordion\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-accordion so-widget-sow-accordion-default-81d1ea637606-24\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div>\n\t<div class=\"sow-accordion\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"what-is-a-doula\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-what-is-a-doula\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-what-is-a-doula\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">What is a doula?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-what-is-a-doula\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-what-is-a-doula\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Community-based doulas are trained, nonmedical professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Doulas do:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide continuous source of comfort and encouragement<\/li>\n<li>Support patients during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum<\/li>\n<li>Facilitate communication between patients and providers<\/li>\n<li>Reduce a birthing parent and\/or partner\u2019s anxiety<\/li>\n<li>Improve parent-baby bonding post-birth<\/li>\n<li>Improve the odds of breastfeeding success<\/li>\n<li>Reduce the risk of cesarean birth and amount of pain medication used in labor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Doulas don\u2019t:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide medical care or advice<\/li>\n<li>Diagnose medical conditions<\/li>\n<li>Perform tasks such as blood pressure monitoring, fetal heart rate checks, or vaginal exams<\/li>\n<li>Make decisions for the patient<\/li>\n<li>Pressure a patient\u2019s decision<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"in-virginia-what-is-a-state-certified-doula-how-do-i-find-one\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-in-virginia-what-is-a-state-certified-doula-how-do-i-find-one\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-in-virginia-what-is-a-state-certified-doula-how-do-i-find-one\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">In Virginia, what is a state-certified doula? How do I find one?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-in-virginia-what-is-a-state-certified-doula-how-do-i-find-one\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-in-virginia-what-is-a-state-certified-doula-how-do-i-find-one\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>In Virginia, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/family-planning\/doula-state-certification\/\" rel=\"noopener\">state-certified doula<\/a> is a community-based doula that has received at least 60 hours of training in specific topics. Doulas are not required to be state-certified in order to practice, but all doulas are welcome to apply for state certification.<\/p>\n<p>The Virginia Certification Board maintains a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vacertboard.org\/doula-registry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">registry of state-certified doulas<\/a>. You can search for doulas by name, ethnicity, gender, and location.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"does-my-health-insurance-cover-doula-services\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-does-my-health-insurance-cover-doula-services\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-does-my-health-insurance-cover-doula-services\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">Does my health insurance cover doula services?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-does-my-health-insurance-cover-doula-services\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-does-my-health-insurance-cover-doula-services\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you have Medicaid, state-certified doula services may be covered. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmas.virginia.gov\/for-members\/benefits-and-services\/maternal-and-child-health\/community-doula-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Visit the Medicaid website for information about Medicaid coverage.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you have private health insurance, call and ask if they cover doula services.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW67977097 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW67977097 BCX0\">Virginia is <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW67977097 BCX0\">in the process of<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW67977097 BCX0\"> developing<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW67977097 BCX0\">a new<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW67977097 BCX0\">Essential Health Benefits Benchmark plan that will be effective in 2028. The plan will include a required doula coverage benefit for self-insured individuals and small group insurance.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW67977097 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If your insurance does not cover doula care, you may be able get support with paying out of pocket. Doulas in your area may work with families on a sliding fee scale so the care is affordable, or they may help a certain number of families at no cost as part of their practice. Contacting any doula organizations in the state might be helpful in finding someone that is able to help.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"how-can-i-become-a-doula-myself\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-how-can-i-become-a-doula-myself\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-how-can-i-become-a-doula-myself\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">How can I become a doula myself?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-how-can-i-become-a-doula-myself\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-how-can-i-become-a-doula-myself\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>A variety of training organizations offer training for aspiring doulas. If you want to become a state-certified doula, The Virginia Certification Board maintains a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vacertboard.org\/doula\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">list of approved trainers<\/a> for Virginia\u2019s State-Certified Doula program.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-24-0-0-4\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"4\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-24-0-0-4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2 style=\"margin-bottom:0px;\">Community Health Workers (CHWs)<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-24-0-0-5\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-accordion panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-accordion so-widget-sow-accordion-default-81d1ea637606-24\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div>\n\t<div class=\"sow-accordion\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"what-is-a-community-health-worker-how-can-they-support-me\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-what-is-a-community-health-worker-how-can-they-support-me\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-what-is-a-community-health-worker-how-can-they-support-me\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">What is a Community Health Worker? How can they support me?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-what-is-a-community-health-worker-how-can-they-support-me\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-what-is-a-community-health-worker-how-can-they-support-me\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker. CHWs are trusted members of the community. They link community members to health and social services. CHWs may be known by several other names, including but not limited to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>outreach worker<\/li>\n<li>lay health promoter<\/li>\n<li>family advocate<\/li>\n<li>peer leader<\/li>\n<li>promotores de salud<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"how-do-i-find-a-chw\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-how-do-i-find-a-chw\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-how-do-i-find-a-chw\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">How do I find a CHW?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-how-do-i-find-a-chw\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-how-do-i-find-a-chw\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>CHWs work at a variety of organizations across Virginia. To find a CHW, contact your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/local-health-districts\/\" rel=\"noopener\">local health department<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/chwofva.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Virginia Community Health Workers Association (VACHWA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"how-can-i-become-a-chw-myself\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-how-can-i-become-a-chw-myself\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-how-can-i-become-a-chw-myself\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">How can I become a CHW myself?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-how-can-i-become-a-chw-myself\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-how-can-i-become-a-chw-myself\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>A variety of organizations offer training for aspiring CHWs. The Virginia Certification Board maintains a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vacertboard.org\/cchw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">list of approved trainers<\/a>. The list is for Virginia\u2019s Certified Community Health Worker program.<\/p>\n<p>All CHWs are invited to join the <a href=\"https:\/\/chwofva.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Virginia Community Health Workers Association (VACHWA)<\/a>. VACHWA offers resources, trainings, and networking opportunities for CHWs across the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"what-other-kinds-of-supportive-people-or-organizations-may-be-available-to-me-throughout-my-pregnancy-and-postpartum-after-birth\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-what-other-kinds-of-supportive-people-or-organizations-may-be-available-to-me-throughout-my-pregnancy-and-postpartum-after-birth\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-what-other-kinds-of-supportive-people-or-organizations-may-be-available-to-me-throughout-my-pregnancy-and-postpartum-after-birth\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"margin-top:4px;font-weight:600\">What other kinds of supportive people or organizations may be available to me throughout my pregnancy and postpartum (after birth)?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-what-other-kinds-of-supportive-people-or-organizations-may-be-available-to-me-throughout-my-pregnancy-and-postpartum-after-birth\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-what-other-kinds-of-supportive-people-or-organizations-may-be-available-to-me-throughout-my-pregnancy-and-postpartum-after-birth\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are some community-based organizations who provide a range of perinatal support services for women throughout pregnancy and postpartum. They are sometimes called \u201cperinatal health hubs.\u201d Hubs seek to ensure that patients and their families are receiving coordinated and comprehensive care. Care is tailored to individuals\u2019 specific needs. Their services could include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>care coordination<\/li>\n<li>clinical services such as mental health counseling<\/li>\n<li>education<\/li>\n<li>lactation support<\/li>\n<li>referrals to resources<\/li>\n<li>supplies for mom and baby<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>VDH will be partnering with existing and new perinatal health hubs to expand the availability of these services in the coming year. VDH will include information on partner organizations here once they have been selected.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you are looking for extra support during your pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, doulas and community health workers can be excellent resources! This section explains what these are and how you can find them. Doulas Community Health Workers (CHWs)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":657,"featured_media":0,"parent":19,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Doulas and Community Health Workers - Maternal Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/maternal-health\/pregnancy-and-postpartum-resources\/doulas-and-community-health-workers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Doulas and Community Health Workers - Maternal Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you are looking for extra support during your pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, doulas and community health workers can be excellent resources! 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