Birth Doula

Open Arms Perinatal Services • Seattle, WA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Open Arms’ Birth Doula Services program is looking for trained and/or certified birth doulas to join our core team of contract doulas! Community-based matching is central to the success of Open Arms’ Birth Doula Services Program. By pairing birthing people with doulas from their communities, we ensure culturally responsive care that centers families’ traditions and lived experiences. For this reason, we are seeking experienced doulas who demonstrate lived experience and can serve families in specific focus communities, locations, and languages. Doulas will be asked for their availability for births throughout the year and will be matched with families when referrals come in. Doulas will then need to connect with the family during their third trimester. At home visits and virtual visits, doulas will provide parents with education, resources, emotional support, and appropriate referrals. Our Family Support Services team is available to help with resource and referral connections. The role includes three prenatal visits, continuous support throughout labor and delivery, three postnatal visits, and post-match/post-birth follow-ups. Doulas will also complete timely and accurate visit notes in a secure cloud-based database and attend monthly meetings and relevant trainings.

Requirements

• Proficiency in English
• At least one year of training, certification, or experience as a birth doula
• Demonstrated lived experience with the indigenous community
• Ability to serve families in South King, Pierce, and/or Thurston Counties
• State certification
• Demonstrated commitment to helping families experience satisfying birth and parenting experiences
• Ability to maintain confidentiality around sensitive information
• Passion for and commitment to the mission of Open Arms and community-based work
• Experience working with diverse staff and communities of color
• Strong racial, disability, gender, and economic justice framework
• Commitment to anti-oppression and de-colonization work with a focus on racial equity and reproductive justice, specific to birth justice
• COVID-19 proof of full vaccination, booster after January 2022, or medical or religious exemption request is required for in-person work
• Background check and reference checks are required
• Proof of eligibility to work as an independent contractor
• Reliable transportation for regular home visits and birth support

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in languages specific to indigenous communities or those within the African diaspora
• Prior experience working with Open Arms

Responsibilities

• Provide education, resources, emotional support, and appropriate referrals during at-home and virtual visits.
• Conduct three prenatal visits during the third trimester covering topics like birth plans, labor preparation, home setup, and postnatal care plans.
• Offer on-call availability within two weeks of the estimated due date and provide continuous support during labor and delivery.
• Conduct three postnatal visits covering feeding and lactation support, postpartum healing, soothing techniques, infant care, childbirth and parenting education, and connecting families to supplies and essentials.
• Perform post-match and post-birth follow-ups to support families in processing needs, discussing birth experiences, and connecting them to additional referrals and resources.
• Complete timely and accurate visit notes in a secure cloud-based database.
• Attend monthly meetings and relevant trainings.

Benefits

• Generous opportunities for professional development and training including access to classes, resources, and interactive community spaces for doulas and families
• Support from doula mentors, on-call 24-hour clinical consultation, and regular check-ins with Lead Doulas
• Support from our Family Support Services team who helps connect families with essential resources
• A strong network of experienced birthworkers and support staff
• Access to a central office on Beacon Hill where doulas can meet with others and have access to supplies for families

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed