Doula

Family Focus•Chicago, IL

2d•$50,000

About The Position

The Doula is responsible for initiating and maintaining regular contact and support with participant families. The Doula is responsible for promoting healthy pregnancies, breast feeding and building a trusting relationship that offers strength-based services for families. The Doula will provide community outreach, prenatal education activities, and assist the family in preparing for childbirth through both home visiting and group based services. These activities will take place primarily within the family’s home, doctor’s office, hospitals and the South side communities. Duties include, but are not limited to: Assist families in initiating and strengthening the parent-child relationship prenatally. Provide information, education and resources that will prepare the parent and her family for the birth process during home visits. Attend and support the laboring mother and her family or support person(s). Assist parents in improving their skills so as to optimize the bonding and attachment of the parent(s) to child and child to parent. Facilitates and advocates in strengthening the family’s support system. Assist in increasing the family's ability to problem solve and advocate for themselves and their children, during the birth process and beyond. Identify needs and refer families to additional community resources, including health care and other basic necessities. Responsible for assisting families in establishing goals and a birth plan for accomplishing those goals. Suggest, lead and model parent/child activities. Maintain postpartum contact for six to twelve weeks post delivery at least once a week, plus regular phone contact and supports breast feeding and infant care as well as provide support to the new mom. Maintain logs, documentation and data collection indicated for Doula Program. Completes standard form for each visit, documenting the services provided and educational items discussed with the client on the checklist. Take notes on client’s overall emotional state and keeps track of time spent on each visit. Maintain confidentiality of client contact and documentation. Attends all required job related meetings and contribute feedback as it relates to program development and implementation. Maintain daily contact with supervisor regarding caseload and scheduling of home visits. Maintain postpartum contact for 2 months. Plan, facilitate, and document prenatal groups on monthly basis. Maintain caseload of 8-12 families. Visits mother and baby in the home environment within 24 hours of discharge after delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Service, Psychology, Early Childhood Development or equivalent experience. Doulas without a college degree will be considered if they have previous experience.
Do not have to be doula trained. However, the only pre-qualified doula training accepted must be obtained via DONA training or they will have to complete DONA training once hired.
Must have strong written and verbal communication skills.
Must be on-call 24/7 to participant families.
Must have dependable transportation, valid driver’s license and proof of car insurance.

Responsibilities

Assist families in initiating and strengthening the parent-child relationship prenatally.
Provide information, education and resources that will prepare the parent and her family for the birth process during home visits.
Attend and support the laboring mother and her family or support person(s).
Assist parents in improving their skills so as to optimize the bonding and attachment of the parent(s) to child and child to parent.
Facilitates and advocates in strengthening the family’s support system.
Assist in increasing the family's ability to problem solve and advocate for themselves and their children, during the birth process and beyond.
Identify needs and refer families to additional community resources, including health care and other basic necessities.
Responsible for assisting families in establishing goals and a birth plan for accomplishing those goals.
Suggest, lead and model parent/child activities.
Maintain postpartum contact for six to twelve weeks post delivery at least once a week, plus regular phone contact and supports breast feeding and infant care as well as provide support to the new mom.
Maintain logs, documentation and data collection indicated for Doula Program.
Completes standard form for each visit, documenting the services provided and educational items discussed with the client on the checklist.
Take notes on client’s overall emotional state and keeps track of time spent on each visit.
Maintain confidentiality of client contact and documentation.
Attends all required job related meetings and contribute feedback as it relates to program development and implementation.
Maintain daily contact with supervisor regarding caseload and scheduling of home visits.
Maintain postpartum contact for 2 months.
Plan, facilitate, and document prenatal groups on monthly basis.
Maintain caseload of 8-12 families.
Visits mother and baby in the home environment within 24 hours of discharge after delivery.