Doula

Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford•Rockford, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

At Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford (ECR), we are committed to two—often interconnecting—pillars of work: early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936. For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org. Doulas (Part-Time) are specialized home visitors who provide intensive services to improve the perinatal health of mother and baby, support parent-child attachment, and improve the family’s social- emotional experience of labor and delivery. The Doula provides case management to families and supports pregnant women's health and social service needs by consulting with professionals, as needed. This position is based at our Easterseals Rockford location, 303 N. Main St., Suite 511, Rockford, IL 61101.

Requirements

Associate’s degree preferred or equivalent years of experience.
Doula Basic Training 1, 2, 3, and 4 within the first 6 months of employment.
Parents as Teachers Certification within 9 months of employment.
Ages and Stages Certification within 9 months of employment.
Family Assisted Neonatal Activities Certification within 12 months of employment.
Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) within 12 months of employment.
Grief and Bereavement Training within 12 months of employment.
Doulas of North America Certification within 24 months of employment.
Knowledge of labor and delivery and post-partum care.
Valid driver’s license.
Auto insurance.
Reliable vehicle.
Sensitivity and respect for adolescent parents.
ESSENTIAL TRAININGS: 200 hours Shaken baby syndrome, domestic violence, Trauma Informed Practice, child abuse recognition and response, HIV/AIDS, STD, family planning, safety, infant and maternal depression, human sexuality, infant development, bloodborne pathogens, CPR, curriculum development, and reflective practices.

Responsibilities

Attends the birth of laboring teen and young mothers residing in Winnebago County who are enrolled in services.
Provide home visits to pregnant teens residing in Winnebago County. Develop and implement individualized lesson plans based on the needs of the families served. The Doula will teach the participant about the risks of smoking, alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDs, and STD transmission, the benefits of breastfeeding, and enhanced healthy labor and delivery options, which may lead to less medical intervention.
Conduct assessments on families to determine referral and treatment plans in relation to family stress, domestic violence, mental health, child development, drug/ alcohol use, and family support.
Provide professional consultation and input related to pregnant adolescents with community professionals, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and social workers.
Create and implement prenatal support groups for adolescent mothers and their family members. The Doulas will design prenatal groups to challenge thinking and emphasize decision-making about issues that affect the relationship between the parent(s) and their unborn child.
Research and develop prenatal curriculum and conduct trainings to staff and professionals, as needed, on critical child development issues such as breastfeeding, shaken baby syndrome, SIDS, adolescent parenting, risks of HIV/AIDs transmission during breastfeeding, STD transmission, and grief, bereavement, and infant loss.
Facilitate and assist in the implementation of individualized birth plans with each adolescent mother to inform professional hospital staff, including doctors, nurses, and midwives of the mother’s expectations and goals during and after labor.
Utilize data systems to monitor participant attendance, statistics, outcome measures, retention rates, and recidivism.
Comply with the required schedule of family contacts to ensure the family is well-informed and an active participant in the program to ensure a healthy outcome for both mother and baby.
Arrange shadowed home visits for audit entities, Easterseals staff, program funders, and interns to observe Doula strategies and techniques utilized with adolescent mothers.
All other duties as assigned.