Doula Scholarships

Applicant  Qualifications

For All Candidates:

• Demonstrate financial need
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a high school graduate (GED acceptable)
• Be a resident of one of the following counties in southeastern Michigan: Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb,  Lapeer, Genesee, Livingston, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee or Monroe (we are in particular need of Doulas in Wayne, Jackson and Genesee counties)
• Plan to continue to reside in one of the counties listed long enough to fulfill your volunteer commitment as outlined below.
• Be available for training dates, including orientation dates (see training packages below)
• Have transportation available
• Priority will be given to individuals with limited economic resources who live in communities where more volunteer doulas are needed. Bi-lingual and bi-cultural doulas, especially Spanish, Arabic, and French-speaking applicants, are encouraged to apply.

For Birth Doula Applicants:

• Have demonstrated an interest in working with pregnant women or new mothers and their babies.
• Commit to participate in the volunteer Doulas Care program and provide free services to five women that includes: three prenatal visits, birth support, and three postpartum home visits. The birth services should be completed within 18 months of finishing the training. Please be aware that this commitment involves being “on-call” 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a period of two weeks before and two weeks after the woman’s due date. Once she births, of course, you are no longer on call, but do need to remain available to provide needed postpartum support services. Please consider if you have inflexible work hours or an unreliable childcare situation which are incompatible with being “on-call”.

For Postpartum Doula Applicants:

• Have demonstrated an interest in working with new mothers and babies.
• Commit to participate in the Doulas Care program and provide 50 hours of free postpartum services to low-income families in need. Hours should be completed within 18 months of finishing the training.

How to Apply

Please click on one of the Scholarship Application links below and fill it out. Your application can be emailed (see above), dropped off at Doulas Care, or mailed to:

Doulas Care
2500 Packard, Suite #101
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

In order to be considered for a scholarship, applications need to be received by 5pm on the deadline date. You will be notified in writing of your status within two weeks after the deadline date. If you do not regularly check your email, it is best that you leave the email address on the application blank. If you are turned down for a scholarship, you will have a limited-time opportunity to still register for the desired training at the posted early registration discounted fee. Your notification letter will explain the terms.

Click here to download the Birth Doula Training Scholarship Application.

Click here to download the Postpartum Doula Training Scholarship Application.

You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the scholarship applications. If you don’t already have Acrobat on your computer you can download it for free from Adobe’s website.

Scholarship Applicants: Please note which set(s) of trainings you are available for on your scholarship application. You must be able to attend all the trainings in the package.

Birth Doula Training Packages

#1 (Application due January 11th)

• Introduction to Childbirth: Fri, Feb 12 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Birth Doula Training: Sat & Sun, Feb 13 & 14 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Part I Doulas Care Orientation: Fri, March 12 (Doulas Care, Ann Arbor)
• Part II Doulas Care Outreach Worker Training (Spring 2010, date/location TBA)

#2 (Application due March 19th)

• Introduction to Childbirth: Fri, Apr 23 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Birth Doula Training: Sat & Sun, Apr 24 & 25 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Part I Doulas Care Orientation: Sun, May 2 (Doulas Care, Ann Arbor)
• Part II Doulas Care Outreach Worker Training (Spring 2010 date/location TBA)

#3 (Application due May 21st)

• Introduction to Childbirth: Fri, Jun 25 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Birth Doula Training: Sat & Sun, Jun 26 & 27 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Part I Doulas Care Orientation: Thur, July 8 (Doulas Care, Ann Arbor)
• Part II Doulas Care Outreach Worker Training (Winter 2011, date/location TBA)

#4 (Application due July 9th)

• Introduction to Childbirth: Fri, Aug 13 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Birth Doula Training: Sat & Sun, Aug 14 & 15 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Part I Doulas Care Orientation: Tues, Aug 24 (Doulas Care, Ann Arbor)
• Part II Doulas Care Outreach Worker Training (Winter 2011, date/location TBA)

#5 (Application due Oct 8th)

• Introduction to Childbirth: Fri, Nov 12 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Birth Doula Training: Sat & Sun, Nov 13 & 14 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Part I Doulas Care Orientation: Tues, Dec 7 (Doulas Care, Ann Arbor)
• Part II Doulas Care Outreach Worker Training (Winter 2011 date/location TBA)

Postpartum Doula Training Packages

#P1 (Application due February 12th)

• Professional Education in Breastfeeding & Lactation: Sat, Mar 20 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Postpartum Doula Training: Thurs-Sun, Mar 25-28 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Part I Doulas Care Orientation: Sun, May 2 (Doulas Care, Ann Arbor)
• Part II Doulas Care Outreach Worker Training (Spring 2010, date/location TBA)

#P2 (Application due August 27th)

• Professional Education in Breastfeeding & Lactation: Sat, Oct 2 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Postpartum Doula Training:Thurs-Sun, Oct 7-10 (Center for the Childbearing Year, Ann Arbor)
• Part I Doulas Care Orientation: Tues, Dec 7 (Doulas Care, Ann Arbor)
• Part II Doulas Care Outreach Worker Training (Winter 2011 date/location TBA)

Volunteer Info

• Doula Scholarships
• Current Forms