Participants in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation’s doula training program are now able to receive college credit, thanks to a continued partnership between UAMS and the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT).
By coupling this program with the state’s passage of the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act earlier this year, officials at the institute are working with other state leaders to advance the role of doulas in the state. The act, signed into law by Gov. Sarah Sanders in February, also establishes presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women.
In addition to training participants to navigate self-employment amid the Medicaid changes, trainees can now receive up to seven hours of college credit through UA Hope-Texarkana.
“Arkansas’ approval of Medicaid reimbursement for doula services earlier this year marked a powerful step toward recognizing the essential role doulas play in maternal and infant health,” said Krista Langston, executive director of community programs at the institute. “Pairing that progress with college credit not only elevates the profession but also validates the expertise and dedication doulas bring to the health care system.”
The institute launched its enhanced doula training program earlier this year, enrolling 60 trainees from across the state who will receive doula certification upon program completion later this year. The training program includes 29 hours of training with Birthing Beyond, LLC, an approved DONA International certification program; 40 hours of training with Ujima Maternity Network of Conway; 45 hours of Certified Breastfeeding Counselor training; and six months of mentorship.
Doulas are trained birth coaches who provide continuous emotional and physical support throughout labor and delivery. Research shows that incorporating doula support into maternal care significantly improves birth outcomes, including lower rates of interventions like cesarean sections and preterm births, while enhancing maternal satisfaction, infant health and parental engagement. Additionally, doula-assisted care is linked to reduced maternal and infant mortality, decreased postpartum depression and average health care cost savings of nearly $1,000 per birth.