In January 2022, clients started receiving doula care through the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Title V Doula Project.
Summary
The Iowa Department of Public Health partnered with the Black Doula Collective to launch the Title V Doula Project. The project aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for Black families by increasing initiation of prenatal care, increasing breastfeeding rates, and diversifying the state’s perinatal workforce by increasing the number of Black doulas in the state. Services were set to begin in 2021 throughout Black Hawk, Dubuque, Polk, and Scott counties.
The Department hopes to make doula care accessible to 40 black families in the first year while providing funding for an additional 3-4 years. Doulas will be reimbursed $1200 for three prenatal visits, presence at labor and delivery, and up to five postpartum visits.
The Department hopes the project can be a case for expanding access to doula care more broadly, such as through statewide doula Medicaid coverage.
Official Resources
News Articles Related to Enacted Law
New program helps Black families with birthing services (Feb. 21, 2022)