New Organization Aims to Collaborate with Physician Community to Improve Arkansas’s Maternal Health Outcomes
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., (Aug. 7, 2024) – Today, the Doula Alliance of Arkansas announced its founding. A collaborative initiative aimed at improving maternal health outcomes in Arkansas, the Doula Alliance of Arkansas seeks to advance the profession of birth work through advocacy and education, improve access to high-quality doula services statewide and provide a professional support system for Arkansas doulas.
“Establishing the Doula Alliance of Arkansas is a transformative step toward addressing our state’s maternal health crisis,” said Olivia Walton, founder and CEO of Ingeborg Initiatives, which focuses on improving maternal health and women’s economic empowerment in Arkansas. “As Arkansas faces the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, the Alliance creates a vital partnership between doulas and physicians, providing an added layer of support for moms during pregnancy and the challenging postpartum period. Ingeborg Initiatives is proud to support this collaborative effort to ensure that every mother receives the comprehensive, compassionate care she deserves.”
The Doula Alliance of Arkansas aims to develop an infrastructure that acknowledges doulas as a profession, elevates the standard of doula practice throughout the state, provides a pathway to a shared definition of certification and ensures doulas are paid equitably for their services. The Alliance also plans to increase the number of certified doulas across the state and promote the use of certified doulas by women throughout the perinatal period – from the time they get pregnant through the first year postpartum – particularly in areas of the state with higher maternal mortality rates and lack of access to maternity care and birthing services.
“Doulas work alongside the medical team to offer emotional, physical and informational support to expectant mothers before, during and after childbirth, which has been shown to contribute to better birth experiences and outcomes,” said Nicolle Fletcher, certified doula, co-founder of Ujima Maternity Network and board chair of the Doula Alliance of Arkansas. “This Alliance will allow doulas across the state to present a unified voice for public policy advocacy, formalize our certification process and provide the structure for us to work more seamlessly with providers to ensure that every mother in Arkansas has access to the care and support she needs.”
Seven Arkansas doulas and several members of the physician and midwife communities comprise the Doula Alliance of Arkansas’s founding board. Members include:
- Nicolle Fletcher, doula, chairperson
- Cora Crain, doula, vice chairperson
- Kwaeisi Golliday, doula
- Dr. Christina Green, an OB-GYN at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton
- Sarita Hendrix, doula
- Dr. Nirvana Manning, professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine
- Sondra Rodocker, doula, treasurer
- Liyah Wasson, doula, secretary
- Jamie Washington, doula
“We are excited about the partnership with the Doula Alliance of Arkansas and are grateful for Ingeborg’s dedication to improving maternal health care in Arkansas,” said Dr. Manning. “The maternal health crisis in Arkansas is complicated, and there’s unfortunately not just one solution that will fix the problem. The creation of the Doula Alliance of Arkansas is a positive step in the right direction. By bringing together doulas and healthcare providers, we can create a more integrated approach to maternal care that benefits all mothers and families in Arkansas and will help us create a lasting impact.”
The Doula Alliance of Arkansas was founded by a $250,000 seed grant from Ingeborg Initiatives. The Arkansas Community Foundation is facilitating the funds, and Excel by Eight will serve as advisors to the organization.
Currently, the Doula Alliance is seeking a compassionate, skilled executive director to lead the organization in its mission to advance the profession of birth work through advocacy, education and collaboration with the medical community. To learn more, visit doulaallianceofar.org.
About
the Doula Alliance of Arkansas
The Doula Alliance of Arkansas is dedicated to improving maternal health
outcomes by advocating for the professionalization of doulas, providing
education opportunities for doulas and the public and fostering intentional
collaboration with the medical community. The Alliance aims to increase the
number of certified doulas and ensure their services are recognized and
reimbursed by healthcare payers. Learn more at doulaallianceofar.org.
About
Ingeborg Initiatives
Ingeborg Initiatives was founded by Olivia Walton and is dedicated to
empowering mothers in the state of Arkansas by improving maternal health,
advancing women’s economic opportunity and expanding access to quality care and
early learning opportunities for children. “Ingeborg” is the namesake of
Olivia’s maternal grandmother. The name and its personal significance embody
the organization’s mission to empower mothers in Arkansas. Learn more at ingeborginitiatives.com.
About
Excel by Eight
Excel by Eight is a network of hundreds of individuals and organizations
focused on increasing Arkansas children’s health and education outcomes. It is
committed to strengthening resource grids statewide by building local models
for change, identifying and resolving policy barriers, and enhancing public
understanding of early childhood development. For more information, visit excelby8.net.
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