Certified Postpartum Doula

Heluna Health • Los Angeles, CA

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a grant-funded, term-limited temporary position (6 months until July 30, 2026). Funding is by LA Care’s Generating African American Infant & Nurturers’ Survival Initiative (GAAINS II). This is a hybrid virtual and in-person position located in Los Angeles County, California. Applicants must reside in Los Angeles County, California.

This project will provide postpartum doula in-home supportive services and support by one (1) Certified Postpartum Doula for ten (10) African American mothers and infants through a home visitation program for clients and their infants from two days postpartum through three months postpartum. Families will be able to have up to 24 hours of postpartum care in their homes (4-hour or 8-hour sessions) free of charge if they meet eligibility criteria (African American, residing in Los Angeles County, and have Medi-Cal). Breastfeeding will be promoted by doulas, with at least 70% (7 of 10) of clients, using this feeding method for a minimum of six months. Also, assessment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) will be conducted and referrals shall be made for mental health services if needed.

About 4-6 hours a week during Monday-Fridays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm will be spent on outreach to identify and enroll eligible clients for the program through social media marketing on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, as well as participating in community meetings in-person, doing doctor’s office and clinic visits and participating virtually over Zoom or Teams meetings with partner agencies. Occasional outreach at health fairs on weekends is also required. Reliable transportation and personal computer are required.

Interested applicants please submit a resume highlighting relevant work as a Certified Postpartum Doula or perinatal home visitor.

This is a temporary part time position (12.5/hours week) funded through June 30, 2026.

Requirements

• 1 years’ experience as a Certified Postpartum Doula required
• Graduate of a Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula or Perinatal Support Specialist training through DONA, ALACE, ToBirth, ICEA, CAPPA, AWMNH, HMHBA, Birthing People Foundation, Full Circle, or other qualified organization or instructor.
• Certification as a Lactation Educator or Lactation Counselor-Educator or Breastfeeding Peer Counselor through any qualified organization such as CAPPA, Breastfeed LA, Le Leche League, WIC, UCLA, etc. required
• Postpartum Doula Certification with Lamaze, ICEA, Bradley, HMHBA, CAPPA, ToBirth, etc. required
• One year experience working as a postpartum doula or in-home health visitor providing social services to a diverse population including Black/African American families.
• Demonstrated ability to implement research-based health education strategies and best practices in perinatal health and lactation.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and organize work projects and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and conflict resolution ability.
• Cultural awareness training and anti-racism training or willingness to attend training within 1 month of hire.
• Experience collaborating with a variety of staff at all levels and community partners.
• Strong attention to detail
• Passion for and commitment to the mission of Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance
• Aptitude for solving problems with creativity and resourcefulness.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with clients, doulas, providers, staff, interns, apprentices, volunteers, and supervisors.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision, keep up with required documentation and reports and meet deadlines for submitting reports.
• Ability to work flexible hours (including nights, weekends, holidays), work virtually, and have reliable transportation and the ability to travel throughout Los Angeles County.
• Completion of HIPAA Training within 1 week of hire required.
• Training in Perinatal Mental Health required or willingness to be trained within 1 month of hire required.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft 360 Programs such as Word, SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint, and possession of a personal computer are required.
• High School Degree (required); or associate’s degree (preferred) or college-level coursework in subject areas of women’s studies, health sciences, public health, social work, family studies, obstetrical and postpartum nursing, or midwifery.
• Demonstrated experience in postpartum care of mothers (experience via parenting and/or early learning and development and home visitation programs is highly desirable) as a Postpartum Doula and/or Midwife Assistant.
• 1 year experience working as a Postpartum Doula or in-home visitor providing social services and lactation support to diverse populations including BIPOC, refugees and immigrants, including adolescents. Must have worked with 5 families providing Postpartum Doula Support prior to hire (required).
• Graduate of a Postpartum Doula or Perinatal Support Specialist Training required;
• Certified Postpartum Doula required from any certifying entity
• Certified Lactation Educator or Certified Lactation Educator-Counselor required from any certifying entity

Nice To Haves

• Certified Birth Doula preferred from any certifying entity
• Certified Childbirth Educator from any certifying entity a plus

Responsibilities

• Understanding of quality-of-life issues and the impact of social determinants of health and racial justice issues impacting birth outcomes and survival rates of African American mothers and infants.
• Ability to provide culturally congruent services to 10 African American mothers and their nurturers or fathers of the baby and make referrals to African American fathers to our Fatherhood Support Program Coordinator.
• Work with Program Director to implement a plan to enroll ten (10) African American mothers and their infants who are between two days and three months postpartum into the program provide in-home supportive services during the two-day to three- month postpartum period.
• Under supervision of Program Director, implement strategies to ensure at least 70% (7 out of 10) of African American mothers participating in the program will breastfeed their babies for a minimum six months during the child's first year of life.
• Implement plan to deliver strategies to ensure at least 95% (9 out of 10) of African- American mothers and their babies participating in the program will survive through one year post birth.
• Conduct community outreach to recruit clientele eligible for the program. Outreach will be conducted through social media marketing, and virtual sessions over Zoom, as well as outreach and presentations to agencies serving African American pregnant women.
• Develop a comprehensive postpartum plan with the family for postpartum services.
• Ability to complete and submit postpartum visit forms in an online electronic format within 24 hours of visit with mother using a personal computer.
• Ability to deliver relevant postpartum maternal health and newborn care health education to new mothers and father/nurturers using health education materials that will be provided.
• Ability to make home visits with postpartum mothers and newborns anywhere throughout Los Angeles County. This may include overnight sessions from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am or 11:00 pm to 7:00 am, including weekends and weekdays.
• Deliver postpartum and lactation services in clients' homes, provide breastfeeding support, support for maternal physical recovery, instruction on newborn care, screening for PMADs using the Edinburgh Scale and the PHQ-9 tools, and make referrals to mental health providers, if needed.
• Identify any abnormal situations occurring in the postpartum mother, such as excessive postpartum bleeding, breast infection, postpartum depression, or psychosis, etc., and make medical and mental health referrals as needed.
• Provide assessment and plan for maternal recovery; monitor newborn appearance, behavior, and identify any risk factors and make medical referrals if needed.
• Encourage vaccination of newborn and regular checkups with a pediatrician.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED