Specialized Doula

Specialized Doula

Under direction of the Director of Project Hope and in accordance with the Daughters of Charity Ministries of Chicago Mission Statement & Core Values, provides prenatal, birth and postnatal services to pregnant and parenting mothers.

Manage ongoing caseload of up to 10 mothers at a time and serve up to 24 mothers in a year.

Use strength-based approach to schedule and provide home visits to pregnant mothers as identified by Cook County Jail System.

Support partner agency with doula services as needed.

Plan and complete prenatal and postnatal home visits with home visiting staff of Marillac St. Vincent and partner agency.

Develop strong knowledge base of working with families who have experienced incarceration, trauma, domestic violence, poverty, mental illness, and other adverse experiences and apply it to the work.

Utilize the Community Based FANA, Parents as Teachers and other research-based and evidence-based curriculum in home visiting and prenatal group services.

Make referrals for prenatal and postnatal medical care and attend medical appointments with mothers. Make other referrals as needed.

Involve extended family in the birth process.

• Provide education and assist in the development and implementation of birth plan
• Nurture the mother through the birth using many different techniques non-medical support
• Provide education of birthing process, comfort measures, and coaching for fathers
• Promote bonding and attachment right from the start through parent-child interactions
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with hospitals and staff on the maternity floor

Be on call 24 hours for births. Be available as back up Doula. Maintain open communication with Program Director.

Plan, prepare and facilitate weekly prenatal groups.

Partner with mothers to encourage goal-oriented outcomes for themselves and their child

Participate in monthly clinical consultation, doula consultation, and team meetings. Participate in presentations, as assigned.

Attend required professional development and training including, but not limited to, on-going Doula trainings and in-services at the Ounce of Prevention, Health Connect One Doula workshops, other trainings to enhance professional growth.

Complete doula certification through DONA International.

Maintain timely, accurate, and complete documentation. Utilize OunceNet system.

Develop and maintain professional relationships with community partners/agencies and entities that provide services and support to the program participants.

Other duties assigned by the Program Supervisor.

Act with integrity and aspire to model our Core Values in the delivery of all services.

Experience/Education: B.A. in psychology, sociology, social work, or related field.

Qualifications: Good communication skills, ability to work as part of a team. Relates well to others, comfortable doing home visits, respectful of family norms and values, ability to attend trainings and translate it into hands on knowledge, comfortable in dealing with families, professionals and the community. Ability to nurture parents. Comfortable in being a friend, mentor, role model and teacher to assist in the development of emotional relationship skills. Good computer skills to maintain required documentation. Ability to represent Marillac & Project Hope to external agencies.

Language: Ability to read, write and speak English proficiently. Bilingual skill is a plus.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Possess the ability to fulfill and any all office activities normally expected in an office setting, to include, but not limited to: remaining seated for periods of time to perform computer entry, participating in filing activity, lifting and carrying office supplies (paper reams, mail, etc.). The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20-25 pounds. At times, may require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position. Fine hand manipulation (keyboarding).

Work Environment: Internal office space. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. Medical environment during labor and delivery.