New Jersey state officials have expanded the number of NJ FamilyCare-approved doula training programs to 29, adding 19 new pathways designed to broaden access to culturally responsive maternity care for families across the state.
The update allows more community-based doulas to achieve the certification required to bill NJ FamilyCare—the state’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)—which covers approximately 30,000 births in New Jersey annually.
The expanded roster includes local, national, and international training programs evaluated through a standardized review process overseen by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS) and the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). Technical assistance and outreach were spearheaded by the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (NJMIHIA), whose own community doula curriculum underwent the approval process.
“Expanding the approved training list creates more pathways for doulas to serve NJ FamilyCare families,” Lisa Asare, president and CEO of NJMIHIA said. “Strengthening the doula workforce can help reduce barriers to culturally responsive care and advance more equitable outcomes for mothers and babies.”
Community doulas provide continuous non-medical physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. Clinical research connects doula support to lower rates of cesarean deliveries and fewer obstetric interventions.
To streamline the pathway from training to practice, the state has also introduced the NJ Doula Assistant, an online guidance tool designed to assist individual doulas with the Fee-for-Service enrollment application for Medicaid provider status.
“These trainings give doulas the tools to grow their practice, including the certification they need to bill Medicaid, so this essential work can also be a sustainable career,” Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington said.
Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha emphasized the state’s ongoing efforts to lower barriers for providers: “By making it easier for training organizations to become NJ FamilyCare-approved, more trained doulas can qualify to enroll as community doulas and serve families.”
To support birth workers navigating provider registration, NJMIHIA will host an instructional webinar regarding the NJ Doula Assistant tool on Oct. 15.
The complete list of 29 NJ FamilyCare-approved doula training programs includes:
- Active Birth Institute Certified Professional Labor Doula (CPLD) and Certified Postpartum Doula (CPPD)
- AMANI Birth Certified Doula
- AMAR Community Doula Program
- Ancient Song Certified Community-Based Full Spectrum Doula (CFSD)
- Birth Arts International Doula Certification Program
- BirthPro Certified Full Spectrum Doula
- BirthWorks Certified Birth Doula – CBD (BWI)
- CAPPA Certified Labor Doula
- CDOSJ CAPPA Certified Community Doula (CCD)
- Certified AAVE Community Based Doula
- Certified AAVE Teen4Teen Doula
- Certified Full Spectrum Doula – CFSD (BADT)
- Children’s Futures Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Childbirth Educator, Reproductive Health Peer Counselor, Labor & Postpartum Doula
- CoCoLife Foundation Community Doula Certification
- Doula Impact Strategies LLC DONA Certified Birth Doula CD(DONA)
- HealthConnect One Community Based Doula Training
- Healthy Beginnings Community Perinatal Health Associate (CPHA)
- International Doula Institute Certified Birth Doula CD
- Maha Cares Community-Based Doula Training Program
- Mama Glow Certified Level 1 Doula
- National Black Doulas Association Certified Birth Doula
- Newmom.me Certified Labor and Birth Doula
- NJMIHIA Community-Based Doula Training
- Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ HealthConnect One Certified Community-Based Doula Training
- The Cooperative Doula Impacts Strategies, LLC Community-Based Doula Training
- The Rose Center Birth and Postpartum Certified Doula
- Uzazi Village Certified Full Spectrum Doula
- Womb Ish Certified Perinatal Doula
- Your Doula Journey LLC Certified Labor Doula
State officials noted that the NJ FamilyCare approval list applies specifically to Medicaid reimbursement eligibility and does not restrict doulas from practicing independently in non-Medicaid settings. Training organizations seeking future approval may submit application materials continuously through NJMIHIA.
