Doula - Specialized Home Visitor

POSITION: Doula - Specialized Home Visitor

 

REPORTS TO: Doula Program Supervisor

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

 

Doulas are Specialized Home Visitors that provide intensive, specialized services in order to improve the perinatal health of mother and baby, support parent-child attachment, and improve the family's social- emotional experience of labor and delivery. The Doula provides social service and case management to families. Supports pregnant women health and social service needs by consulting with professionals, as needed.

 

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

 

Attends the birth of laboring teen and young mothers residing in Winnebago County who are enrolled in services.

 

Provide home visits to pregnant teens residing in Winnebago County. Develop and implement individualized lesson plans based on the needs of the families served. The Doula will teach the participant about the risks of smoking, alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDs, and STD transmission, the benefits of breastfeeding, and enhanced healthy labor and delivery options which may lead to less medical intervention.

 

Conduct the Parent Survey on families to determine referral and treatment plans in relation to family stress, domestic violence, mental health, child development, drug/ alcohol use and family support.

 

Provide professional consultation and input related to pregnant adolescents with community professionals, including, doctors, nurses, midwives, and social workers.

 

Create and implement prenatal support groups for adolescent mothers and their family members. The Doulas will design prenatal group to challenge thinking and emphasize decision making about issues that affect the relationship between the parent(s) and their unborn child.

 

Research and develop prenatal curriculum and conduct trainings to staff and professionals, as needed on critical child development issues such as, breastfeeding, shaken baby syndrome, SIDS, adolescent parenting, risks of HIV/AIDs transmission during breastfeeding, STD transmission, and grief, bereavement and infant loss.

 

Facilitate and assist in the implementation of individualized birth plans at the hospital with each adolescent mother to inform professional hospital staff including, doctors, nurses and midwives of the mother's expectations and goals during and after labor.

 

Utilize data systems to monitor participant attendance, statistics, outcome measures, retention rates, and recidivism.

 

Comply with the required schedule of family contacts to ensure the family is well informed and an active participant in the program to ensure a healthy outcome for both mother and baby.

 

Arrange shadowed home visits for audit entities, Easterseals staff, program funders, and interns to observe Doula strategies and techniques utilized with adolescent mothers.

 

All other duties as assigned.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education/Certification (overnight - out of town trainings required): 

 

Associate's Degree or equivalent years of experience.

 

Doula Basic Training 1, 2, 3 and 4 within the first 6 months of employment.

 

Healthy Families America Integrated Strategies Core Certification within 9 months of employment.

 

Healthy Families America Parent Survey Training Core Certification within 9 months of employment.

 

Ages and Stages Certification within 9 months of employment.

 

Family Assisted Neonatal Activities Certification within 12 months of employment.

 

Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) within 12 months of employment.

 

Grief and Bereavement Certification within 12 months of employment.

 

Doulas of North America Certification within 24 months of employment.

 

Experience Required:

 

Knowledge of labor and delivery and post-partum care.

 

Vehicle/Transportation Requirements:

 

Valid driver's license.

 

Auto insurance.

 

• Reliable vehicle.

 

Skills/Abilities:

 

Sensitivity and respect for adolescent parents.

 

ESSENTIAL TRAININGS: 200 hours

 

Shaken baby syndrome, domestic violence, Trauma Informed Practice, child abuse recognition and response, HIV/AIDS, STD, family planning, safety, infant and maternal depression, human sexuality, infant development, curriculum development and reflective practices.