The course covers 4 certifications: Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Sexual and Reproductive Health Counselor, and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. This course also includes 64 hours of continuing education credits includes certifications in the following areas:
- Uzazi Village Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
- Uzazi Village Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula
- Uzazi Village Certified Childbirth Educator
- Uzazi Village Certified Contraceptive Counselor
This is the required training for Uzazi Village Sister Doulas.
See the below for information about course requirements.
As with all our classes and events, nursing babies and lap babies are welcome.
8 day Course:
$850
payment options are listed at the bottom of the page
Kansas City
Full payment
Partial Payment
St. Louis
Requirements for this course include:
– Attend all 8 sessions of the training
– Read “The Doula Book” by Marshall Klaus or the “The Birth Partner” by Penny Simkin and complete a book review
– Read one of the following “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” by La Leche League, “Breastfeeding Made Simple” by Mohrbacher and Kendall-Tackett, or “Breastfeeding Keep it Simple” by Spangler and complete a book review
– Read ONE other books from the required reading list below and complete a book review
-MUST turn in 3 of 3 book reviews by the end of the course
-A required test is completed at the end of each course day. A score of 80% or greater must be obtained.
-Must complete a Teaching Demonstration
-For Certification: 3 births overseen by staff or senior doula
-For Certification: Complete a Federal background check ($11)
Each training session will consist of an 8-hour day with a 15-minute break in the am and pm and a 30-minute break for lunch. (Lunch will be on your own- we can order in from a local restaurant, or we can have a potluck).
If you are a Sister Doula in training:
– Attend the online components for the Community Health Worker modules must be completed before you being the Sister Doula training. The Community Health Worker Modules can be found through the Uzazi Academie
– Attend all 8 sessions of the training
– Read “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” by La Leche League and complete a book review
– Read “The Doula Book” by Marshall Klaus or “The Birth Partner” by Penny Simkin and complete a book review
– Read one other books from the required reading list below and complete a book review
-MUST turn in 3 of 3 book reviews by the end of the training
-A required test is completed at the end of each course day. A score of 80% or greater must be obtained.
-Must compete a Teaching Demonstration
– Must have 3 births overseen by staff or a senior doula
-Federal background check ($11 fee)
-Purchase Doula insurance
Each training session will consist of an 8-hour day with a 15-minute break in the am and pm and a 30-minute break for lunch. (Lunch will be on your own- we can order in from a local restaurant, or we can potluck).
Book choices:
- Active Birth/Janet Balaskas
- The Birth Partner/Penny Simpkin
- Birthing From Within/Pam England
- A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth/Murray Enkin
- The Birth Book/William Sears
- The Black Woman’s Guide to Breastfeeding/Katherine Barber
- The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth/Henci Goer
- Ina Mae’s Guide to Childbirth/Ina Mae Gaskin
- Birth as an American Rite of Passage/Robbie Davis-Floyd
- The Politics of Breastfeeding/Gabrielle Palmer
- Birth/Tina Cassidy
- Who’s Having this Baby/Helen Sterk
- Childbirth Education/ Francine Nichols
- A Good Birth, A Safe Birth/Roberta Scaer
- The Labor Progress Handbook/Penny Simpkin
- Teaching Natural Birth/Jan Whitcomb
- The Power of Women/Sister Morningstar
Payment options
Payment Option 1
You may pay the full fee in advance or on the first day of class.
Payment Option 2
You may break the payments into two parts, the initial payment due on the first day of class and the second payment due by the third class.
Payment Option 3
You may break payments into three parts, the first payment due by the first day of class, the second payment due by the third class, and the third payment due by the final day of class.
Payment Option 4
For those signing on as Sister Doula, the training fee may be waived in exchange for doing taking the first 5 clients for free.
Candidates will have to undergo an interview process and be accepted into the Sister Doula Program to utilize this option. All Sister Doulas must pay for and pass a background check ($11) and purchase doula insurance policy (roughly $100). These fees must be paid up front when accepted into the Sister Doula Progam. A CPR certification is also required but will be provided without charge.
For more information about becoming a Sister Doula, email mariah@uzazivillage.org