Healthier Moms and Babies is proud to announce a major milestone in its Community-Based Doula Program with the successful recruitment, training, certification, and mentorship of 10 community-based doulas who are now prepared to begin serving families throughout Allen County.
Healthier Moms and Babies news release:
Healthier Moms and Babies Completes Training of 10 Community-Based Doulas to Expand Support for Families Across Allen County
Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 22, 2026) – Healthier Moms and Babies is proud to announce a major milestone in its Community-Based Doula Program with the successful recruitment, training, certification, and mentorship of 10 community-based doulas who are now prepared to begin serving families throughout Allen County.
Over the past year, Healthier Moms and Babies has intentionally recruited women from neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of infant mortality to become doulas. Several participants are former Healthier Moms and Babies clients who have transformed their lived experiences into a commitment to supporting other women through pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Through the program, Healthier Moms and Babies provided doula training, certification support, mentorship, and professional development, eliminating many of the barriers that often prevent women from entering the profession.
The newly trained doulas will provide support throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and the postpartum period, helping families navigate childbirth while offering education, advocacy, and emotional support.
“Community-based doulas bring a unique understanding of the challenges many families face because they often come from the same neighborhoods and have shared lived experiences,” said Paige Wilkins, Chief Executive Officer of Healthier Moms and Babies. “By investing in women from the communities most impacted by poor birth outcomes, we are building a workforce that can provide culturally responsive support while creating meaningful career opportunities.”
Research has shown that doula support is associated with improved birth outcomes, increased breastfeeding rates, reduced cesarean rates, and higher patient satisfaction. Community-based doulas are especially effective in helping address disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
The program’s growth has been made possible through community partnerships and philanthropic investments, including support from IU Health. In addition, Healthier Moms and Babies recently received funding from the Don Wood Foundation to partner with Brightpoint in developing an entrepreneurship training program specifically designed for doulas.
The entrepreneurship curriculum will provide participants with practical business skills, including financial management, business planning, marketing, banking, and client management. The goal is to help doulas build sustainable careers while expanding access to doula services throughout Northeast Indiana.
“At IU Health, we recognize that strong communities begin with healthy mothers and babies. Through our Community Impact Investment Fund, we’re proud to support Healthier Moms and Babies and its Doula Collective program, which shares our goal of giving more babies a healthy start and more mothers a safe, supported journey. We congratulate this graduating cohort of doulas and look forward to the care they will provide as they nurture, support, and guide families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Together, we’re building stronger, healthier communities for years to come.” Brian Bauer, President of IU Health Fort Wayne
“Congratulations to the women who completed the program, and to the support organizations partnering to ensure the program’s success, especially Healthier Moms and Babies and Brightpoint,” said Laura Macknick, president and CEO, Don Wood Foundation. “We always appreciate it when people commit to lifelong learning because it builds our talent pipeline and strengthens the community.
The Community-Based Doula Program is part of Healthier Moms and Babies’ broader strategy to reduce infant and maternal mortality by addressing both healthcare and social determinants of health. By recruiting women from the communities most affected by poor birth outcomes and equipping them with the tools to succeed, HMB is creating a sustainable model that strengthens families and builds community leadership.
Healthier Moms and Babies serves more than 1,200 individuals annually through home visiting, doula services, maternal mental health programs, fatherhood engagement initiatives, and diaper assistance programs. The organization has been dedicated to preventing infant mortality and improving birth outcomes in Northeast Indiana for nearly 30 years.
About Healthier Moms and Babies
Healthier Moms and Babies is a Fort Wayne-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing infant mortality and improving birth outcomes throughout Northeast Indiana. Through evidence-based home visiting programs, doula support, maternal mental health services, fatherhood engagement, and community partnerships, HMB works to ensure every baby has the opportunity to celebrate their first birthday and every family has access to the support they need to thrive.
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