Doula Mentorship Program

One of the many ways the Georgia Birth Network serves it's members is by offering a Mentorship Program for newer doulas. Through this program, the Georgia Birth Network mentors those who have attended a doula workshop and have chosen to become members of our organization. Our hope is to make certification as easy and affordable as possible while building skills and relationships that will strengthen doulas and the GBN.

Mentorship Goals:

• Assist doulas in the certification process.
• Mentor doulas in training through their first experiences with clients prenatally, during labor and the postpartum period.
• To offer feedback to the doulas in training in order to facilitate learning from their experiences and improving the care of the pregnant, birthing and postpartum woman.
• To offer in-service training and advanced doula trainings for all doulas to continue the learning experience beyond the initial doula training workshop.

Program Benefits:

• Continuing Education Workshops: Topical workshops are taught on a needs basis by the program director or other experienced members of the network or community.
• Back-Up: Program assists with back-up arrangements for mentorship program participants.
• Referrals: GBN will maintain your name on our referral list for clients.
• Resource Library: A library of the required reading materials for certification are available to be checked out at every monthly meeting, which saves you the initial cost of having to purchase the books yourself.
• Client Specific Information: including VBAC, Pre-eclampsia, Gestational Diabetes, etc.
• Bi-Monthly Meetings: GBN provides a different topic of birth related interest in order to expand our interests and keep us up to date on local birth trends.
• Childbirth Education Classes: GBN provides a listing of local CBE classes that are open to observers, free of charge.
• All participants in the mentorship program are permitted to state their affiliation with GBN.
• Although it is not required, it is recommended that each doula in the mentorship program (doula in training), invite their mentor to at least one birth for evaluation.

Providing Partnership:

• Mentoring - Each doula wishing to enter the mentorship program will fill out a mentorship registration form (in addition to the general membership application) and then the doula in training will be matched with a mentor. Mentors are a great asset in finding you births to attend with them or simply provide feedback and guidance on your own doula experiences. There is a lot to learn from those who have gone before you. The mentor is basically a friend who looks for experience opportunities for you and can help guide you along your new path.
• Volunteer Birth Opportunities - All doula certifying organizations require you to attend and document a certain number of births as the primary doula. We can provide opportunities for new doulas to attend births.
• Group Membership Discounts - Certifying organizations require dues and GBN has been able to provide group membership discounts to DONA, should you choose them as your certifying organization.

How Do I Become a Part of the Mentor Program?

• Be enrolled in a doula certification program & be seriously pursuing certification or experience.
• Join GBN as an Advertiser Member.
• Fill out registration form for Doula Mentorship Program.
• Attend GBN meetings and take an active role.
• Be of a flexible and teachable attitude and willing to learn.
• Have internet access if at all possible (for the purpose of communication without phone and can be set up at local library and checked weekly).

Responsibilities of Program Participants:

• Doula in training agrees to take referrals from GBN.
• Inform potential clients of your involvement with the GBN Doula Mentorship Program. Client is welcome to contact GBN for any additional information or to ask questions about program.
• Maintain communication with mentor doula by phone or email at least once per month.
• Doula in training should be available to back up another doula in training when needed - an essential component of good doula care.
• Assist in set-up and take down at 3 or more GBN functions.

Childbirth Educator Mentorship Program

This program is similar to the Doula Mentorship Program. It will offer support, an exchange of ideas and referrals for childbirth educators of all experience levels. More information coming soon!