A childbirth educator is a trained professional that provides unbiased, and evidence-based information to help expectant parents prepare for the journey of birthing and beyond. Their primary goal is to give expectant parents the skills to prepare for pregnancy, labor, birth, and parenthood, teach about the physiology of birth, relaxation techniques, and explain postpartum care.

Apply

 

Interested in being a mentor?

 

Certified breast feeding specialists are trained professionals that provide basic breastfeeding education and support to women, birthing parents, and their families. The scope of breastfeeding specialists falls into the category of teaching and offering classes to new and expecting parents. Breastfeeding specialists should not be mistaken for lactation specialists or consultants, which are certified health professionals who specialize in the clinical management of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding specialists can make referrals to lactation consultants, specialists, and pediatricians when the concerns are beyond their scope of practice.

 

Apply

 

Interested in being a mentor?

 

Certified Peer Specialists work from the perspective of their lived experience to help build environments conducive to recovery. They promote hope, personal responsibility, empowerment, education, and self-determination in the communities where they serve. Specialists are trained to assist others in skill-building, problem-solving, setting up, and maintaining self-help mutual support groups, and building self-directed recovery tools. Within the Maternal Mental Health Certified Peer Specialist program, moms and birth givers will have the opportunity to provide trusted and knowledgeable support to others that have experienced difficulties maintaining their mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period, provide those with lived experience meaningful and needed paid work opportunities, and to build the capacity of obstetric providers in addressing maternal mental health disorders.

 

Applications for the 2022-2023 cohort are currently closed. 

Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother or birth giver before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. According to research, women and birth givers who utilized birth doulas are less likely to need Pitocin, less likely to have a cesarean birth, less likely to use pain medication, and more likely to rate their childbirth as a positive experience. Doulas may be employed by a facility or practice independently and start a business. Our participants will be certified through DONA International.

 

Applications for the 2022-2023 cohort are currently closed.

 

Hire a BPSP Doula

 

BPSP Graduate Directory

Scholarships are open to applicants that meet the following guidelines:

• • Applicant must be 18 years or older
  • Must have a strong interest in working with childbearing families, improving birth outcomes, supporting maternal health, and birthing justice
  • Must have High School Diploma or GED
  • Must not have previously been certified as a Birth Doula or Postpartum Doula
  • Reside anywhere in Georgia. We are especially interested in accepting participants from the perinatal regions of Augusta, Columbus, and Albany.
  • Must agree to attend all HMHBGA training workshops. On average, we will have a training session each month
  • Demonstrate a commitment to becoming a credentialed doula within a 12 month time period
  • Demonstrate a high commitment to the program and desire to provide services
  • Cohort members can not be staff members of HMHBGA or collaborating organizations

The program allows for scholars to practice on their own time, to become credentialed over a period of time that suits their current work or life schedules, and encourage individuals to develop entrepreneurial skillsets to gain new clients and partners to build their practice. Throughout the workshops, we will bring in professionals to discuss the following topics in order to assure each participant has the information they need to fully develop their practice and opportunities for economic self-sufficiency and birthing justice:

• • Gender Affirming Pregnancy
  • Infant Loss
  • Crisis Response in Birthwork
  • Trauma-Informed Care
  • and more!

In addition to the trainings listed above, cohort members will be matched with an experienced professional to serve as a mentor throughout the duration of the project.

Want to Become a Mentor?

Request More Info

HMHBGA would like to congratulate our 2022 scholarship winners. We are excited to embark on a year of learning and growing with them!

Please follow us on social media for updates and photos.

HMHBGA would like to congratulate our 2021 scholarship winners.