Maternal Health Vocational School
Sisters in Birth Academy is accepting applications for its two new maternal health certificate programs.
1. Certified Doula (Prenatal, Birth, and Postpartum), a 10-month hybrid program that includes a mentored practicum.
2. Certified Maternal/Child Health Leadership Program, a 10-month hybrid program including a mentored practicum.
The Academy was developed to provide students with greater quality of maternal health education, skills, and mentoring to improve the personal health and social services issues facing pregnant and postpartum women in Mississippi. Over ten years, Sisters in Birth has been training and hiring birth workers to serve Mississippi moms. Compared to other doula programs, this Program is more comprehensive, rigorous, and relevant to the diverse factors associated with the perpetual maternity crisis in Mississippi and the Southeast. This year, the Academy joined a short list of educational institutions licensed by a state government to deliver its certified doula training program to the public.
The Certified Doula (CD) Program is a full-spectrum doula training program designed for individuals interested in developing the necessary knowledge and skills to provide direct evidenced-based, non-clinical, prenatal, birth, and postpartum services to pregnant, laboring, and postpartum women to improve birth outcomes in the State. You must have a high school diploma, a HiSet, or a GED®. Tuition includes eveything except CPR/AED/First Aid certification, Bloodborn Pathogens training, the rebozo scarf, and travel for 5 in-person training days. This Program does not certify graduates to work as community health workers.
For tuition information, please register for the upcoming college fair
Curriculum
MCH 101 - Investigating the Maternity Crisis – Mississippi Case Study - The Perfect Storm
MCH 102 - Reducing Preventable Maternal Risk Factors
MCH 103 - Reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality Risk Factors
MCH 104 - The Maternity Healthcare System – Mississippi Case Study
MCH 111 - Doula Mentored Practicum
MCH 112 - Developing a Doula Business
The Maternal/Child Health (MCH) Leadership Certificate Program is designed for Public health and other health professional students and professionals who would are interested in learning how to translate maternal health theories to practice. Students must have an Associate degree or higher in a health science program and who want to develop competencies in applying maternal and child health theories and data, public policy, program planning and development, and health communication. Students will learn to develop and/or administer maternal and child health education and promotion programs, to develop a nonprofit, 501c3 public health agency, to write grant proposals, and to advocate for maternal and child health policy at the Mississippi State Legislature.
For tuition information, please contact us at sibirth0@gmail.com.
Curriculum
MCH 101 - Investigating the Maternity Crisis – Mississippi Case Study - The Perfect Storm
MCH 102 - Reducing Preventable Maternal Risk Factors
MCH 103 - Reducing Preventable Maternal and Infant Mortality Risk Factors
MCH 104 - The Maternity Healthcare System – Mississippi Case Study
MCH 105 - The Midwifery – Birth Center Model
MCH 106 - The Politics of Maternal and Child Health Policies - Project
MCH 107 - Introduction to Maternal Health Epidemiology - Using data to support public policy
MCH 108 - Maternal Health Communications - Using Data to Make the Case for MCH
MCH 109 - Developing a Nonprofit/Charitable Organization - Project
MCH 110 - Developing a Maternal Health Program – Capstone
MCH 111 - How to write a professional grant proposal
Program Highlights
We're better than DONA International. Here's Why:
- Our students learn from experienced instructors/trainers who reside in Mississippi and who understand the complex challenges facing women before and after pregnant.
- We offer a comprehensive training program that includes Birth and Postpartum Doula training, Maternal Health Education, Natural Childbirth Education, Breastfeeding, a Mentored Practicum and more.
- Our students gain significantly more knowledge, skills, and support than a DONA International 2 - day workshop for approximately the same cost.
- Our program addresses underlying preventable issues that negatively affect pregnancy and birth outcomes.
- Our program has published proven outstanding health and birth outcomes among Mississippi moms and newborns.
- No Application, Registration, Certification, Renewal Certification, Continuing Education Fees.
- We do NOT require our graduates to become members.
- We provide support to our graduates as long as they are practicing in Mississippi.
- Sisters in Birth Academy is located in Mississippi and licensed by the State of Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Regisration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at sibirth0@gmail.com.
Each Program meets twice a week from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Download, complete, sign, and email the application to sibirth0@gmail.com. A staff person will contact you to arrange a conference call to discuss the program and your professional goals and answer any further questions. Afterwards, you will receive a decision letter. If accepted, you will sign an enrollement agreement and pay your tution or make payment arrangements. The Doula Certification Program term is from February 2027 - November 2027, and the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Certification Program term is from August 2027 - April 2028.
The Doula Certification Program is virtual with the exception of 5 days of in-person training and the practicum/mentorship, which will occur in your County. The 5 days occur on weekends.
The Maternal and Child Health Leadership Certificate Program is completely virtual except for the Capstone Project that occurs in your County.
No, the 5 days- in-person trainings are spread out over four months occuring on Weekends.
College-level intensity.
The Certified Doula Program is designed to ensure that graduates obtain a comprehensive educational experience, including knowledge about negative factors associated with the maternity crisis and skills to intervene to reduce personal and systemic risks women experience during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum through maternal health education, coaching, and patient advocacy. In other words, participating in a 1 - 2 day workshop where participants learn a few comfort measures for birth is woefully insufficient and will not fully prepare you to educate and empower pregnant women in Mississippi, a state that has the highest levels of maternal obesity, chronic diseases, preterm birth, cesarean deliveries, low birth weight babies, maternal mortality and infant mortality. We prepare doulas to postively influence personal behavior that affects prenatal health, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding outcomes. Our Program is based on our previous community health (birth) worker program, a comprehensive program that produced significant outcomes during prenatal, birth, and postpartum phases. Therefore, our Program includes 4 months of course work followed by a instructor/mentor led practicum where you will support one pregnant client.
Tuition covers course work, training activities, reading materials, training equipment and supplies and American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid training. Tuition does not include American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification and Bloodborne Pathogens Training, a rebozo scarf, and expenses associated with 4 days of in-person training activities in Ridgeland. You need commitment and patience to receive a comprehensive education and training experience, passion for the work, good communication skills, reliable access to the internet, and a working computer, i-PAD, or tablet. If you don't have a computer, we can help you to buy a used computer through a partnership.
The Programs do not qualify for federal aid. Students must self-pay the total amount at the time of enrollment or through a monthly payment plan arrangement. We accept cashier checks, money orders, credit cards, and bank debt cards.
Apply Now. Complete, sign, and email the Application.
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