DC Doula and Learning Action Collaborative

The DC Doula Learning and Action Collaborative (DLAC) is a public-private partnership first establish through the generous support of the Institute for Medicaid Innovation. The partnership is led by doulas for doulas and leverages partnerships with other key stakeholders including the State Medicaid agency, the State Health agency, Manage Care Organizations, hospitals, and community health partners. 

DLAC is focused on improving how doulas navigate the District’s Medicaid system as non-clinical, independent providers to ensure that those who are Medicaid beneficiaries that want a doula have access to a doula during their perinatal journey. 

Doula care is significantly correlated with positive delivery outcomes including reduced cesarean deliveries, fewer premature births, improved birth weights, and decreased maternal mortality rates. By supporting the doula workforce, we are supporting families across DC access birth equity education, continuous labor support, and comprehensive maternal health services thereby reducing the well-described equity gaps in maternal health outcomes in the District.

We also serve as DC's Doula Advisory Council through the Transforming Maternal Health initiative through Department of Health Care Finance, see more here.