Our Work > Training
Harnessing the power of peer-to-peer support
Educating a national network of birth equity leaders
HealthConnect One collaborates with communities across the country to develop culturally-reflective peer-to-peer support programs and initiatives that promote pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early parenting.
Together with our partners, we train, educate, and support people in communities experiencing marginalization due to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, and language to improve the critical first 1000 days of life for babies and mothers.
Our Training Approach
Our training approach is centered on advancing reproductive justice, and undoing years of disinvestment while connecting communities to their own strengths and skills. We teach culturally appropriate information and support techniques, allowing women and all birthing people to empower one another in growing healthy families.
We're here to support YOUR community and position advocates to lead the work needed to improve birthing families' experiences and outcomes.
HealthConnect One training programs rely on five essential components:
Employ
women who are trusted members of the target community
150+
community-based doulas and breastfeeding advocates were trained in 2021
Extend
and intensify the peer support role from early pregnancy into the postpartum period
150+
community-based doulas and breastfeeding advocates were trained in 2021
Collaborate
with community stakeholders and institutions, using a diverse team approach
150+
community-based doulas and breastfeeding advocates were trained in 2021
Facilitate
experiential learning using popular education techniques and the HC One training curriculum
150+
community-based doulas and breastfeeding advocates were trained in 2021
Value
the community health worker's role
150+
community-based doulas and breastfeeding advocates were trained in 2021
Our Training Programs

Community-Based Doula
Program
Our Community-Based Doula Program is a nationally recognized and evidence-based model, refined over 30 years of practice in communities across the country.
Community-Based Doulas are a mitigating factor for maternal mortality and for many other risks to birthing families, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, bridging language and cultural barriers for optimal health and well-being.

Lactation & Breastfeeding Peer
Counseling
We partner with clinics, health centers, community organizations, and national agencies to develop programs to support and train Lactation & Breastfeeding Peer Counselors. Our program contributes to rapid and dramatic increases in breastfeeding rates and retention.
Lactation & Breastfeeding Peer Counselors offer culturally appropriate support and information, identify breastfeeding and lactation challenges, and provide strategies to help breast/chestfeeding parents achieve their infant feeding goals.

Community Health Workers
(CHW)
We have been training and collaborating with Community Health Workers since 1986, including parents, youth, and many others to promote breastfeeding, provide pregnancy and birthing support, and prevent infant mortality.
CHWs also support community empowerment by providing information, leadership, and advocacy on issues impacting community health and well-being.
According to the American Public Health Association, "CHWs promote the community's voice within the health care system."
Our Partners & Program Participants
Our partners and participants are collaborating with us to train birth workers, strengthen their communities, and carve a path for future generations of birthing families.
Explore the map below to learn about our Breastfeeding Peer Counselor sites, Community Based Doula sites, and Accredited Programs


Open Arms Perinatal Services
2524 16th Ave S, Suite 207, Seattle, WA 98144
Open Arms Perinatal Services provides community-based support during pregnancy, birth, and early parenting to nurture strong foundations that last a lifetime. Working in the Puget Sound region since 1997, Open Arms is a nonprofit focused on strong community-based support for women through pregnancy, birth, and early childhood. Their community-based doula program is accredited by HealthConnect One.

African American Breastfeeding Network
4340 N 46th St, Milwaukee, WI 53216
The African American Breastfeeding Network Inc. was established in 2008 to improve maternal child health and champion breastfeeding equity by (1) advocating system/policy changes, (2) partnering with community allies and (3) implementing community-based, family-centered, culturally tailored health education and support services. We partnered with founder Dalvery Blackwell to present a webinar on breastfeeding during COVID-19 in April 2020.

Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
19750 Burt Rd., Room 205, Detroit MI 48219
BMBFA's mission is to reduce racial inequities in breastfeeding support for black families.BMBFA is nationally accredited by Health Connect One for its community-based doula program.

BirthMatters
501 Howard Street, Spartanburg, SC, 29303
BirthMatters reduces teen pregnancy through reproductive health education and empowers expectant young adults to raise healthy families through doulas utilizing the community health worker model.

Comunidad Materna en Utah
1578 W 1700 S # 204, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Comunidad Materna en Utah was established as a non-profit organization in the state of Utah in June 2017, as a resource for Hispanic moms and their families who are expecting babies. Comunidad Materna en Utah is rooted in seeking equity in access to prenatal care, promoting physical and emotional well-being. They promote learning opportunities for low-income families or those in vulnerable situations to have appropriate access to preparation for childbirth, learn about alternatives in prenatal care, and be a bridge to connect with other resources.

Community Action Agency
Project BRAVO was established in 1965 as a private nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation. It is the designated Community Action Agency (CAA) for El Paso County. Project BRAVO is funded by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and various other funding sources. Their vision is to bridge access to opportunities for residents of El Paso County to achieve equity and elevate our quality of life through education and social services that lead to self-sufficiency

Healthy Start Inc. Pittsburgh
400 N Lexington St, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Healthy Start Inc. supports women, children, fathers, families, and communities through comprehensive community-based programming, systems coordination, advocacy, research, and training. Their programming spans Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties and is part of a network of more than 100 community-based Healthy Start projects across the United States. Their goal is to make sure all families have access to affordable, quality care to improve maternal and child health outcomes and quality of life.

Delta Health Alliance
435 Stoneville Rd, Leland, MS 38756
Delta Health Alliance (DHA) is an innovative partnership that binds together communities of the Mississippi Delta to improve the quality of life. Comprised of more than 40 programs focused on every stage of growth, DHA offers the tools, guidance, and resources to meet the needs and challenges of those who call the Delta and surrounding area their home. DHA provides the ingredients to ensure that all residents have the best health and educational opportunities in a region historically distressed by a lack of these essential components. Whether a soon-to-be mom, a toddler preparing for kindergarten, a high schooler looking toward college, or a senior wanting to stay active, DHA is a neighbor ready to provide a helping hand.

Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS)
1 South Washington Street | Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14614
Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization established in 2014 with the mission of improving the healthcare delivery system for the Medicaid population. FLPPS is a partnership that includes a network of health and human services providers, including health systems, federally qualified health centers, nursing homes, behavioral health providers, and community-based organizations, across a 13-county region in Upstate New York.

Children's Home Society of New Jersey
635 S Clinton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08611
The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey is a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk infants, children, youth, and families achieve their potential. CHSNJ protects abused or neglected infants and children, strengthens families, and strives for stable, permanent, and loving homes. The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey gives parents the knowledge they need to help their children and themselves long after our active services have ended.

NorthShore Hospital System
1000 Central St Suite 800, Evanston, IL 60201
NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) is an integrated healthcare delivery system consistently ranked as a Top 15 Teaching Hospital in the U.S. The NorthShore system, headquartered in Evanston, Ill., includes six hospitals – Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park, Northwest Community, Skokie, and Swedish. NorthShore also includes a 900-physician multispecialty group practice, NorthShore Medical Group, with more than 140 locations in the Chicagoland area. As the principal teaching affiliate for the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, NorthShore is dedicated to excellence in medical education and research. Combined with NorthShore’s established reputation for advanced information technology and its strong clinical environment, this affiliation represents an exciting advancement in patient care for the Chicagoland area.

Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern NJ (PMCH)
50 Park Plz #700, Newark, NJ 07102
PMCH’S mission is to meet the healthcare needs of women, infants, and children in New Jersey while coordinating education, outreach, and advocacy through regional planning and collaboration. The consortium conducts extensive community outreach and educational programs for consumers and healthcare providers in the state of New Jersey. The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey conducts awareness programs within the community through a variety of ways including small group discussions, special events, health fairs, and consumer-focused newsletters written in various languages, including English and Spanish

SisterWeb
1912 Keith Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
SisterWeb, a network of culturally congruent community doulas and birth workers from and for Black, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Latina/o/x communities, works to dismantle racist health care systems, strengthen community resilience, and advance economic justice for birthing families and doulas in San Francisco. Their community doula model pays doulas for their services, rather than requiring doulas to volunteer their time and expertise will ensure that more individuals from diverse backgrounds are able to enter and remain in the doula profession.

Lactancia Latina en el Suroeste de Kansas
Lactancia Lactation in Southwestern Kansas is a local breastfeeding coalition that is dedicated to promoting breastfeeding in its Latino community, providing resources for mothers in Spanish, and improving the health of babies and children in Southwest Kansas.
Want to build your own program?
Start or strengthen your peer-to-peer support program
If your organization is being called to join our network of culturally-reflective peer-to-peer support providers, we would love to be a part of your training and accreditation journey.
To learn more, fill out the form below and we will contact you soon.
"BirthMatters loves being an accredited HealthConnect One Community Doula program! Our relationship with HC One has been instrumental in securing funding and expanding our services."