Community Doula Program

by Kennedy’s Angel Gowns

Doula Training & Services

The Community Doula Program is dedicated to supporting families in need by providing doula services in the Hampton Roads area. We offer free doula training to ensure that our doulas are well-equipped to provide compassionate care and expert guidance to the families they serve. Our program is committed to improving families’ pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience by providing doula services and free doula training.

If you would like to support the programs offered by Kennedy’s Angel Gowns, a gift of any amount will help make a positive impact in our communities!

Doula Community Program 1 - Kennedys Angel Gowns

Our Doula Services

Our Doula Services are available to families in the Hampton Roads area. Our team of caring and experienced doulas is dedicated to supporting and guiding families throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journeys.

Every family’s needs are unique, so our full-spectrum doulas are trained to provide various services, from emotional support to practical assistance.

Whether you’re looking for help with infertility, preparing for birth, or coping with a loss, our program is here to offer compassionate care and expert guidance.

Apply today to start your journey to a happier, healthier pregnancy and birth experience.

Why do I have to apply?

Families may need to apply to the doula service because there is often a high demand for doula services, and the number of doulas available to provide these services may be limited. Therefore, families may need to apply to the program to be matched with a doula who is available and able to meet their unique needs. Additionally, the application process allows our team to better understand the specific needs of each family and to pair them with a doula who is a good fit. This helps to ensure that families receive the highest quality care and support throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.

2024 Free Doula Training Class

Chesapeake, Virginia

Accepting Applications: Update Coming Soon

We are excited to invite anyone interested in becoming a doula to apply for our free upcoming training classes on January 27-28, 2024.

In just eight weeks, you can become a Full Spectrum Doula with expertise in Birth, Bereavement, and Postpartum. This self-paced course will guide you from being an advocate to becoming a skilled doula.

Online application opening soon—we hope you will join us on this rewarding journey!

Who should apply for the free doula training class?
  • Great listeners with a passion for supporting and encouraging others are ideal candidates for becoming doulas.
  • Those interested in pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, loss, grief, healing, and new parenthood are also well-suited for this field.
  • Prior experience as a doula is not required, as our training program will provide the knowledge and skill set needed for a successful career.
  • Whether you have hired a doula before or are completely new to the field, we welcome all applicants. Join us on this rewarding career path today!
What are the requirements to apply?
  • Available to attend the two-day training and complete the 8-week course material.
  • Commit to one year with Kennedy’s Angel Gowns as a doula.
  • Required to attend births that may be a substantial length of time.
  • You must be in good health, practice self-care, and be supported by others to pursue being a Doula.
  • Serve clients in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.
What is in the free doula training course?

The course is valued at $997 and includes:

  • Two 1 Hour Business Coaching Sessions
  • Fertility, Prenatal, and Pregnancy Support Training
  • Medical and Non-Medical Support and Labor Positions
  • Lactation Support and Bereavement through Lactation
  • Postpartum in Bereavement and Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health Support
  • Black Infant and Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Outcomes and Eliminating Disparities
  • All-access to Dubsado for Doula Course
  • All Forms, Contracts, and Birth/Postpartum Plans for Clients
  • Templates to start your Doula Business, including brochures, childbirth education guides, and bereavement planning guide
  • Lifetime Access to Course and Doula Mastermind Facebook group
Is this free doula training live?

Yes, the two-day mandatory training is held in person. The remainder of the course material is for you to complete independently.

How much time should I dedicate weekly for the training?

You should commit 2-5 hours a week for the course reading, movies, and assignments. 

Why do we need doulas?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 1 pregnancy in 100 at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later is affected by stillbirth, and each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States.

The rate of stillbirth varies considerably by race and Hispanic origin of the mother. The rate of stillbirth for non-Hispanic black women is more than twice the rate for non-Hispanic white women, followed by American Indian or Alaska Native women, and Hispanic women. These groups are marginalized, and we can reduce these alarming rates with doula representation.

Due to the fact that hiring a doula in the third trimester can decrease the chances of stillbirth by 30%, we’re offering a Community Doula Program to educate mothers with our trained doulas. A doula’s presence in the hospital can have a huge impact on the health of laboring mothers. We expect a decline of stillbirths in our communities because of our certified doulas that go through our program.

Meet the team

Kennedy’s Angel Gowns Doulas

Ashley

Ashley

Ahoskie, North Carolina

The stillbirth of our daughter Eliza Mae, four miscarriages, secondary infertility, and our son Noah's live birth fueled my passion for becoming a doula. I am currently pregnant with our rainbow baby. My focus is to support other families, especially mothers, as they navigate pregnancy, postpartum, and their experiences. I sincerely hope that through my journey, loss, blessings, and knowledge, I can be the support that someone else needs. Besides being a mother and a doula, I own a small clothing boutique opened in honor of Eliza Mae. We support pregnancy and infant loss awareness, and we are also faith-based. We believe in God, kindness to everyone, and helping others. We participate not only in spreading awareness for pregnancy/infant loss and spreading the gospel but in fundraising to help support nonprofit organizations that benefit both. I am a licensed insurance agent and notary public in my spare time.

Dana

Dana

Portsmouth, Virginia

Dana is a trained Doula and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She provides full-spectrum doula care, supporting you from fertility and pre-conception through your first year postpartum. In addition to witnessing and supporting mothers through diverse birthing situations, she is blessed with three children of her own who were all birthed using natural doula tools and techniques. This allows her to provide comprehensive doula services with the skill-set of a therapist and the empathy and experience of a mother.

Lisa

Lisa

Hampton, Virgina

Lisa has always had a passion for helping others and she is a firm believer in meeting people where they are. Her desire is to be a heart with ears for you and to assist you in finding recovery and purpose in your pain. She helps give a voice to the unfinished emotional business often left with a loss.

Lisa's personal experiences with grief have spanned over a lifetime. The most profound loss experience that shaped her desire to create a space for others to navigate grief and loss was the loss of her 3 babies (miscarriage, secondary infertility).

Lisa volunteers with the non-profit group Post-Partum Support Virginia, running their Pregnancy After Loss Support groups and providing education and training on grief.

Megan

Megan

Virginia Beach, Virginia

From the neighborhood nanny, to a labor and deliver nurse, and mom of four, my expertise in childbirth and beyond is bountiful. My name is Megan and I’m a full spectrum doula. I have over 7 years of experience in labor and delivery, I’m a personal trainer, and a mother of 4 littles, which all had vastly different birthing stories. Let me guide you through your childbirth journey and beyond to ensure you don’t miss those precious moments.

Renee

Renee

Moyock, North Carolina (northeastern)

Renee is full spectrum doula and IBCLC. My passion is to support women through the pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and the 1st year of life they desire. From birthing and breastfeeding my three children; to assist family over the last 16 years as a nurse. In the NICU, Lactation consulting and postpartum home visits. I am also a Lamaze trained childbirth educator, newborn, breastfeeding educator and ready to continue to serve the families of Hampton roads.

Stacy

Stacy

Norfolk, Virginia

I am a full-spectrum doula specializing in the area of bereavement. My personal experiences and training let me help you stay motivated, comforted, and supported through this new stage in your life. Services can be provided before, during, and after your pregnancy journey. I strive to provide the most positive and supportive options that best suit your wants and needs.
Tawana

Tawana

Richmond, Virginia

Blessings to you during your birth journey. I can assist you as a full spectrum and bereavement doula. We start at the very beginning if you are trying to conceive. We will travel the journey of your pregnancy through postpartum. I am aware of the emotional challenges that may arise during this journey. Though I am a mom with four living children, I have also endured miscarriage, stillbirth, and child loss. If needed, we can process the sunset of your little one. As a certified Reiki practitioner, I am open to all walks of spirituality. Lastly, I am also sensitive to all members of the LGBTQ+ community and understand how this can add another layer to your birthing experience. I am serving the Richmond, VA community in person and all other communities virtually.

Chasity

Chasity

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Chasity was born and raised in Norfolk, VA. She resides in Virginia Beach as a stay-at-home mom with her life partner, Milciades Jr., and their growing family of four children. She is also a mother of four angel babies.

Chasity has an Associate’s Degree in Medical Assisting. She decided to become a full spectrum doula professionally after more than two decades of helping family and friends work through birth, postpartum, pregnancy and infant loss, and pregnancy after loss.

Her compassion and dedication to supporting families through various experiences drive her to make a difference. Unfortunately, pregnancy and infant loss remain taboo subjects, so bereavement is her specialty. She wants other parents who have experienced loss to know they are not alone, and their journey matters too.

Ebony

Ebony

Norfolk, Virginia

I am offering fertility, prenatal, labor, postnatal, and bereavement doula services. If you plan on starting fertility treatments, getting pregnant, adopting, or fostering a baby, I can be your doula! Feel free to refer your soon-to-be expecting loved ones.

Julie

Julie

Virginia Beach, Virginia

My name is Julie! I am a wife and mama of two. My son passed away at 5 months old and I had little to no support initially during the tragedy. During my labor with my son, I was also alone and unsupported, unprepared, and uneducated about childbirth and what was to come.

As your doula I am here to support you in all phases of the birth journey; pregnancy, labor, and birth, postpartum as well as bereavement.

Through my work as a doula, my goal is to help navigate and empower through making informed decisions, minimizing unnecessary medical interventions, being confident in your choices, and providing emotional and physical support. I offer cleansing crystal belly meditation sessions, light massage, bengkung belly binding, and overnight postpartum support. I will also be certified to offer in-depth lactation support and placenta encapsulation.

Megan G

Megan G

Norfolk, Virginia

Every expectant parent has a vision for the birth of their baby. We are often told that "our bodies were built for this" as we prepare. Sometimes things that are entirely out of our control happen, and we need to take the responsibility off of our bodies and allow the medicine to intervene. My training and personal experience provide the knowledge and support to assist you in birthing with safety and dignity.

I wholeheartedly believe that parents whose babies will be born silently still deserve to have the beautiful and sacred experience of bringing their baby into this world. Birthing people who have previously experienced loss deserve extra care, attention, and support throughout their subsequent pregnancies. When parents face fear and devastation, my role can help to create
a safe, comforting environment, comfort measures during labor, and opportunities to create meaningful memories for your family.

I would be honored to walk alongside you, to be a beacon of light in a time of darkness. My experience as a social worker and my personal history of infant loss give me a unique perspective. I have an empathetic foundation base, coupled with current, evidence-based strategies. As a doula, I can provide all families with tailored support throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

Experience with: infertility (female and male factor), IVF, recurrent implantation failure, stillbirth, grief and loss

Inclusive services: BIPOC, LGBTQIA, surrogacy, non-faith based support, TFMR, abortion

Raini

Raini

Virginia Beach, Virginia

I am a full-spectrum doula specializing in postpartum and helping families bond with their infant through massage. My interests are holistic health (nutrition, using movement to heal, importance of touch as a mode of communication) and ensuring that each family has an optimal birthing experience uniquely tailored to them.

Shereeta

Shereeta

Hampton, Virginia

I provide support and education to families from pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum stages. My role as a Certified Labor Doula, Certified Postpartum and Infant Care Doula, Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor, and trained Bereavement Doula is to be a helping hand in my community concerning maternal health.
Tamara

Tamara

Hampton, Virginia

Hello, my name is Tamara, an operating room nurse in Hampton Roads. As a nurse, I naturally have an interest in the healthcare arena, but my passion has always been caring for minority communities and women. That passion and a desire to help improve the conditions for our black and brown mothers led me to pursue my doula certification with Kennedy’s Angel Gowns. As a doula, I’ll strive to assist mothers and their families to feel empowered, informed, and prepared to step into their new chapter of life.