“In Chicago, we have seen how the community-doula model can improve the odds for those young moms and their babies. The Chicago Health Connection pioneered this model. The group trained mentors from the community to work with at-risk moms, many of whom had few ideas of where else to turn. I am eager to see the Chicago Health Connection model successfully replicated and to make that happen, it is important that new programs have guidance and help to not reinvent the wheel.”
- Senator Durbin, October 23, 2007. Senate Colloquy- Congressional Record.

HRSA RFA RELEASED! 
On December 26, 2007, President Bush signed the 2008 omnibus appropriations bill which includes $1.536 million of funding for community-based doula programs. Community-based doula programs can apply for this money through a competitive grants process through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  The HRSA Request for Application (RFA) was released May 30, 2008, and the deadline to apply for the funding was July 1, 2008.

ADVOCACY CONTINUES- FY09 FUNDING

Now that we have established a funding stream for community-based doula programs, we have to convince our elected officials that this is an important program that deserves continued and greater funding.

On February 26, 2008, CHC co-hosted a very successful legislative briefing with the office of Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL).  Twenty participants from sites in five (5) states and the District of Columbia had individual meetings with staffers from their Senators' and Representative's offices.  We also had good attendance at our briefing on community-based doula programs - staffers from 13 Senate offices and 2 Representative's offices attended. 

In April 2008, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) submitted a renewal request to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations for $1.5 million in the FY2009 federal budget for community-based doula programs.   Senator Brown (D-OH) and Senator Casey (D-PA) co-signed this request.  Though we established a federal funding stream in the FY08 budget, we must go through the federal appropriations process every year in order to continue the funding stream.  Updates on the status of the FY09 funding will be posted regularly on this site, so check back frequently.