COLUMBUS, OH — As communities across the state and nation observe National Infant Mortality Awareness Month this September, state leaders, maternal health advocates, and frontline birth workers are turning their attention toward innovative policy solutions designed to protect the health and wellbeing of mothers and newborns. In recognition of this critical observance, the Ohio Legislative Children’s Caucus has announced it will host a comprehensive virtual briefing to examine the state of Ohio’s doula professional community and provide a detailed update on the implementation and impact of the Ohio Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Program.
The upcoming webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., serves as a vital platform for lawmakers, health care professionals, community advocates, and members of the public to evaluate how state-level policy is addressing persistent maternal and infant health disparities. The session will feature prominent national health policy experts alongside a diverse panel of experienced Ohio doulas, birthworkers, and health program coordinators who are working on the ground to support families through pregnancy, childbirth, and the vulnerable postpartum period.
The creation of the Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Program represents a targeted legislative response to one of Ohio’s most pressing public health challenges. Authorized under House Bill 33—the state’s biennial budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025—the program was developed as a strategic intervention to combat Ohio’s stubbornly high infant and maternal mortality rates. Although state health officials, community organizations, and medical providers have made concerted strides in recent years to improve birth outcomes, Ohio continues to face significant hurdles in preventing preventable maternal deaths and infant fatalities, particularly within marginalized and underserved populations.
Public health research has consistently demonstrated that continuous physical, emotional, and informational support provided by trained doulas during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can significantly improve birth outcomes. Doulas help bridge communication gaps between patients and medical staff, advocate for birthing individuals, and provide crucial culturally congruent care. By establishing a mechanism for Medicaid reimbursement, Ohio opened the door for low-income families—who are statistically at the highest risk for adverse maternal and infant health outcomes—to access these invaluable support services without facing prohibitive out-of-pocket costs.
Despite the implementation of the reimbursement program, public health advocates emphasize that much work remains to be done. Closing the persistent gaps in maternal and infant survival following childbirth requires ongoing collaboration between state policymakers, healthcare systems, insurance administrators, and community-based birth workers. The September 29 webinar is designed to assess the current landscape, identify ongoing operational challenges within the reimbursement framework, and explore pathways to strengthen the state’s doula workforce.
The virtual event will be hosted via Zoom, and organizers have opened registration to the public, inviting anyone interested in maternal and child health to participate in the critical discussion.
The program will feature a keynote presentation by Elisabeth Burak, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, who brings extensive national expertise in child health policy, Medicaid coverage, and maternal health financing to the caucus briefing. Following the keynote address, an expert panel representing various regions and communities across Ohio will share their frontline perspectives, practical insights, and professional experiences regarding doula integration within the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
The distinguished panel includes Sharda Smith, a family support coordinator and perinatal support doula with Birthing Beautiful Communities; Erica Gordon, a Columbus-based doula and maternal and infant vitality researcher with Wholistically Divine, LLC; Julie Gladney, a licensed practical nurse, bachelor of science degree holder, international board-certified lactation consultant, health programs coordinator for Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, and Appalachian Community Doula Training Program Coordinator; Nikki King, a registered nurse, board-certified full-spectrum doula, childbirth educator, maternal health advocate, and founder of A Queen Empowering Queenz Inc and Safe and Sacred Care LLC; and Logan Griffin, a birthworker, owner, and director of membership enrichment for Guided Glory Doula Services and the Blaq Birth Circle.
Organizers have confirmed that a video recording of the webinar will be made available to members of the media upon request following the conclusion of the event.
