Short Summary

I have had the honor of helping babies to be welcomed in to the world for four years, offering my services on a volunteer basis as a doula, lactation educator and advocate in a variety of capacities.  I have worked with young people, survivors of violence, incarcerated parents, those effected by economic injustice, and folks in the street community.  I have designed and facilitated a three-day training for fellow doulas, workshops about racial allyship and solidarity, and a workshop on herbal medicine for the childbearing year.  Beyond all of this, however, my own experience of giving birth to my twin daughters (who are now 8 1/2!) was, without doubt, the most important. 

I want your help in becoming a Childbirth Educator, so that I can increase both the access to and the relevance of childbirth education in my own community.  We need childbirth education that does not assume a birthing person's gender, sexuality, family structure, chosen coping strategies, financial or housing status, preferences for their birth or access to choices.  We need childbirth education that values and reinforces consent and that supports new parents in knowing that they deserve to birth in whatever way is right for them. We need childbirth education that prepares new parents for the current landscape of birth and child-rearing while holding space for the complex, beautiful, reverent event that birth can be.

I know that I can offer this as a Childbirth Educator.  I hope you will help me get there.  

What I Need & What You Get

The total cost of becoming certified and prepared to accept Medicaid for my services, so that I will be able to devote my time to this project is $1800.  This is where your money will go:  

$800   Childbirth Educator Course 

$200   ICEA Membership for 2 years

$100   ICEA Certification Program Enrollment 

$200   Evaluated Teaching Fee 

$200   Course Materials 

$200   Exam Fee 

$100   Funding Fee 

With ICEA certification, I will be able to accept Medicaid as payment for my services, which will allow me to center low-income parents in my practice while feasibly supporting myself and my daughters. As you can see, becoming a Childbirth Educator is an expensive process, which prohibits those who are effected by economic inequality from benefitting the field with their knowledge, experience and perspective.   I want to change that, and I hope that you will help me do so.  

 
And check out the perks!  Hand drawn thank you cards, tarot readings, and a four-course meal prepared lovingly by me. You can donate in any amount, everything helps! 

Thank You for Contributing or for Reposting!