Virginia Law

A. Unless the exception in 12VAC5-403-30 B is met, any person seeking to be a state-certified doula under this chapter shall complete doula training and education programs that have been approved by the certifying body. The curriculum requirements for the certified doula training and education programs are outlined in the Virginia Curriculum Requirements for the State-Certified Doula and shall be approved by the certifying body.

B. The curriculum requirements for the certified doula training and education programs shall include a minimum of 60 hours in the following topics:

1. Maternal and infant health concepts and approaches ( two hours).

a. Provision of perinatal support services from first trimester to 12 months postpartum.

b. Provision of emotional and social support, including navigating pregnancy loss.

2. Lactation anticipatory guidance and support (10 hours).

3. Service coordination and system navigation (20 hours).

a. Provision of in-home prenatal and postpartum care support.

b. Assessing psychosocial and health needs, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) screening.

c. Goal setting and prioritization of psychosocial and health needs.

d. Antepartum (high-risk) maternal care support.

e. Labor support.

f. Education and referrals for developmental screenings.

g. Resource navigation for wraparound services (i.e., intimate partner violence, domestic violence, oral health, family planning).

4. Health promotion and prevention ( eight hours).

a. Provision of perinatal health education.

b. Provision of newborn parenting education

c. Provision of wellness and self-care coaching.

5. Advocacy, outreach, and engagement ( five hours).

a. Serving as an advocate for respectful maternal care.

b. Intentional reflection of the community served.

c. Care coordination and social service navigation.

d. Provision of reproductive rights education, informed choice and decision making, and birth planning.

e. Child abuse and neglect mandatory reporting.

6. Communication ( two hours).

a. Respectful, client-centered maternal care.

b. Active listening.

c. Navigating patient families, medical support staff, and other support systems.

d. Responding to challenges.

7. Cultural humility and responsiveness ( eight hours).

a. Intersectionality and cultural humility, including language access.

b. Health literacy.

c. Trauma-informed care.

8. Ethical responsibilities and professionalism ( five hours).

a. Code of ethics, standards of practice, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (P.L. 104–191).

b. Required charting and documentation.

c. Serving as an accountability partner.