Healthy Beginnings: Perinatal Workforce Development
Improve Black & Brown perinatal health outcomes
The U.S. faces a perinatal health care crisis, with the highest mortality rate for birthing people among high-income countries. This crisis especially impacts Black and Brown women, whose mortality rate has doubled in the past 20 years.
Our birth care system is failing us, but it doesn’t have to be this way. This Giving Tuesday, support our doula training program to provide high-quality, culturally responsive care for birthing people and families.
How BRICK Healthy Beginnings tackles perinatal health disparities
Racial disparities in maternal health
Black and Brown women are three to four times more likely to die a pregnancy-related death as compared with white women. (source: National Library of Medicine)
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Black and Hispanic individuals in the U.S. are less likely to have a regular source of health care compared to white individuals, and they face more obstacles when trying to access the health services they need (source: KFF Key Data on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity)
Paving pathways to joyful, healthy births
At BRICK Healthy Beginnings, we work to break down barriers by empowering doulas who truly understand the cultural and social needs of the mothers they support. Doulas are trained to be there for moms every step of the way, offering physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth.
Doulas help fill gaps in health care by providing compassionate, culturally aware support, advocating for mothers, and giving them the knowledge they need to feel empowered. This kind of care doesn't just improve birth outcomes—it also builds confidence, strength, and a sense of wellbeing during this important time.
Perinatal workforce development
Our doula training program not only reduces health disparities but also creates viable careers in perinatal health for community members. Doulas and lactation specialists can support their own families while offering culturally responsive care to birthing parents, building trust and understanding. Together, we can make health care more equitable and supportive for all.
Pregnancy should be joyful
We are training doulas to support birthing people experience pregnancy as a joy, not a fear.
Your donation will provide newly trained doulas with a doula kit filled with essentials tools, as well as extra training and ongoing support. These resources will give graduates a head start in their new careers, ensuring they have everything they need to succeed and helping them provide safer, healthier, and more supported birth experiences for families in our community.
How your contribution makes a difference
Monetary Donations
You can also contribute directly through BRICK’s giving platform. Choose a donation level that fits your capacity and see exactly what your support provides:
$50
Baby Essentials
Help provide essential baby items for new families, like diapers, wipes and baby blankets.
$100
Training support
Support us in providing scrubs for our doulas to complete their hands-on training.
$250
Certification Support
Assist doulas in obtaining critical certifications necessary for their credentialing.
$500
Sponsor a doula kit
Full doula kit, help equip a newly trained doula with everything they need to start supporting families.
“Healthy Beginnings impacted my family tremendously. Not until I joined Brick did I know all these things were possible.
Kylynn Curry, Doula Trainee
Your donation makes a difference
Healthy Beginnings doulas are transforming their communities: making pregnancy more joyful and safe, and reducing racial disparities in access to care.
But they can't do it alone. By donating, you are directly supporting the training and resources doulas need to provide the best possible care for families. Your contribution means more parents will have someone by their side who understands their experiences, who will advocate for them, and who will ensure they receive the compassionate care they deserve.