• Every Alabama mother and family should have access to quality and compassionate doula care that helps meet
  their needs and represents their interests well.
• Every Alabama mother and family’s choice about whom they desire to serve as their doula and where they choose to
  birth is a right that should be honored by all; not limited or driven by any one organization, agency, affiliation, or
  governmentally aided initiative or entity.
• Every Alabama mother and family’s childbearing experience should be free of abuse, coercion, exploitation and
  interventions that are not clearly indicated, evidence-based, or aligned with the client’s informed consent or refusal. While interventions can sometimes be important and lifesaving, their use should always be based on clinical
  necessity and client-centered decision making rather than convenience, bias, or coercion.

• Alabama doulas aim to be knowledgeable and well-equipped to provide quality and effective prenatal, labor and postpartum support for our clients. To help ensure quality care, The Alabama Doula Alliance provides resources for ongoing learning and professional development.

• Alabama doulas are capable of self-governance, and should be respected as independent, self-responsible community care givers; we must not be regulated by or restricted to certifications, credentials, or other governing
  entities.
• Alabama doulas are accountable to our clients. Alabama doulas also believe competence and professionalism are
  key to helping ensure quality doula care, as well as strengthening public and professional trust. Therefore, the Alabama Doula Alliance will promote professional accountability and integrity of doula work across the state by
  facilitating a voluntary doula registry and a statewide client satisfaction survey process; two ways by which we can
  honor various doulas’ experience, training and credentials, elevate our clients’ voices and strengthen the doula
  profession.

• Alabama doulas stand at the front lines providing education, physical, and emotional support to our clients, and advocating with our clients for their informed consent, safety, choices, and dignity—helping ensure their preferences are respected and their rights upheld.
• All Alabama doulas’ perspectives are critical to decision making given that we serve various communities with various needs. The decision-making process must value and respect our profession’s unique role in improving maternal outcomes. To ensure that our voices and the voices of our clients are well represented, research-based
  initiatives, legislative efforts, and work impacting our clients and profession should include consultation and collaboration with The Alabama Doula Alliance.

Alabama Doulas Stand With ALDA

Please read the position statement above and intiate your support by submitting the form below