The Alabama Bilingual Birth Equity Initiative was created in response to what I have witnessed firsthand while supporting families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Communities across Alabama are seeking accessible prenatal guidance, childbirth education, and family support in their own language from people they trust.

Across Alabama, families are seeking compassionate, culturally responsive care from professionals who understand their language, experiences, and communities. Many immigrant, minority, and historically underserved families are navigating incredibly challenging circumstances. For many expecting parents, uncertainty, fear, and a lack of trusted support can make pregnancy feel overwhelming and can create barriers to accessing prenatal care, education, and resources early.

At the same time, there is a growing need for more bilingual doulas, birthworkers, and family support professionals who can walk alongside families during one of the most important transitions of their lives. Doulas also need each other to sustain our services for many years to come.

Through this initiative, we are working to strengthen Alabama’s bilingual birth and family support workforce by creating opportunities for education, mentorship, connection, and professional growth. By supporting more community members in becoming trained birthworkers and expanding access to resources, we can help more families receive encouragement, information, and support earlier in pregnancy and throughout their parenting journey.

Our vision is a connected Alabama where every family has access to trusted support, timely information, and culturally responsive resources that help them experience pregnancy, birth, and early parenting with confidence.

The Alabama Bilingual Birth Equity Initiative is committed to expanding access to bilingual birth support while growing a network of trained professionals who can help families feel seen, supported, and empowered during this important stage of life.

Founders Message:

As a bilingual doula and family support professional, I have seen the difference that early connection, education, and encouragement can make for families. I have also seen the challenges families face when they cannot find support that reflects their language, culture, or lived experiences.

The demand for bilingual birthworkers continues to grow, and our communities need more trained professionals ready to provide support, education, and connection. By investing in birthworkers today, we are investing in stronger families and healthier communities across Alabama.

~Yolanda Fredrickson

Help us bring professional birthworker training to Montgomery!

Qualified trainers are ready to provide local training opportunities for aspiring and current doulas. With just 10 registered participants, we can host a local training opportunity and begin building the next generation of birthworkers. 

By investing in birthworkers, we invest in families.

We are seeking:

• • Community members interested in becoming doulas and birthworkers

  • Sponsors who want to invest in healthier families by providing training scholarships

  • Partners committed to advancing birth equity across Alabama

Your support helps create a pathway for more compassionate, culturally responsive support for families in our communities.

Interested in participating or sponsoring a scholarship? Join us in growing Alabama’s bilingual birth support workforce. 

Email inquiries and sponsership offers alabamadoulas@gmail.com