Doula Training Program & Services

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is responsible for the custody and care of approximately 153,000 adult Federal offenders.  Approximately 87 percent of these inmates are confined in Bureau-operated facilities, while the balance is confined in secure privately managed or community-based facilities and local jails. 

The BOP’s Women and Special Populations Branch (WASPB), one of the six branches of the Reentry Services Division (RSD), ensures the provision of evidence-based services to meet the needs of federally incarcerated women and other special populations to include pregnant offenders and parents.  As the agency’s primary source for subject matter expertise on women, the WASPB is involved in national policy development and ensuring new initiatives address gender-specific needs are gender-responsive and trauma-informed.  More information about the agency can be found on the BOP’s public site, www.bop.gov.

In 2021 there were a total of 74 pregnant women in federal custody, 49 live births and 20 were released before giving birth.  The remaining outcomes included: abortion, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and still birth.

Research has shown women who use a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40% and requests for an epidural by 60%. Establishing and utilizing doula programs within the BOP will enhance the prenatal and postpartum experience for women.

The contractor will ensure the doula services includes but are not limited to the following:

• Birth, antepartum and postpartum doulas
• Assist with developing birth plans
• Provide emotional, physical, and educational support for women throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery
• Collaborate with the child’s identified temporary caregiver to ensure emotional and educational support related to newborn care techniques is provided
• Create and provide resource material for prenatal and postpartum care.

Research has shown women who use a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40% and requests for an epidural by 60%. Establishing doula training program within the BOP will provide the opportunity to gain doula certification to assist in meeting their reentry career goals. Research indicates formerly incarcerated women who participated in a doula training program are less likely to recidivate and assist in addressing cultural gaps in pregnancy care in underserved communities.

The goals for doula training programs are as follows:

• Provide incarcerated women the opportunity to earn a certification for birth, antepartum and/or postpartum doulas.
• Prepare incarcerated women to earn a certification from a nationally recognized doula training organization.
• Assist in addressing cultural gaps in pregnancy care in underserved communities.

The contractor will train incarcerated women to become doulas and develop a National Doula Career Training Program and Curriculum within BOP facilities for justice-involved women.

The contractor will conduct the doula training to include but are not limited to the following:

• Childbirth education
• Prenatal and postpartum support
• Understanding the role of medication
• Birth planning
• Pain management before, during and after birth (non-medicinal)
• Lactation support and newborn care techniques
• A minimum of 60 hours of instructor led training
  • Provide a doula certification for prenatal and postpartum
  • Establish mentorship and support services to inmates who completed the program