Kansas City is proud to announce a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes within our city. The City of Kansas City is partnering with a local nonprofit, Uzazi Village, to launch the Doula Initiative.

This partnership recognizes the crucial role doulas play in supporting childbearing families during the prenatal, labor, and postpartum periods. Doulas are known to reduce the risk of complications, enhance birth experiences, and improve the overall well-being of both mothers and babies.

The Doula initiative aims to improve birth outcomes by supporting and empowering individuals and their families. Doulas foster a sense of security, confidence, and overall well-being throughout the transformative journey of childbirth, said Mayor Pro Tem, 5th District Councilwoman Ryana Park-Shaw.

Designed to address disparities in maternal health outcomes, the Doula Initiative makes doula services more accessible to all residents, particularly those from disenfranchised and marginalized communities. These communities bear the historical brunt of poor health outcomes for mothers and their babies.

“This initiative stands as a testament to the City’s commitment to the well-being of our residents,” said Marvia Jones, Ph.D., Director of Health. “Every expecting family deserves access to professional support during the most crucial stages of pregnancy and childbirth. By supporting doula care, Kansas City is making a positive impact on maternal and infant health outcomes and ensuring that all families and newborns have the opportunity for a healthier start.”

Kansas City residents in the initiative will choose from the network of doulas available through Uzazi Village. These trained professionals will offer emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant individuals, helping them navigate the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth.

“This is a significant step forward that the city of Kansas City, Missouri has allocated $250,000 for families to receive not just doula services, but to have doulas advocating on their behalf for their overall health in the birthing process,” said Melissa Robinson, 3rd District Councilwoman.

The Kansas City Doula Initiative will officially launch on Friday, December 1. Kansas City residents expecting or planning to become pregnant can apply for doula services. The program will prioritize applicants from identified high-need zip codes to ensure that the benefits of doula support reach those who need it most.

For more information about the Kansas City Doula Initiative and how to apply, please visit the Uzazi Village website.

The program aligns with Uzazi Village’s vision of fostering a healthier and more equitable city. Access to doula care for maternal and infant health is identified as a priority issue by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in the Health Department’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and the Community Health Assessment (CHA). University Health (formerly Truman Medical Center), Children’s Mercy, St. Lukes Hospital, and Northland Health Alliance.