MISSION & HISTORY.
The Maine Doula Coalition works to improve access to doula services by reducing barriers to doula care among pregnant, birthing and postpartum people in Maine. We seek to foster a strong doula workforce, ensure access to doula care and improve integration into existing systems through community building, education, systems change and public health outreach. MDC recognizes the vital impact of doulas in improving both the experiences of pregnant and postpartum people and Maine’s perinatal health outcomes.
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The Maine Doula Coalition was initiated in 2022 with the intention of helping Maine to join the ranks of many other states working to expand doula access. The initial coalition was composed of doulas, healthcare providers and representatives from community organizations. It sought to identify individuals and groups whose missions intersected with MDC to improve doula access and perinatal health outcomes in Maine.
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Through 2023 and 2024 MDC narrowed to a core group of committed doulas and healthcare providers and partnered with the Mabel Wadsworth Center for fiscal sponsorship. The organization initiated the first Maine Doula Survey to gather information about the doula workforce and published a completed report, the Maine Doula Workforce Assessment in the Fall of 2024. Maine Doula Coalition leadership also worked to build relationships with state agencies, healthcare systems, public health initiatives, social services and community organization through a sustained presence on multiple state perinatal health advisory boards and working groups. By gathering workforce data and building support across a broad group of stakeholders, MDC moved into 2025 as a leader and an expert in advocating for improved access to doula services for Maine people.
TEAM.
Since 2022, the Maine Doula Coalition represents many hours of unpaid labor by many dedicated people in Maine. MDC operates under a collaborative co-leadership model that centers shared responsibility, transparency, and sustainability. Rather than relying on a single executive, MDC is guided by Co-Leaders who bring complementary skills, lived experience, and community relationships to the work. This structure ensures long-term resilience, balanced decision-making, and fosters a model of leadership that reflects our values of mutual care, accountability, and collective power. Our co-leads, Sarah, Meg, and Cait, are actively involved in policy advocacy, community outreach, organizational planning, and the strategic growth of our statewide doula network.
ORGANIZATIONAL STEWARDSHIP.
The Maine Doula Coalition is in an exciting period of growth as we transition to an independent sustainable organization. This next chapter will strengthen our capacity to advocate for equitable perinatal care, expand community partnerships, and support doulas statewide. In the coming months, we are building a team of committed leader to help share our future structure and direction. This important step in building sustainable leadership that reflects our mission and values. We remain committed to centering lived experience, shared power, and community voice as we continue to grow in service to birthing families and the doula workforce across Maine.
TIMELINE OF OUR WORK.
December 2022 - Restore the Floor under the guidance of Meg Whithed convenes monthly meetings for doulas and stakeholders to provide a forum and structure to discuss the expansion of doula services through MaineCare and private insurance.
March 2023 - Maine Doula Coalition is officially formed with Meg Whithed as Chair.
July 2023 - Sarah Tewhey joins MDC as co-chair of MDC. Through a collaborative process, MDC identifies the need for a doula workforce assessment and begins to create Maine's first doula survey
September 2023 - The Maine Doula Survey is launched.
October 2023 - Representatives from Maine Doula Coalition are invited to join the Perinatal Quality Collaborative for Maine (PQC4ME), the Maternal Health Task force and the Maternal Fetal and Infant Mortality Review committee (MFIMR), marking the first time that doulas have had a presence at statewide perinatal advisory groups.
Throughout 2024 - MDC maintains a presence on multiple advisory committees and boards and builds relationships with over 35 state agencies, healthcare providers, public health professionals and social service / community organizations. MDC identifies widespread support for expanded doula access and provides education on doula work across stakeholder groups.
June 2024 - The Maine Doula Survey is officially closed, having gathered information from as much as 85% of the existing doula workforce.
August 2024 - The Maine Women's Lobby convenes the Doula Access Legislative committee, which includes the Maine Doula Coalition and other key stakeholders, to move forward with policy initiatives to expand doula access.
November 2024 - MDC publishes the Maine Doula Workforce Assessment, the first report of its kind in Maine. It provides an assessment of the current doula workforce in Maine along with key recommendations for best practices for the expansion of doula access, including considerations for MaineCare implementation.
January 2025 - Ahead of anticipated MaineCare coverage, Maine Doula Coalition launches the Hospital and Doula Collaborative, a year long pilot program at three Maine birthing hospitals to study how interprofessional relationships between doulas and hospital staff can be improved in order to benefit patient outcomes.
January 2025 - A bill to expand access of doula care to MaineCare recipients is introduced to the 132nd Legislature by Rep. Deqa Dhalac with recommendations provided by the Doula Access Legislative Team (LD1523)
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January 2025 - Maine is awarded a federal Transforming Maternal Healthcare (TMaH) grant
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March 2025 - Doula Advocacy Day was held at the Statehouse in Augusta hosted by the Maine Women's Lobby.
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April 2025 - The public hearing for LD 1523 was held by the Health and Human Services Committee at the Statehouse in Augusta. LD1523 received over 50 pieces of testimony on the impact of doula care.
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May 2025 - Health Human Services Committee held a Work Session on LD1523 and was UNANIMOUSLY voted Ought to Pass!
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June 2025 - LD1523 became law as "H.P. 1008 - L.D 1523 Resolve, to Develop MaineCare Coverage for Doulas Services"
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July 2025 - The Doula Access Leadership Initiative (DALI) convenes for the first time.
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July 2025 - Sarah Tewhey and Cait Vaughan partner with the Office of MaineCare as Doula Implementation Consultants for the TMaH grant.
July 2025- Members of the MDC Leadership Team are awarded the "Collaborative Champion " from the Maine Women's Lobby.
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August 2025 - MDC is awarded a
