Postpartum Doula - Community Health Worker (AGJ)

Program: A Guided Journey
Program Position: Community Health Worker-Postpartum Doula
Reports to: Program Manager
Job specification: A Guided Journey (1.0 FTE). This is an hourly and non-exempt position, that is a Grant funded position
Salary: $24.40 per hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm, with some evening and weekend hours as needed. Evening shifts may extend until 8pm, with flex time offered.

Summary:

Care Ring—a fast-growing and highly respected community organization—seeks a passionate individual to join our team as a Community Health Worker (CHW)/Postpartum Doula for the A Guided Journey program. We are dedicated to supporting families throughout the entire continuum of care, from the prenatal period through the postpartum phase. This unique role combines the responsibilities of a Community Health Worker and a Postpartum Doula:

• Community Health Worker (CHW): Provides case management, care coordination, and health education to participants
• Postpartum Doula: Offers emotional, physical, and educational support to parents and families following childbirth. Together, these functions aim to ease the transition into parenthood, foster confidence in newborn care, and promote overall family well-being. As a trusted member of the community, the CHW/Postpartum Doula will facilitate access to essential services and ensure high-quality, culturally competent care delivery. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong passion for maternal and child health, supporting improved birth outcomes and family health.

Basic Job Functions:

• Identify and enroll eligible participants based on A Guided Journey qualifying criteria.
• Conduct home visits throughout Mecklenburg County.
• Provide home and community-based care coordination and connect families to community resources.
• Deliver evidence-based and evidence-informed education on topics such as breastfeeding, immunization, safe sleep, family planning, smoking cessation, nutrition, mental health, physical health, stress management, and domestic violence.
• Screen for depression and refer to appropriate community agencies as needed.
• Connect families to medical providers.
• Maintain accurate participant records and submit required information promptly to meet grant productivity requirements.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA and confidentiality standards.
• Report suspected cases of child and/or adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation; serve as liaison during evaluation and investigation.
• Must complete and pass the Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification within 6 months from date of hire
• Complete all required postpartum doula training and obtain certification within one year of the hire date
• Attend meetings, events, and conferences.
• Participate in community outreach activities and promote public awareness of Care Ring and the A Guided Journey model.
• Follow all Care Ring policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 25 perinatal clients and 10 postpartum clients.

Postpartum Support

• Offer non-medical physical and emotional support to parents during the postpartum period to promote mother-baby bonding.
• Assist with newborn care, including feeding guidance, soothing techniques, and safe sleep practices.
• Provide light household support related to newborn care (e.g., laundry, simple meal preparation, bottle washing and general tidying).
• Educate and empower parents on postpartum recovery, infant development, newborn cues and self-care.

• Support newborn feeding goals as directed by the family.

• Monitor family well-being and refer to appropriate professionals when needs extend beyond the doula’s scope of practice.

• Offer companionship, encouragement, and culturally responsive support throughout the postpartum period.
• With client approval, make every effort to attend key care appointments, including:
  • One prenatal office visit
  • 4–6 week postpartum office visit
  • One early pediatric visit
  • Lactation appointments (if the family chooses to breastfeed/chestfeed)
• Demonstrates the ability to tailor postpartum support based on each client’s unique pregnancy history, birth experience, and any medical or psychosocial complications

Skills and Knowledge Requirements

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the A Guided Journey program and its objectives.
• Accurately document all participant interactions, assessments, interventions, and referrals in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills to make sound decisions independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work effectively with culturally diverse clients and colleagues.
• Participate actively in staff meetings and doula support groups
• Utilize effective communication skills to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Evaluate client progress toward established goals and document outcomes appropriately.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with community agencies and partners.
• Exhibit initiative, multitasking ability, and sound judgment in decision making.
• Perform related duties as assigned to support program success.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Must reside in Mecklenburg County; priority given to candidates living in zip codes: 28205, 28206, 28208, 28212, 28216, or 28217.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required as a condition of employment.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance.
• Employment in this role is contingent upon ongoing grant funding
• Certified Postpartum Doula (preferred).
• CPR and First Aid certification (preferred).
• Experience in home visiting, maternal-child health, or working with underserved populations.
• Experience in newborn care and postpartum support.
• Hospital Access Requirement: Postpartum Doula must register and meet local hospital requirements for Doula access
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong empathy, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Knowledge of community resources
• Bilingual in Spanish (preferred).
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

No calls, emails, or visits please.

For immediate consideration, please formally apply online and provide a resume and cover letter.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned. Care Ring will engage in an interactive process with employees requesting medical or religious accommodations.

The Agency's policy is to provide equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability or veteran status.

Benefits: Major Medical, Dental, Vision, Employer Paid Benefits to include Basic Life and AD&D, Short-term & Long-term Disability, Accident and Critical Illness Plans, Hospital Indemnity, Paid Holidays, and up to 20 vacation days your first year