DFSS PI Part Time Community-Based Doula

Description

SGA provides a wide range of social services in some of Chicagoland’s most challenged and consistently underserved communities, and creates long-term and community-wide change.

Formal Doula certification training will be provided at no cost to the employee for those hired in the position. 

The key responsibility of this role is to provide pre-birth, birth, and postpartum doula services to DFSS Prevention Initiative participants, including:

• Culturally responsive pregnancy and childbirth education
• Develop a strong, caring, and trusting relationship with the parent and provide a model for the parent to use as the parent develops the relationship with the new child. 
• Develop, organize, and facilitate monthly prenatal groups. 
• Linkages to health care and social services, providing close coordination between participants and medical personnel
• Screens and referrals for substance abuse and postpartum depression treatment as indicated
• Labor coaching
• Breastfeeding education and counseling
• Providing mothers with emotional, physical, and moral support, especially when family members are not available
• Providing mothers with practical support and advice after childbirth, like organizing the nursery, running errands, and assisting with breastfeeding and meal preparation

Other responsibilities include:

• Recruits and maintains a caseload of 10 to 12 pregnant women
• Provides weekly personal home visits to clients
•  Attend approximately two births every month and be available 24/7 during birth 
•  FTE doula serves a caseload of 20-23 people over the course of a year 
•  Doula limits intervention to a five-month period that begins at the third trimester of pregnancy and continues for two months after the child is born. 
• Keeps up to date on childbirth support, birthing techniques, and pre-/post-natal care by conducting research, networking with other doulas and mothers, and attending workshops and lectures 
• Links participants with resources based on the client’s needs
• Reports to program supervisor.
• Maintains knowledge of the agency’s and program’s policies and procedures
• Plans and implements appropriate home-based activities using the Parents as Teachers Curriculum
• Maintains and preserves a confidential family file
• Records all data required in a timely manner to generate reports on services
• Works collaboratively with the other community-based doulas, home visitors, and supervisors.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Education: 

• Credential Doula Certification.
• Gateways Credential level 3 pursuing level 5
• Early Childhood Education Associates or a BA in a related field preferred.  

Experience:

• At least 3 years of supervised paid experience working with children 0-5 and pregnant mothers

Other Requirements:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, car insurance, and access to a reliable vehicle.  
• Must successfully complete the Doula training.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, which includes evenings and weekends.
• Must be familiar with sensitivity to cultural diversity. Ability to communicate and cooperate with diverse families, various professionals, and community groups. 
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of clients, partners or employees or the organization.
• Must demonstrate the ability to establish helping relationships with families of varying educational, experiential, and socio-economic backgrounds and handle emergency and crisis situations.
• Doula must receive training in education, nutrition, and other topics relevant to the position, and must plan and implement appropriate family/parent educational activities and function as a member of the program team

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain stationary 50% of the time.
• Must be able to frequently move inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. 
• Must be able to transport oneself to and from home visits and hospitals.
• Must be able to ascend/descend stairs.
• Constantly positions oneself to assist clients as needed.
• Frequently moves office and program materials.
• At times may be required to lift up to 25 lbs. for various classrooms, and event’s needs.
• At times may be required to transport donations/items to clients based on need. 
• Frequently moves in outdoor weather conditions.