State licensing for doulas, what do you think?

ScootchsMom · 09-22-2007, 02:59 PM

I'm hearing some rumors of something around here in NY and was wondering what you ladies thought of this:

State licensing for doulas with a mandatory 2 year college degree? This is above and beyond any training by any organization.

Discuss!

Liz

MothertheMother · 09-22-2007, 03:47 PM

2 year degree in what? It doesn't make sense. There are quite a few fields of study that could translate to doula work but I can't imagine just one that is the most obvious, ya know? Without more details I'm not sure how I feel about it. Of course my first thought is it is just more stuff to pay for and tons of red tape to get through. I seriously don't think you need to go to college to be a good doula. Even without the degree aspect of it I'm not thrilled with it being at the state level. I'd like to see more universal requirements for becoming a doula and this doesn't sound like it will get us any closer to that goal.

I guess I have lots of thoughts but can't really elaborate without more info on the requirements/regulations/restrictions etc

ScootchsMom · 09-22-2007, 05:29 PM

Thanks Christy! You pretty much echoed my thoughts, especially since I don't even have more info on it than what I said here. Someone is "working" on getting the City University of New York to implement a 2 year degree program (I guess an Associates?) for Doulas, and for the State to be involved in licensing. I'm going to try to get more info, and I'll add iy here when I do.

Liz

ScootchsMom · 09-22-2007, 07:09 PM

ok, I got a bit more info on this. It is in the preliminary stages, but involves the NY state Department of Health as a governing/licensing/regulatory agency for licensing and the 2 year City University of NY program as the education requirement. I've already responded to the person with some feedback that she requested, I just hope I came through coherently, lol.

Liz

MothertheMother · 09-22-2007, 08:49 PM

well, I'd love to hear more about it as you get more information. I can see the benefit of a two year program, I suppose, but curious how it would really benefit a doula. If they are offering "clinicals" as part of the program that sets those doulas up for hospital based doula programs but not really as independent doulas. I guess a plus side is it could help doulas in general as far as getting insurance to cover it etc but so far the - far outweigh the +. Keep us updated!

loveslabor · 09-22-2007, 10:15 PM

hmmmm....more money, more red tape, more barriers for women with children. I wouldn't support it, that's or sure, but then again I'm not certified either.

DL · 09-22-2007, 10:23 PM

I think that I'm against it. I'm not into "big government", and it is already way too huge. It's just another ploy for the state to get their hands into our pockets. An Associate's Degree will not make better doulas.

UtahDoula · 09-22-2007, 10:27 PM

My concern is that the school planning the program might be favoring licensure as a way of creating a monopoly. Will current doulas be "grandfathered in"? (If Penny Simkin moved to NY, would SHE have to go back to school for 2 years in order to do births?) And what about areas of the state where the 2 year program is not available? Because that is rediculous!
While I am all for somehow getting rid of rogue doulas who aren't really doulas at all, I'd be opposed to a system like you described.

DoulaMorgan · 09-22-2007, 10:34 PM

I agree with Utah. It'd be a nightmare to cover EVERYONE! Not a good plan at all. Plus, I don't think a degree in doula-ing would necessarily benefical.

ScootchsMom · 09-22-2007, 10:50 PM

Thanks everyone. I'm glad to know I'm not crazy for doubting this plan. I just had a talk with DP about it in which he keeps comparing it to his industry and licensing. Like hitting my head against a brick wall.

Liz

Kacy · 09-22-2007, 10:54 PM

I agree with the others.

While I'm all for education, I'm not a fan of school and never have been. I learn much better when I teach myself.

Not the mention the fact that the most important thing about being a doula, in my opinion, is a compassionate heart. That's something that can't be taught in schools.

How strange it would be to say "I've got a degree in being nice!"

Cecily · 09-23-2007, 11:27 AM

I agree as well, however nice it would be to be paid by this insurance company (never gonna happen). And I would put money on there being required classes on "how to be a good patient". Don't like it don't want it!!

lia · 09-23-2007, 12:46 PM

I'm still wondering what they would cover in a two year course?

If they do go more indepth into medical stuff then the primary benefit of being a doula is destroyed.

The benefit of a doula is that she isn't medically trained or part of the establishment but is supportive yet knowledgable.

What would you gals like to see in a two year course?

UtahDoula · 09-23-2007, 02:39 PM

What would be included in a course? That could be a whole new thread! If I were creating a 2 year course, I would include:

Anatomy & physiology (entire body, not just birth stuff)
Medical terminology
Understanding research (pet peeve of mine when doulas misuse research or discount it entirely)
I took a course in college called "health counseling" - covering things like the psychology of how people make health decisions, the psychology of the change process, etc. Very interesting and I've used a lot of it.
Some kind of course where doulas process their own births and learn how to take that out of the equation (i.e. they're not attending births to save women from what happened to them, etc.)
A course that goes over all the basic "methods" of childbirth and how to best support clients in each method (HypnoBirthing, HypnoBabies, Bradley, BFW, etc. etc.)
A course on working with survivors of abuse
A course on breastfeeding support
A lab course on pregnancy massage
A lab course on labor support skills
A postpartum course, which would include postpartum depression info.
A business course, which would include an exploration of scope and ethics. (And I don't mean just teaching "this is within scope, this is not" - I mean a more personal values clarification type thing)

And maybe each doula picks an elective:
Childbirth education training
Lactation Counselor training
etc.
And that's just off the top of my head!

DL · 09-23-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecily

I agree as well, however nice it would be to be paid by this insurance company (never gonna happen)....

Actually, I want no part of insurance company "reimbursement". I work reception for a CNM Midwifery. We accept all kinds of insurance, as well as medicaid. I can tell you that the insurance companies and medicaid very often do not pay the full fees; our financial manager is always so frustrated over this. Medicaid is probably the worst of them all and cheats us more often than not, but none of them are dependable for fair reimbursements.

I can do without that hassle and receive my payment straight from the clients. If they want to submit it to their insurance company(ies), that's their business, but I will never pursue being reimbursed personally from insurance. I'm not for state licensure nor for dealing directly with the insurance companies.