The Douly Model combines Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Birth Doulas into a new dual-certified role: the Douly Provider. Douly Providers offer a community focused approach to continuous care from early pregnancy through one year postpartum.
Why It Matters
Communities most impacted by reproductive, social, and economic hardships often face fragmented or inaccessible perinatal support. The Douly Model fills this gap by:
- Expanding the scope and capacity of Traditional Health Workers.
- Promoting sustainability through billing pathways and workforce infrastructure.
- Embedding community grounded care into perinatal systems related to the time leading up to and through 1 year after birth.
What is a Douly?
Douly Providers are health professionals who are dual-certified as a:
- Community Health Worker and
- Birth Doula in Oregon,
- Have completed a Douly Perinatal Enhanced Training (PET) built on community-defined priorities.
Douly Providers offer in-home visits to help ensure families get accessible health care.
What is Douly Care?
Douly Care is a home visiting program for families from pregnancy through baby’s first birthday.
Douly Care includes:
- At least 3 prenatal visits, a labor and birth visit, and 3 postpartum visits.
- Services rooted in health education, advocacy and navigation of complex systems.
- Emotional, physical and informational support tailored to each family’s needs.
Examples of Douly Care:
- During pregnancy, we can support you with:
- Comfort and relaxation techniques
- Birth preparation and education
- Your cultural and/or religious practices
- Connection to resources (WIC, SNAP, housing, and more)
- During birth, we can help you:
- Practice non-medical pain relief (breathing, massage, labor positions)
- Understand medical terms and interventions
- Make informed decisions
- After baby is born, we can assist you with:
- Baby feeding support
- Newborn care guidance
- Recovery and emotional well-being tips
- Continued connection to resources (diapers, clothing, and more)
Who qualifies for Douly Care?
Pregnant women living in Washington County may be eligible for Douly Care.
To enroll, please connect with Community Action Help Me Grow to determine eligibility. Eligible women will be referred to a Douly Hub to be matched with a Douly Provider that meets their needs and preferences.
What is a Douly Hub?
A Douly Hub is a community-based organization that supports Douly Providers with dual certification access and billing support, home visiting services, and engaging families. The following organizations serve as Douly Hubs:
- Community Doula Alliance
- Doulas Latinas International
- Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Materials (Coming soon)
- Rack card
- Information sheet (1-pager will become this)
- Social drivers of health graphic
- Douly Model graphic
Community Partners
The Douly Model initiative is led by an advisory body of community-based organizations serving perinatal families in Washington County.
Referral and Intake
Lead Douly Hub and Organizational Coach
Douly Hubs
Training Organizations
Design and Implementation Team
Grant Funding
In Sept. 2023, the Washington County Maternal Child and Family Branch was awarded funding from the federal Office of Minority Health to implement a four-year grant initiative recognized as the “Integrated Perinatal Home-Visiting Initiative: Douly Model, Washington County, OR.” The Douly Model is an innovative approach aiming to integrate Community-based Maternal Support Services (COMSS) into perinatal systems of care. This Healthy Families Community-Based Perinatal Health Initiative is part of the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of populations through developing programs and policies to help eliminate health hardships.
Have questions? You may reach out to either of our staff below for more information:
- Tabria Harrod, MPH - Douly Model Program Director
Email: [email protected]
- Dalila Sarabia Forbush - Douly Model Grant Program Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Federal Grant Acknowledgement
This project is supported by the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award, funded in full by HHS. The contents here are those of Washington County, Oregon and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Funding Provided by the federal Office of Minority Health is distributed through Washington County Health & Human Services’ Maternal, Child and Family Branch.