Community Doula Initiative (CDI)

The Citywide Doula Initiative (CDI) is a project funded by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOMH). The project provides free professional doula services to residents of neighborhoods that have been especially affected by COVID-19. 

The Citywide Doula Initiative aims to improve access to doula support by: 

  1.  Providing no-cost doula care in underserved neighborhoods citywide;
  2. Training community residents as doulas;
  3. Building doula capacity;
  4. Supporting hospitals in becoming more doula-friendly.Pregnant woman

Services From the Doula Include: 

Birth Support 

  • Emotional, physical and informational support during your labor and birth, both at home and at the hospital, as well as support and help with breastfeeding immediately after the birth.

In- Person Meetings 

  • Three prenatal meetings and four postpartum meetings in your home, or in another place you choose.

Birth Plan 

  • Help in creating a birth plan to guide your choices during labor and delivery. 

 

Availability 

  • On-call availability begins three weeks before your estimated due date. Unlimited phone and email consultation through the fourth post-partum meeting. A backup doula to attend your labor and birth in case your doula cannot be with you. 

Eligibility 

The program gives priority to pregnant women who: 

  • Live in a shelter
  • Are in foster care
  • Have no other labor support
  • Had a previous traumatic birth experience
  • Have a high-risk medical condition

To enroll in the program, you must be pregnant, between 32-40 weeks, and live in one of the following zip codes: 

Service Areas/Zip Codes: 

Manhattan: 10025, 10026, 10027, 10029, 10030, 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034, 10035, 10037, 10039, 10040. 

Bronx: 10451, 10452, 10453, 10454, 10455, 10456, 10458, 10463, 10466, 10467, 10468, 10472, and 10473. 

Contact us @ 212 665-2600 EXT. 371 or referrals@nmppcares.org