“My experience having a community doula from AMAR was extraordinary, and I wouldn’t have enough words to thank her for being with me on such a vulnerable yet special day…Having her by my side helped me understand my rights, my options, and make the best decisions for myself and my baby.”
— a Trenton, NJ mom
The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey in 2019 started one of the first community doula programs in the state focused on Spanish-speaking women.
The AMAR Community Doulas program follows an evidence-backed approach developed by HealthConnect One, a national leader in advancing equitable, community-based, peer-to-peer support for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early parenting.
AMAR serves about 140 Spanish-speaking families each year in Mercer County, primarily in Trenton. With the goal of serving more families, AMAR has grown the local doula workforce by training 35 community members so far in the HealthConnect One model.
Community doulas complement clinical care by providing tailored emotional, physical, and social support as well as education and guidance during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
These trusted partners help their clients navigate language and cultural barriers, act as liaisons between women and healthcare providers, provide connection to such vital local resources as food and transportation, and empower mothers to gain the confidence to effectively advocate for themselves and their babies.
The program’s impressive results underscore the difference community doulas can make in communities of color:
65% fewer
preterm births
88% fewer
low birthweight babies
16% fewer
low-risk C-sections
Over 64%
of mothers exclusively breastfeeding at three months postpartum
The Burke Foundation supports the AMAR Community Doula Program with these partners:
Boskey Foundation, New Jersey Department of Children and Families, New Jersey Department of Health, The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, Turrell Fund, US Department of Health and Human Services, Princeton Area Community Foundation, New Jersey Department of State’s Center for Hispanic Policy, Research & Development, and Safer Childbirth Cities.
