Mississippi Launched Doula Vocational School
A new training program aims to improve maternal health outcomes for residents across Mississippi.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Pregnancy
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Sisters in Birth has established a new vocational school in Mississippi to train doulas and maternal health workers. Enrollment for the 10-month certificate program is now open to residents statewide.
Why it matters
The program seeks to address Mississippi’s status as having the nation's highest rates of premature and low-birth-weight infants. By training more doulas, the initiative aims to reduce these outcomes along with cesarean delivery rates in a state currently ranked last for infant and maternal health.
The March of Dimes issued an F grade to Mississippi in 2026, marking the state as the lowest-performing in the U.S. for maternal and infant health. The effectiveness of the new vocational doula program on state-level health indicators remains to be measured.
The players
Sisters in Birth
A Mississippi-based nonprofit organization focused on improving maternal health outcomes.
March of Dimes
A national nonprofit organization that evaluates and funds research into maternal and infant health.
The details
The 10-month certificate curriculum combines four months of online coursework with six months of supervised, hands-on community work. Students are trained to recognize critical maternal health warning signs and provide expectant mothers with evidence-based prevention strategies. This training model is designed to integrate doulas more effectively into the local maternal care system to improve clinical outcomes.
Timeline
The March of Dimes issued an F grade to Mississippi in 2026.
The academic term for the new doula vocational school begins in January 2027.
Health Landscape
This program represents a grassroots effort to address the state's persistent struggles with maternal health outcomes, which were highlighted by the March of Dimes 2026 grading report. It moves beyond traditional clinical approaches by centering community-based doula education as a primary intervention for high-risk pregnancies.
Residents who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should discuss the potential role of doulas in their birth plan with their obstetrician. Those interested in the professional training program can explore enrollment options currently available through the academy.
The takeaway
Expanding the doula workforce provides an additional layer of support for tracking pregnancy warning signs in high-risk areas. If you are preparing for birth, discuss the benefits of integrating a trained doula into your care team with your physician.
Further reading
For more information on the current state of prenatal and postpartum support, visit Pregnancy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wlbt.
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