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The Doula Internship Program is an example of Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center’s philosophy of “women helping women”. The program creates a positive, three dimensional exchange: The doula intern gains professional birth experience, Health Foundations benefits from the intern’s volunteer activities, and Health Foundations Midwifery families have complimentary doulas available to serve them in labor.

Health Foundations provides a unique opportunity to experience birth in a variety of settings. The doula intern may provide labor support at an intimate home birth, a water birth at the birth center, a primary c-section at the hospital, and essentially all the birth scenarios in between (experience will primarily be in an out-of-hospital setting at either birth center or home births). With the goal of supporting families in their personal choices, Health Foundations utilizes a very modern model of care that combines natural and medical childbirth techniques. The knowledgeable staff at Health Foundations will share first-hand experiences to gently guide you through a wide range of support techniques to comfort the mother-to-be.

The doula intern is given many opportunities to develop perinatal knowledge in addition to providing labor support. For example, volunteering during clinic hours, attending the monthly Health Foundations Required Classes, and participating in breastfeeding education opportunities are all ways that doula interns interact with Health Foundations clients and gain valuable experience. In addition to completing the forms necessary for doula certification, the midwives and their assistants will also provide personalized feedback regarding your performance as a doula.

The goal of the Doula Internship Program is to develop dynamic and long-term relationships with the local doula community, which is why only the most passionately dedicated applicants will be considered for the program. The first step to be becoming a doula intern is to review the contract and submit the application to Health Foundations!

Intern graduates will be placed on our exclusive doula referral list and website, which is provided to women throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding counties.

Application packets will be available starting May 10, 2011.  The deadline for applications is June 1, 2011. Applicants will be contacted for an interview.

To receive an application packet contact:

Doula Internship Coordinator

Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center

968 Grand Avenue

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105