The rapid expansion of Arkansas’ doula workforce is playing a vital role in improving maternal and infant health outcomes across the state, according to researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation.
Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and educational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. A growing body of research links doula-supported care with reductions in preterm birth, cesarean delivery, labor complications, and postpartum depression, as well as increased breastfeeding initiation and improved patient satisfaction.
Published by the Southern Medical Journal, the study, “The Evolution of Doula Care in Arkansas,” details Arkansas’ relatively rapid growth of doula infrastructure. Early grassroots efforts include the establishment of the Northwest Arkansas Doula Connection in 2013 and Ujima Maternity Network in 2018. By championing doula collaboration and broadening awareness of doula support throughout Arkansas, these organizations laid the groundwork for the formation of the Doula Alliance of Arkansas in 2023. The alliance now serves as the state’s unified professional organization, working closely with policymakers and healthcare leaders to advance certification standards and reimbursement pathways.
In addition to establishing organizational infrastructure, Arkansas lawmakers passed two bipartisan pieces of legislation: the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act and the Doula Act. These acts were signed into law in 2025 and established Medicaid reimbursement pathways and standard education and certification requirements for doulas.
The UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation has played a central role in the advocacy and expansion of the doula workforce. Beginning in 2022, the institute collaborated with state and community organizations to train and expand doula services across 33 Arkansas counties. More than 100 doulas have been trained through scholarship-supported programs prioritizing rural and underserved communities. Earlier this summer, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released guidance that encouraged stronger partnerships between clinicians and doulas to improve patient outcomes.
The institute recently piloted the Advancing Doula and Perinatal Teams (ADAPT) Toolkit at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas to support doula integration into hospital settings and improve maternal health by strengthening collaboration between doulas and clinical care teams. For more information about the ADAPT Toolkit or the institute’s Doula Expansion initiative, visit uams.health/doula.