Save with this Bundle, Priced at $55(members); $90(non-members)

Perinatal Health Equity for Indigenous People in the United States 

 American Indian/Alaska Native birthing people in the United States face profound inequities during and around the time of childbirth. This has long been true and continues to be true, with headline after headline indicating loss of maternity services in rural and tribal communities, workforce shortages, financial challenges, and safety concerns. These and other challenges result in growing disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality, with American Indian/Alaska Native people being at least 3 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white people. Dr. Kozhimannil will discuss these and other barriers to safe and healthy birth for Indigenous people through examination of historical and contemporary factors that shape these inequities. She will also lead participants in looking forward by discussing clinical, public health, and policy efforts that may decrease maternal mortality and improve equity for Indigenous people, including through highlighting positive changes already happening in Indigenous communities across the country.

Growing Equity from the Roots Up: Using HEIA to Cultivate Thriving Doula Communities 

 Like a well-tended community garden, thriving doula programs require strong roots in community and careful cultivation. This interactive session explores how the Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool can help doula programs grow from deep community roots toward unlimited heights of impact. Participants will learn to nurture equity from the ground up, identifying systemic barriers that may stunt growth, while developing strategies to help their programs/businesses flourish sustainably. Through hands-on activities and collaborative learning, attendees will cultivate practical skills for implementing HEIA in their own communities, ensuring their doula programs/businesses can weather challenges while reaching new heights of service, support, and impact. This session qualifies for 1.5 (DONA/DEI/CA-BRN) contact hours and was originally presented at the 2025 DONA Summit in Seattle, Washington.

The Role of Doulas in Advancing Birth Justice 

 Birth justice is a movement led by Black women and people of color that seeks to recognize systemic inequalities and empower people in communities in the pregnancy and birthing process. In 2023, Elephant Circle conducted a landscape analysis of birth justice in the US using mixed methods. A quarter of survey respondents identified as Doulas. This presentation examines the results of the analysis related to Doulas including their demographic characteristics, experiences of discrimination, involvement in networks, services provided, extent of community organizing work and advocacy activities, sustainability, and compensation. We will present insights on how to best support Doulas to provide Birth Justice services and avoid burnout and moral injury. Finally, we will reveal our interactive tool for advocacy and education about birth justice. The presentation will shed light on how to integrate, uplift, and replicate birth justice values and practices to improve equity in the care provided by Doulas. This session qualifies for 1 contact hour (DEI/Cultural Comp)

Growing Equity from the Roots Up: Using HEIA to Cultivate Thriving Doula Communities

Like a well-tended community garden, thriving doula programs require strong roots in community and careful cultivation. This interactive session explores how the Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool can help doula programs grow from deep community roots toward unlimited heights of impact. Participants will learn to nurture equity from the ground up, identifying systemic barriers that may stunt growth, while developing strategies to help their programs/businesses flourish sustainably. Through hands-on activities and collaborative learning, attendees will cultivate practical skills for implementing HEIA in their own communities, ensuring their doula programs/businesses can weather challenges while reaching new heights of service, support, and impact. This session qualifies for 1.5 (DONA/DEI/CA-BRN) contact hours and was originally presented at the 2025 DONA Summit in Seattle, Washington.

SPEAKER

Tonya Daniel

DONA Leadership invites DONA members to our annual membership meeting!

Each year the DONA International Board of Directors holds a membership meeting during the meeting you’ll hear from leadership with a report from the prior year as well as what’s coming in the future! This year we'll be using a different format which will include a brief live update from the podium and then an interactive experience where our in-person attendees can talk to board members more directly. 

A full video update will be available after the meeting via DONA Elevate for all. 

In-person and virtual attendees will receive 1 DONA Contact hour for attendance at the membership meeting.

Things to expect:

State of DONA International an Brief Updates
An interactive discussion based opportunity to connect directly with your 2025 DONA Leadership
Ways to get involved and help your voice be heard
Full video update with details about each area
 
Join us for this annual meeting! We can’t wait to see you!

Doulas provide care with their hands, but it is their hearts that sustain the work. In this powerful keynote, Ellen Burton will explore the essential connection between personal well-being and professional impact. Attendees will gain practical tools to cultivate total self-care, maintain balance, and navigate the evolving healthcare landscape with confidence. With a focus on sustainable growth, collaboration, and trust, this session will empower doulas to build their businesses while prioritizing their own health and resilience.

This inspiring conversation will honor the legacy of DONA’s founder, Penny Simkin, and reaffirm a commitment to the values that drive doula work. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to advocate for doula services, protect their self-care, and expand their impact—regardless of external challenges. They will walk away feeling more grounded, confident, and prepared to navigate the future of birth work with strength and clarity.

*This session was recorded as part of the 2025 DONA Summit in Seattle, Washington.* 

SPEAKER

Ellen Burton Read Bio

With approximately 4.4 million podcasts available, podcasting is one of the fastest-growing media forms—yet only around 14% are actively producing new episodes. What separates a thriving podcast from one that fades away? Join podcasting pioneer Adriana Lozada for an insider’s look at the real work behind creating and sustaining a successful show. As the creator and host of the acclaimed Birthful Podcast since 2014, Adriana has been at the forefront of the evolution of podcasting. In this talk, she’ll share invaluable insights, key lessons, and must-know truths. This session was recorded as part of the 2025 DONA Summit in Seattle, Washington and features full-screen viewing of the slides with audio from the speaker. 

SPEAKER

Adriana Lozada

American Indian/Alaska Native birthing people in the United States face profound inequities during and around the time of childbirth. This has long been true and continues to be true, with headline after headline indicating loss of maternity services in rural and tribal communities, workforce shortages, financial challenges, and safety concerns. These and other challenges result in growing disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality, with American Indian/Alaska Native people being at least 3 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white people.

Dr. Kozhimannil will discuss these and other barriers to safe and healthy birth for Indigenous people through examination of historical and contemporary factors that shape these inequities. She will also lead participants in looking forward by discussing clinical, public health, and policy efforts that may decrease maternal mortality and improve equity for Indigenous people, including through highlighting positive changes already happening in Indigenous communities across the country.

*This session was originally recorded live as part of the 2024 DONA Summit.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #17981, for 1.00 Contact Hours. Licensee must retain this document for a period of four years after the course concludes.

Birth justice is a movement led by Black women and people of color that seeks to recognize systemic inequalities and empower people in communities in the pregnancy and birthing process. In 2023, Elephant Circle conducted a landscape analysis of birth justice in the US using mixed methods. A quarter of survey respondents identified as Doulas. This presentation examines the results of the analysis related to Doulas including their demographic characteristics, experiences of discrimination, involvement in networks, services provided, extent of community organizing work and advocacy activities, sustainability, and compensation. We will present insights on how to best support Doulas to provide Birth Justice services and avoid burnout and moral injury. Finally, we will reveal our interactive tool for advocacy and education about birth justice. The presentation will shed light on how to integrate, uplift, and replicate birth justice values and practices to improve equity in the care provided by Doulas. This session qualifies for 1 contact hour (DEI/Cultural Comp)

When deciding which type of business structure is right for your existing or new US-based doula business, you may have many questions. Determining what is best is dependent on many factors, including your business size, whether you intend to have any employees, and what your financial situation looks like at this time. In this session, we will examine the differences between a sole proprietorship, LLC, and a corporation and highlight the pros and cons of each structure. Additionally, we explore the various corporation types that exist and the benefits of those business formations.

DONA Leadership invites DONA members to our annual membership meeting!

Each year the DONA International Board of Directors holds a membership meeting during the meeting you’ll hear from leadership with a report from the prior year as well as what’s coming in the future! Join us for this fun and informative meeting and get to know your leadership and DONA happenings even better.

Attendees will receive 1 DONA Contact hour for attendance at the membership meeting.

Things to expect:

• State of DONA International
• Reports from all areas (Membership, Education, Certification, and Financial, DEI, Advocacy etc.)
• Highlights from the past year
• Highlights of current and upcoming projects
• Ways to get involved and help your voice be heard
• 2025 In-Person Conference Announcement

Join us for this annual meeting and learn about what's happening from you DONA leadership! 

This session is sponsored by:

Join DONA Advocacy Committee member, Dusti Murray with a how-to tutorial on how to complete a CMS 1500/Superbill form. This form is useful for Medicaid reimbursement, but it can also be used as a super bill to give families or submit to other agencies, such as TriCare.

This short tutorial is free for DONA members and does not earn continuing education hours.