Jamaa Birth Village

Jamaa birth village launched missouri's 1st statewide black maternal health summit, in partnership with the missouri community doula council, april 16-17, 2024, in alignment with the national movement to eradicate preventable causes of maternal morbidity, mortality, and prematurity for african american mothers and babies. This 2-day summit began with advocacy day, including a bus ride to the state capitol with summit attendees to learn about legislative efforts to improve birth in the state and how to advocate for better birth practices. Day 2 of the summit consisted of a conference led by national keynote speakers. The summit brought together over 150 community members, birth workers, and professionals across the nation to collectively learn solutions toward improving birth outcomes.

Jamaa birth village celebrated the global launch of black doula day in st. Louis via a press conference in partnership with the city of st. Louis department of health. On april 11, 2024, in partnership with black mamas matter alliance, jamaa birth village hosted a black doula day virtual pep rally with over 650 doulas and maternal health supporters in attendance across the world. Locally in st. Louis, jamaa birth village partnered with the city of st. Louis mayor's office to host a documentary movie screening about doula care in urban communities. Jamaa birth village was awarded two proclamations on this day from the city of st. Louis mayor's office and st. Louis county executive sam page's office on the success of black doula day and the movement jamaa birth village has started to grow the doula community in st. Louis and beyond.

Jamaa birth village trained over 200 medical providers across four hospitals, one nursing college, and one obstetrical university-on cultural congruent care, including the benefits of community-based doula & midwifery care, and working together as hospitals and community providers for better birth outcomes. Data and evaluation showed providers to be more empathetic and more likely to respect, value, and welcome doulas into the l&d and nicu rooms where patients have doula care. Feedback suggested that 85% of providers felt more confident about knowing what a doula does and how to connect patients in need with doula care.

Jamaa birth village donated organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs from a local garden partner to local expecting and postpartum families.

Birth village has worked diligently since 2017 towards missouri doula medicaid reimbursement. On october 1, 2024, it celebrated a long-fought victory in helping to co-lead the doula medicaid reimbursement initiative with the state of missouri mo healthnet division. Doulas in missouri can now receive reimbursement via medicaid for their service.

Jamaa birth village celebrated "community midwifery month" designated by the st. Louis county council in october 2021 on behalf of jamaa birth village by partnering with the missouri history museum for the inaugural "history of midwifery in missouri." the event hosted a gallery hour for networking and meeting with local organizations, followed by a keynote presentation by jamaa birth village's founder, and a panel discussion featuring midwives local to missouri and from across the nation.

Jamaa birth village received a resolution from the st. Louis county council during the history of midwifery in missouri event due to its accomplishments and successes with improving outcomes in the region with doula and midwifery care.

Jamaa birth village maintained a partnership with the march of dimes throughout the year as a doula technical advisory panelist assisting with national doula care policy, advocacy, and best practices.