Benefits of Being a Gateway Doula
- Give back to your community
- Shift work for doulas that works with your other activities.
- Be supported by a collective who are passionate about birth and providing free doula services
- Opportunities to build your organizational and leadership skills
- Practical and informational support in working towards your certification
- Training: Complete an accredited birth doula training course (DONA, ICTC, CAPPA, etc.).
- Collaborative Practice: Attend the Collaborative Practice Advanced Doula Training at OHSU within 6 months of joining Gateway Doulas (This training is currently offered 2-3 times per year. For more information, go to: http://pdxdoulas.org/portland-doula-training/).
- 100% commitment: Our organization depends entirely on our volunteer doulas. You must be sure that you will be able to make a minimum 6-month commitment to working with us, and volunteer 3-12 hour shifts per month.
- Application: Fill out and submit the Gateway Doula Project application by submitting a contact inquiry below.
- Interview: Be invited to a one-on-one or group interview.
- Attend a tour of the hospitals, and Gateway Doula Project orientation prior to starting
- Certification: Gateway Doulas must be actively working towards certification and attempt to complete the process within six months of starting.
- Experience: Gateway Doulas are not required to have experience as a doula, but those who have not attended more than 10 births are required to shadow at least three Gateway Doula births prior to taking solo shifts.
- Expenses: GDP Doulas are responsible for covering the cost of an identification badge
($12) and any hospital volunteer costs (currently these are $25).