Frequently Asked Questions

About the
DOULA CO-OP

  • DOULA CO-OP of Nevada is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Nevada's doula workforce and expanding access to doula care through education, workforce development, advocacy, community partnerships, and grant-funded initiatives.

    Our mission is to improve maternal and family health outcomes by increasing access to qualified birth, postpartum, and end-of-life doulas, particularly in underserved, marginalized, rural, and tribal communities throughout Nevada.

    We are not a doula agency. We are a membership-based nonprofit that supports independent doulas while working to ensure more Nevada families have access to high-quality doula care.

  • No.

    Families hire independent doulas directly. DCNV does not assign clients, employ doulas, or set their pricing.

    Instead, we strengthen the profession by providing education, networking, mentorship, business support, advocacy, healthcare partnerships, and opportunities that help doulas build sustainable independent businesses while increasing access to care across Nevada.

  • The Doula Access Program is a partnership between DOULA CO-OP of Nevada and Renown Regional Medical Center.

    Once experienced doulas complete the required training and prerequisites, they are recognized as volunteer nurse extensions through Renown. They are considered volunteers because they are not hospital employees, and nurse extensions because they become part of the collaborative care team while supporting their own clients.

    DAP doulas receive access to Labor & Delivery areas, including supply closets and the operating room during Cesarean births when accompanying their own clients, allowing them to provide continuous support throughout the birth experience.

  • Yes.

    Nevada continues to have communities with limited access to doula care, especially in rural, tribal, and underserved areas. We currently train birth doulas only through workforce development grants.

    Training qualified doulas strengthens Nevada's maternal health workforce and increases access for families who might not otherwise receive doula support.

    We are especially committed to preparing doulas to serve underserved and marginalized communities where barriers to care continue to exist.

  • Because our mission is different.

    A doula agency hires doulas, assigns clients, collects payments, and manages employment or contractor relationships.

    DCNV exists to strengthen Nevada's maternal health system by supporting independent doulas, expanding access to care, developing the workforce, and building partnerships that improve outcomes for underserved and marginalized families throughout Nevada.

    We believe families should have the freedom to choose the doula who best fits their needs, and doulas should have the freedom to build businesses that reflect their own philosophy, services, and pricing.

  • Our long-term vision is for every Nevada family to have access to high-quality doula care, regardless of where they live or their financial circumstances.

    We work statewide with birth, postpartum, and end-of-life doulas while focusing on the communities that need them most.

    To achieve that vision, we continue to focus on:

    • Expanding Medicaid participation

    • Increasing the number of qualified doulas

    • Strengthening healthcare partnerships

    • Growing community education

    • Supporting independent doula businesses

    • Expanding rural and tribal services

    • Securing sustainable funding to improve access for families

    • Advocating for policies that improve maternal and family health

For Families

  • We support Nevada families in many ways, including:

    • Connecting families with independent doulas through our website listings

    • Expanding Medicaid access

    • Supporting grant-funded programs

    • Supporting doulas in offering childbirth and parenting education

    • Building healthcare partnerships

    • Advocating for improved maternal and infant healthcare

    • Developing programs that increase access to doula care

    • Strengthening Nevada's doula workforce

    Our work focuses on creating lasting improvements that increase access to care for families throughout Nevada.

    Our mission is to improve maternal and family health outcomes by increasing access to qualified birth, postpartum, and end-of-life doulas, particularly in underserved, marginalized, rural, and tribal communities throughout Nevada.

    We are not a doula agency. We are a membership-based nonprofit that supports independent doulas while working to ensure more Nevada families have access to high-quality doula care.

  • Sometimes.

    Some grant-funded programs provide free or reduced-cost doula support for eligible families. Availability depends on current funding opportunities and program requirements.

    Nevada Medicaid also covers eligible doula services at no cost to the client when provided by enrolled Medicaid providers.

  • We would love for every family to have access to a doula.

    Unfortunately, available funding does not currently meet the need across Nevada. Most grant funding is restricted to specific populations, geographic regions, or includes program stipulations.

    Expanding affordable access remains one of DCNV's highest priorities, and we continue pursuing grants, partnerships, and sustainable funding opportunities that will allow more families to receive doula care.

For Doulas

  • DCNV believes independent doulas should own and grow their own businesses.

    Rather than functioning as an agency, we focus on providing the education, tools, relationships, and opportunities that help doulas succeed independently.

    This includes:

    • Business education

    • Continuing education

    • Professional mentorship

    • Networking opportunities

    • Marketing visibility

    • Community outreach

    • Member directory listings

    • Hospital partnerships

    • Medicaid enrollment and billing support

    • Leadership opportunities

    • Advocacy for the profession

    • Collaboration with healthcare providers

    • Access to scholarships and grant-funded opportunities when available

    Our goal is not to replace independent businesses- it is to help them thrive.

  • No.

    No professional membership organization can ethically guarantee clients.

    What we do provide includes:

    • Member directory listings

    • Networking opportunities

    • Continuing education

    • Business education and mentorship

    • Community outreach opportunities

    • Marketing support and visibility

    • Hospital and healthcare partnerships

    • Medicaid enrollment and billing support

    • Professional development

    • Leadership opportunities

    • Advocacy for the doula profession

    • Collaboration with other doulas throughout Nevada

    Our goal is to provide the tools, education, relationships, and opportunities that help independent doulas build successful businesses serving the communities they choose.

Grants & Funding

  • Grant funding must be used exactly as directed by the organization awarding the grant.

    Depending on the grant, funds may support:

    • Doula training

    • Scholarships

    • Workforce development

    • Community education

    • Hospital partnerships

    • Maternal health initiatives

    • Rural outreach

    • Data collection and evaluation

    • Program management

    • Administrative support (when allowed)

    Every grant has its own approved budget, reporting requirements, and legal restrictions.

    If you look at our publicly available IRS Form 990, it may appear that DCNV has significant funding. However, those funds are not one large pool of money. Most are legally restricted and must be used only for the specific programs and purposes approved by the grantmaker.

  • Grant funding is legally restricted.

    If a grant is awarded to train doulas, expand Medicaid participation, strengthen the workforce, or improve maternal health systems, those funds cannot legally be redirected to pay for client services unless the grant specifically allows it.

    Many grants are intended to create long-term systems change rather than fund individual services. By investing in workforce development, healthcare partnerships, education, and expanded access, we help create lasting improvements that benefit families across Nevada.

    Following grant requirements protects our nonprofit status and ensures we remain eligible for future funding.

  • Some grants can reimburse doulas or support direct client services.

    Other grants are awarded specifically to strengthen the profession through workforce development, education, healthcare partnerships, Medicaid expansion, scholarships, or community initiatives.

    Whenever possible, DCNV seeks funding that directly benefits both doulas and families. Our responsibility is to use every grant exactly as intended while continuing to pursue new opportunities that expand access to care across Nevada.

  • Nonprofits exist to accomplish a mission, not simply distribute money.

    Behind every successful nonprofit are professionals who:

    • Write grants

    • Manage programs

    • Coordinate partnerships

    • Support members

    • Organize trainings and events

    • Collect required data

    • Maintain financial accountability

    • Report outcomes to funders

    • Ensure legal compliance

    • Build relationships with healthcare systems and community organizations

    Without these responsibilities being carried out, the programs themselves would not exist.

  • No.

    Responsible nonprofits require administration to operate effective programs.

    Most grantmakers expect organizations to include reasonable administrative expenses because successful programs require planning, coordination, financial oversight, reporting, technology, communications, evaluation, and compliance.

    These functions ensure donated and grant dollars are managed responsibly and create lasting community impact.

    DCNV intentionally keeps overhead as low as possible. For example, we do not maintain a traditional office space and continually evaluate expenses so that as much funding as possible supports programs, workforce development, and community impact.

  • Yes.

    As a nonprofit organization, our IRS Form 990 is publicly available, and we comply with all state and federal nonprofit reporting requirements.

    Grant-funded programs also require detailed financial reporting, outcome measurement, and accountability to the organizations that provide funding.

Doula Access Program & Renown Shifts

  • The Doula Access Program is a partnership between DOULA CO-OP of Nevada and Renown Regional Medical Center.

    Once experienced doulas complete the required training and prerequisites, they are recognized as volunteer nurse extensions through Renown. They are considered volunteers because they are not hospital employees, and nurse extensions because they become part of the collaborative care team while supporting their own clients.

    DAP doulas receive access to Labor & Delivery areas, including supply closets and the operating room during Cesarean births when accompanying their own clients, allowing them to provide continuous support throughout the birth experience.

  • The Doula Access Program was created through a partnership between the DOULA CO-OP of Nevada and Renown Health to better integrate doulas into the hospital environment while preserving their role as independent professionals.

    By completing hospital onboarding and training, DAP doulas are able to navigate Labor & Delivery more effectively, collaborate with the healthcare team, and remain with their own clients in situations where additional hospital access is needed, such as cesarean births when permitted by the medical team.

    The program strengthens communication, collaboration, and continuity of support for families giving birth at Renown.

  • No.

    DAP doulas remain independent doulas who own and operate their own private practices. They are hired directly by the families they serve and are not employees of Renown Health or the DOULA CO-OP of Nevada.

    The Doula Access Program is available to active, engaged members of the DOULA CO-OP of Nevada who meet the program requirements. Through this partnership, qualified doulas complete hospital onboarding and training before receiving a hospital badge that provides additional access while supporting their own private clients at Renown.

    Participating in DAP does not change a doula's scope of practice, philosophy of care, or relationship with their client. DAP was created to strengthen collaboration between doulas and the healthcare team while preserving the independent role of the doula.

  • The Renown Shift Program is a grant-funded partnership with Renown Health, where experienced independent doulas provide no-cost labor support to families delivering at Renown.

    Unlike a private doula hired by a family, shift doulas are available to support laboring patients who are admitted to Labor & Delivery and would benefit from additional emotional, physical, and educational support. The program was created to expand access to doula care for families who may not otherwise have it.

  • The Doula Access Program (DAP) is available to engaged DOULA CO-OP members who attend births at Renown. After meeting the program requirements and completing hospital onboarding and training, DAP doulas receive a hospital badge that allows them greater access while supporting their own private clients at Renown.

    The Renown Shift Program is a separate, paid contract opportunity for experienced doulas. Shift doulas are selected through a competitive application and interview process and must meet additional program requirements. While on shift, they provide labor support to families who have not hired a private doula or who would benefit from additional support during their hospital stay.

    Not all DAP doulas become Shift Doulas, and participation in the Shift Program is not required to participate in DAP.

  • A private doula and a Renown Shift Doula serve different, but equally valuable, roles.

    A private doula is hired directly by a family and typically provides prenatal visits, continuous labor support, and postpartum follow-up, allowing for a relationship to develop over time.

    A Renown Shift Doula meets families during their hospital stay and provides non-medical emotional, physical, and educational support while they are on shift. Although they may not be present throughout the entire birth experience or have a prenatal relationship with the family, they bring the same professional training, knowledge, experience, and scope of practice to every family they serve.

    The Renown Shift Program was never designed to replace private doula care. It was created to expand access to doula support for families who might otherwise labor without it, ensuring that more parents have access to the comfort measures, education, advocacy, and evidence-informed support that doulas are uniquely trained to provide.

  • No.

    Renown Shift Doulas are independent doulas who operate their own private practices. They are contracted through the DOULA CO-OP of Nevada- not employed by Renown Health.

    While on shift, they collaborate closely with nurses, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team while maintaining the non-medical role of a doula.

  • You are always welcome to ask if a shift doula is available when you are admitted to labor and delivery.

    A doula is on shift approximately 50% of the time, and availability depends on staffing and the needs of the Labor & Delivery unit that day. Because the program is designed to increase access for all families, shift doulas cannot be reserved in advance.

    Families who want a dedicated doula throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum should consider hiring a private doula before birth.

  • Not always, but sometimes.

    Unlike a privately hired doula, a shift doula may support more than one family during a shift depending on patient needs and hospital volume.

    Whenever possible, doulas provide as much continuous support as the needs of the unit allow, and they will never accept more responsibility than they can safely and meaningfully support.

  • There is no cost to patients or families.

    The program is funded through grants secured by the DOULA CO-OP of Nevada to help expand access to doula care for families in our community.

  • Renown advocated for this collaborative program, because many families arrive at the hospital without a doula or adequate labor support, and they wanted patients to have better outcomes.

    The Renown Shift Program was created to expand access to evidence-informed labor support by making experienced doulas available to more families, regardless of insurance status or financial circumstances. Rather than replacing private doula care, the program fills an important gap by bringing doula support to families who might otherwise go without it.

Partnerships & Impact

  • Yes.

    We collaborate with hospitals, healthcare providers, public health agencies, insurers, nonprofits, educational organizations, tribal organizations, and community partners throughout Nevada to improve maternal and infant health.

    We are always interested in developing partnerships that strengthen communities and expand access to doula care.

  • Success is measured by impact, including:

    • Lives touched

    • Families supported

    • Doulas trained

    • Medicaid providers added

    • Scholarships awarded

    • Workforce growth

    • Educational programs delivered

    • Healthcare partnerships developed

    • Community outreach

    • Rural and tribal expansion

    • Increased access to doula care throughout Nevada