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2023 Regional Member Meetup Speaker Application

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in submitting a talk proposal for the 2023 series of DONA International Meet-Ups.  Meet-Ups are virtual forums that are by DONA members for DONA members and feature multiple DONA members, speaking to our membership of birth, postpartum, and community-centered doulas.

DONA is looking for skill-based topics that are informational, solution-focused, and help doulas understand their clients’ needs, perform their work better, and/or enhance their practices. These events have focus on a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and intersectionality. Talks should be 45 minutes in length, and are followed by a 15-minute Q&A period.  The events carry continuing education contact hours for DONA members.

If selected to present, you will receive a $100 honorarium.

Attached you will find the application form as well as notes on the DONA International Doula Standards of Practice.  We expect speakers to make every effort to reflect the values of DONA International by using inclusive language, being intentional about anti-racism and culturally aware and sensitive, and representing the diversity of birthing and postpartum people and families in their talk content. If you have any questions, please contact Teri Nava-Anderson at certificationdirector@dona.org.

Warm regards,
Teri Nava-Anderson
Director of Certification
DONA International

Continuing Education and the Doula’s Standards of Practice

 

A doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to clients before, during, and after childbirth. Regional Member Meet-Up Speakers should keep their talks within the DONA International Doula Standards of Practice.

We believe that doulas should have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and learn about other aspects of the childbearing year, but the knowledge of these techniques does not change the doula’s standards of practice. Just as doulas know about the process of a cesarean birth, the doula does not perform the surgery but supports the emotional and physical needs of the their client before, during and after the cesarean birth. Since not all issues have as clearly defined boundaries as this example, the following list of questions can be used to help a doula assess whether the doula’s action or advice is outside or within the doula’s scope of practice.

Ask yourself the following questions about the action or advice:

    1. Are there claims of specific medicinal or healing benefits from the “remedy” (as opposed to soothing a normal pregnancy or labor discomfort) or claims to correct or cure an abnormality?
    2. Are there any possible harmful side-effects?
    3. Does the action or advice on this subject require special training, certification, or extra education to ensure safety and proper application?
    4. Does the remedy usually require a prescription or supervision of a trained clinician?
    5. Is the subject for which you are giving advice usually covered by a doctor, midwife, or perinatal nurse?
    6. Might your advice conflict with that of your client’s clinical care provider
    7. Might your action or advice worsen the relationship between your client and their caregiver?

     

    If the answers to all the above questions are “No,” then the action or advice is probably acceptable within the doula’s Scope of Practice. If the answer to one or more question is “Yes,” then likely this course or workshop falls outside the doula’s Standards of Practice.

    Regional Member Meetup Speaker Application

    Are you currently a member of DONA International?(Required)
    Address(Required)
    Preferred Speaking Dat(s): (You are welcome to choose more than one date if you are available for multiple dates) All event times are Eastern Time(Required)