Many expectant parents share a similar experience of being overwhelmed during one of life’s most transformative periods.
Identified as one of several effective policies that can impact a state’s prenatal-to-3 system of care in our 2025 State Policy Roadmap, findings show that community-based doulas can make a measurable difference in a family’s experience—offering physical, emotional, and educational support before, during, and after childbirth.
Though policies vary across states, integration of community-based doulas into a larger system of supports has been linked to increased attendance at medical appointments, positive birth outcomes, and improved parental behavior.
In this brief, we outline states’ progress on expanding access to community-based doulas within the last year, including key implementation considerations and state-by-state policy variations.
See how states are taking steps toward more responsive care for children and parents.
The recently updated Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap provides insight into the core policy levers and further illustrates their interplay through vivid graphics, showcasing the variation in paid family and medical leave policies across states.
