Our Story: A Legacy of Care and Community
In 2000, after years of teaching childbirth education at Cox Hospital, Ginny Ross and Loa Freeman saw a need they couldn’t ignore — too many at-risk women were navigating pregnancy and birth without the support and resources they deserved. With a shared vision to build stronger families and reduce child abuse and neglect in their community, they founded The Doula Foundation of Mid-America, Inc, now known as The Doula Foundation.
That same year, the first donation came from Mary Kay and Kenny Ross, and by June, the very first mother received doula services. In October 2001, The Doula Foundation of Mid-America was officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization — launching the first community-based doula program in Missouri. In those early days, Ginny served as Volunteer Program Director and Loa as Volunteer Executive Director, both working from their homes with an annual budget of just $12,000, relying entirely on donations to serve 20 expectant mothers.
Over the years, The Doula Foundation’s story has been one of growth fueled by community partnerships, dedicated volunteers, and generous donors. In 2004, Ginny became the organization’s first paid employee, and Denise Bischof joined as a volunteer, later stepping into a part-time administrative assistant role thanks to a capacity-building grant from Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Services expanded to include childbirth education, prenatal and postpartum yoga, doula support, and community-based birth and postpartum certification training.
By 2007, a pivotal collaboration with the Springfield/Greene County Health Department’s WIC program allowed classes to be offered at their facility supporting over 170 families. In 2008, The Doula Foundation secured its first office at Grace Methodist Church, followed by a move in 2009 to Lutheran Family & Children’s Services, where services and classes continued to grow with help from Jordan Valley Community Health Center and Mercy as part of the Our Healthy Start women and children’s health initiative.
Postpartum doula services were introduced in 2011, ensuring ongoing care for families after birth. After several temporary locations, the organization found a new home at the 1111 Office Complex in 2014, supported by Preferred Family Healthcare with free office space and administrative resources.
In 2019, The Doula Foundation received a transformative gift when John and Mary Cooper, through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ charitable real estate foundation, donated a facility at 1901 E. Meadowmere St. This generous contribution provided the organization with a permanent, dedicated space to advance its mission. With the invaluable support of the O’Reilly Family Foundation and the efforts of more than 100 volunteers, renovations were remarkably completed in just three months. A celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in partnership with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce in May 2019. In 2023, ownership of the building was officially transferred to The Doula Foundation, solidifying its place in the community for years to come.
In 2022, The Doula Foundation was credentialed by the state of Missouri to train and certify Perinatal Community Health Workers through The Doula Foundation Academy becoming the first PCHW certifying organization of its kind in the state.
In 2023-24, The Doula Foundation reached a historic milestone. Working alongside legislators, MoHealthNet, managed care companies, and doula professionals across the state, the organization helped develop the State Plan Amendment to secure Medicaid reimbursement for birth and postpartum doula services in Missouri. The Foundation received its first state funding and finalized contracts with Healthy Blue, Home State Health, and United Healthcare to provide doula programs for Medicaid members. That same year, the Foundation worked alongside professional doula colleagues across the state to establish the Missouri Doula Association — a state trade association supporting doula credentialing and advocacy.
Adding to these accomplishments, CEO Kimberly Costello served on the historic Missouri Hospital Association Postpartum Task Force and the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative. She also co-authored the Missouri Hospital Association’s guide, Integrating Doula Care Into Clinical Care Settings, a resource created to support healthcare organizations in incorporating doula services into their clinical care models.
In October 2024, Missouri officially approved Medicaid reimbursement for prenatal and postpartum doula services — naming The Doula Foundation Academy as an approved doula training organization and the Missouri Doula Association as an approved credentialing agency for the state.
To date, more than 9,000 expectant families and over 30,000 individuals have received physical, emotional, and educational support through pregnancy, birth, and early parenting — providing more than 500,000 pregnancy and infant essentials and 350,000 hours of services and consultations for at-risk families.
The Doula Foundation continues to stand as a beacon of support for families in the region, built on the unwavering dedication of its founders, the strength of its community partners, and the belief that every family deserves care, compassion, and the opportunity to thrive.