Community Impact

The Doula Foundation of Mid-America, Inc (DFMA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 2000 serving Springfield and the surrounding 5 county region. DFMA provides evidence-based educational, physical, and emotional trauma-informed care for underserved newborns, moms, and families in need during pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood.

DFMA:

• Utilizes Certified Perinatal Community Health Workers (PCHW) and Certified Community-Based Birth and Postpartum Doulas to address health inequities and social determinants of health
• Provides gap services including home visitation, case management, and birth and postpartum preventative services
• Works to combat child abuse and neglect, low birthweight, pre-term deliveries, and perinatal mood disorders
• Enhances child development skills, child and maternal health, and maternal mortality outcomes by connecting this Underserved population with essential community services

Including prenatal, postpartum, breastfeeding, childbirth and parenting education to improve Maternal Health outcomes

Care Coordination and Connection to Community Resources

For every $1 spent in preventative community-based doula services, it is estimated Missouri will save up to $7.

Credentialing PCHW provider for Missouri and Internship program

97% full-term birth

91% initiated breastfeeding

98% received adequate prenatal care

100% received education and community resources

Highest rates of child abuse and neglect in Missouri

Highest reported cases of domestic violence and households living in poverty

High rates of substance use disorders

Limited access to affordable mental health care, housing, and childcare

Wages disproportionate to rising costs in living expenses

Early access and removing barriers to healthcare

Addressing social determinants of health by providing 24/7 on-call care coordination

Reduction of preterm and low birth-weight deliveries and neonatal admissions

Decreased ED visits and postpartum depression

Prevention of child abuse and neglect by promoting stronger parental bond and confidence in parenting