Molina Healthcare of Texas Reports Impact for Support of Doula Initiative for World Doula Week

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Molina Healthcare of Texas (“Molina”) recently announced its impact report for its doula expansion initiative, in partnership with the March of Dimes Houston Collective, that launched in 2023 with a $50,000 grant from The MolinaCares Accord toward community-based doula training.

With funding in part from Molina, March of Dimes local collective impact initiative in Houston professionally trained eight women of color to become community-based doulas that provided prenatal education, continuous support at labor and delivery, and postpartum doula support services to 24 under-resourced women living in Harris County during 2024. The doulas participated in multi-day doula training courses and engaged in professional development and education sessions over eight months. Each doula was assigned a mentor over a six-month period where they were able to shadow home visits, partake in additional trainings, provide doula services, and use the time to invest in their entrepreneurial business.

A participating doula trainee stated, “This program has been such a blessing in my birthwork journey. I am so grateful for the mentorship, community, and continued learning that this program has given me.” Currently, all the newly-trained community-based doulas continue to serve at-risk Houston moms and babies.

“Birthing people need holistic support, education, and connection to resources during pregnancy and a doula meets these critical needs as a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and educational support to a birthing individual and her partner during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period,” said Dr. Lindsey Vasquez, director of maternal and women’s health, Molina Healthcare of Texas. “Community-based doulas truly represent the women they serve and improve maternal and infant outcomes by functioning as invaluable supportive resources for expecting and postpartum mothers and their families.”

Together with collaborative partners including Harmonious Birthing, Paradigm Doulas, Push Birth Partners, Sanyika the Doula, and Vibrationz of Soul, the March of Dimes Collective Impact Initiative in Greater Houston has now enrolled a third cohort of individuals to participate in community-based doula training in 2025.

“Thank you to Molina for the funding you provided to March of Dimes to support the 2024 doula training program through the local collective impact initiative,” said Alicia Lee, director of Maternal and Child Collective Impact in Houston. “Because of your support, and that of others, we now have eight additional Black doulas practicing and providing birthwork in the Houston community.”

World Doula Week, March 22 to March 28, 2025, highlights the vital role of doulas in improving maternal and infant health outcomes, and Molina Healthcare of Texas is proud to be a part of this innovative community-based doula expansion initiative.

About Molina Healthcare of Texas

Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace programs in Texas. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Texas, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

About The MolinaCares Accord

Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.