Seventeen newly certified doulas are ready to serve families across the South Sound thanks to the Blissful Birth Initiations (BBI) Doula Training, a Washington state-approved program designed to prepare birth workers with evidence-based skills, cultural awareness and hands-on experience, according to a news release from the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC).
Led by veteran doula Diksha Berebitsky, and co-educator Stefanie Anderson, the four-day, 32-hour training was held in collaboration with the Thurston EDC and the Washington Center for Women in Business (WCWB), with support from MultiCare, South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) and the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.
MultiCare fully sponsored tuition for 14 participants, an investment championed by Jondra Long, regional director of women’s services at MultiCare Capital Medical Center.
Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous emotional, physical and informational support before, during and after childbirth, according to the release. Unlike medical providers, they focus on the human side of birth — listening, encouraging, advocating and helping families feel informed and safe.
Graduates of the BBI training are eligible for Washington State certification, which allows them to be reimbursed for services through Apple Health (Medicaid), increasing access for families who may not otherwise be able to afford doula care.
“Many have experienced firsthand the gaps in birth support within their own communities, and they’re stepping up to close those gaps,” Berebitsky said.
The partnership between EDC, WCWB, MultiCare, SPSCC and the Thurston County Chamber reflects a shared vision: that doula care is not only vital health care, but also a pathway to entrepreneurship, the release stated. By reducing barriers to entry, the program supports birth workers in building sustainable small businesses while advancing maternal health equity.
The next Blissful Birth Initiations Doula Training will take place during the first two weekends of November 2025, with additional cohorts planned for 2026.
To learn more or register, visit www.doulaolympia.com or call 360-259-6593.
