Membership Agreement

ProDoula isn’t simply about the care and support provided to a client, it is also about doulas and birth workers who support and care for one another. When you registered for your ProDoula Workshop/Training you became a part of something. You became a member of a community built on education, support, and professionalism. You are part of a winning team and have access to all the tools and resources available to aid in your success!

Membership Dues:

• Membership payment must be received in full Prior to your training/cross-certification, exam purchase, or you may elect to join the ProDoula membership to receive the benefits without attending a ProDoula training.
• However, if you are attending a training the signed & initialed Membership Agreement is required prior to the day of the training or you will not be permitted to attend. 

Fees:

• Initiation of Membership: $95 annual membership fee
• Due prior to your training or exam, or if not attending a training you may elect to join ProDoula for the various membership benefits
• Continuation of Membership: $95 annual membership fee (each year)
• Due on or before the anniversary of the date of your training/cross-certification or exam purchase
• You may also elect the Lifetime Membership: $500 (and never worry about your membership and/or certification lapsing; wherein your certification would no longer be valid)

Annual membership renewal fees must be received by the anniversary date of your initial membership Please be diligent to ensure the continuity of your membership and certification. If the membership should lapse over 30 days once certified, you will lose the certification validation.

Membership Benefits

Your online presence:

• Members are provided with an Easy-to-use customizable webpage on the highly-trafficked prodoula.com
  • Many birth workers struggle and feel overwhelmed by creation of a web presence. They do not have the knowledge, time and/or monetary commitment necessary to create a professional website. However, this is an essential part of running a successful business geared towards the modern individual and/or family.
  • ProDoula has created a template for your webpage:
    • You provide personal content/photography and ProDoula can assist in the maintenance of your webpage with your guidance
• Members are searchable on the ProDoula website in a national doula search open to the public
• Members benefit from the marketing, content and design efforts of ProDoula
• A ProDoula member is encouraged to create their own website, in addition, we encourage the prominent display of your ProDoula certification badge on your home page.

Team Support:

The network of support you build is essential to your success as a birth worker. ProDoula teaches this by example. We are here to support, encourage and educate you! 
 The ProDoula home team is available via phone & email Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST.

We provide:

• One-on-one educational and enterprise support
• Financial agreement support
• Training, travel and registration support
• Member service support: valuable information, resources, and guidance. If you are not where you want to be in your birth work journey, we are here to help. 


Membership Policies

The goal of ProDoula is to elevate the role of doulas, infant feeding specialists, placenta encapsulation specialists and childbirth educators to a professional level in the eyes of expectant parents, medical professionals and birth workers themselves and to provide birth professionals of all demographics with a rewarding career opportunity. To do this each ProDoula member must hold themselves to the highest of standards. 


The policies set forth establish what is and what is not acceptable behavior or practice from a ProDoula member.

A ProDoula Member MUST:

• Pay first annual membership fee at the time of registration or exam purchase 

• Present their skill level honestly 

• Stay current on information, recommendations and guidelines relating to 
the service provided
• Maintain a judgment-free and opinion-free attitude about each topic 
• Conduct themselves and their businesses in accordance with the Mission, Philosophy, and Promise of ProDoula 

• Abide by all policies set forth in the Standards of Professionalism and Scope of Practice

• Remain current on membership fees 


Reasons Why Membership May Be Revoked

• Failure to pay membership dues within the allotted time 

• Copyright infringement of any ProDoula works 
 

• Soliciting free births in public forums 

• Board findings of misconduct 

• Failure to abide by the Standards of Professionalism and Scope of Practice

• Repeated complaints by hospital staff member/ or clients

• Being convicted of a crime placing you on the Registered Sex Offenders List
• Excessive tardiness to scheduled appointments or cancellations. Especially No Call/No Shows.  
• Misrepresentation of credentials 


ProDoula’s Scope of Practice and Standards of Professionalism

As a member of ProDoula, each doula is encouraged to find their own "style of practice" while adhering to the Scope of Practice for professional doulas as outlined by ProDoula.

Through our standardized curriculum, the fundamental do’s and don’ts of doula care are clearly outlined. Professionalism is ProDoula’s number one priority. 


Each ProDoula member must abide by ProDoula’s Standards of Professionalism which includes conducting oneself in a manner that aligns with the goals, missions, and standards set forth by ProDoula.

• Labor and Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas must maintain current CPR/First Aid Certification 

• Labor Doulas, Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas, and Postpartum Placenta Specialists must maintain a clear and professional contract for all services 

• Conduct yourself and your business in a manner that maintains all legal responsibilities 

  • Businesses must be established through appropriate legal channels. 

• Treat fellow birth workers with professional courtesy and respect.
• Treat all medical professionals - doctors, nurses, hospital staff, etc., - with professional courtesy and respect. These are also members of your client’s team and you must work cohesively with them. Adhere to all rules/regulations of the hospital/facility where you work. 

• Treat each client and their family with professional courtesy and respect.
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality with all information and experiences - personal history or information about your client/client’s family should only be shared with other professionals AND only WITH your client’s permission. 

• Drastically discounting or offering services for low/no cost, through any public channel (social media, online advertisements, flyers, etc.) is extremely detrimental to professional doulas and to the clients seeking these services. A ProDoula will NOT engage in this behavior. 

• A ProDoula member will set a fair value for services and will charge clients uniformly. The price of services should be consistent for clients of all demographics, although fees may vary by geographical location. 

• ProDoula members will not engage in intentional unassisted childbirth 

• Maintain professionalism through the internet and marketing materials. 

  • Your webpage/website must be up to date, professional and encompass the high standards of judgment-free support put forth by ProDoula.
  • While social media communications may be of a personal nature, the high standards of judgment-free support put forth by ProDoula should always reflect each birth worker as a professional

Signature 

By signing below, you are agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions set forth. Failure to do so will result in revocation of Membership and Certified status