La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § V-17701

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section V-17701 - Qualifications for Approval by the Board

A. An entity seeking approval from the board as a board approved doula training organization shall demonstrate all of the following:

1. that the entity has employees, board members, or consultants with a subject matter expertise in doula, birth, and/or prenatal care;

2. that the entity issues certificates of completion of training as a doulas only to individuals who have received the training or instruction required by Subsection B of this Section, which training or instruction must be prepared and provided by individuals having subject matter expertise in doula, birth, and/or prenatal care; and

a. An entity seeking approval that allows third parties to provide training to individuals seeking certificates of completion of training as a doula by the entity shall affirm or attest that the entity verifies the syllabus or curriculum of such third party trainings and the subject matter expertise of the individuals preparing and providing the trainings.

3. that it agrees to verify to the board upon request whether it has issued a certificate of completion of training as a doula to a particular individual.

B. The curriculum for training doulas must include at least eight hours of instruction having significant intellectual, practical, or clinical content, dealing with matters related to maternal healthcare, including during pregnancy, intrapartum, and postpartum. The following topics are illustrative of what such instruction may include:

1. anatomy and physiology of labor, birth, maternal postpartum, neonatal transition, and breastfeeding;

2. labor coping strategies, comfort measures, and non-pharmacological techniques for pain management;

3. the reasons for, procedures of, and risks and benefits of common medical interventions, medications, and Cesarean birth;

4. emotional and psychosocial support of birthing persons and their support team;

5. birth doula scope of practice, standards of practice, and basic ethical principles;

6. the role of the birth doula with members of the birth team;

7. communication skills, including active listening, cross-cultural communication, and inter-professional communication;

8. self-advocacy and empowerment techniques;

9. breastfeeding support measures;

10. postpartum support measures for the mother and baby relationship;

11. perinatal mental health;

12. family adjustment and dynamics;

13. evidence-informed educational and informational strategies;

14. community resource referrals;

15. professional conduct, including relationship boundaries and maintaining confidentiality;

16. self-care;

17. cultural humility;

18. inter-professional collaboration;

19. HIPAA compliance;

20. trauma-informed care; and

21. diversity, equity, and inclusion.

C. The burden of satisfying the board as to the qualifications set forth in this Section shall be upon the entity seeking approval from the board as a board approved doula training organization. An applying entity shall not be deemed to possess such qualifications unless it demonstrates and evidences such qualifications to the satisfaction of the board.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § V-17701

Promulgated by the Department of Health, Louisiana Doula Registry Board, LR 50244 (2/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 22:1059.1(B)(1)(b) and R.S. 22:1059.1(G).