Become a Deacon Doula
Who Can Apply to Be a Deacon Doula?
We welcome applications from community members in addition to undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students from the colleges and universities in Winston-Salem. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for Deacon Doulas:
- Be at least 18 years old
- If an undergraduate student, have completed at least their first year in college by the time of training and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Be willing to submit a background check, complete a tuberculosis test, and provide proof of vaccinations (including COVID-19 and annual flu) during the on-boarding process
- Commit to serving the program for at least one academic year (see FAQs for information about studying abroad while in the program)
Application and Training Process
Applications for the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar are due March 29th, 2024 at 11:59 PM. Acceptance decisions will be communicated by April 1st.
At the time that applicants are notified of their acceptance, they will be asked to submit several forms via email to Volunteer Services in addition to a background check and proof of vaccinations.
We ask that this be completed by the end of May so that there is ample time for Human Resources to process your paperwork and clear you to volunteer by the time you return to school for the 2024-2025 academic year. Once you have been assigned a volunteer number, you will create an appointment with Volunteer Services for the start of the Fall semester to complete the on-boarding process and have your blood drawn for the tuberculosis test.
Doula training will occur over a 2-week period. It will consist of two in-person weekend training sessions and 2 online weeknight training sessions. These sessions combine traditional interactive didactic techniques with hands-on practice, to ensure that you learn the skills necessary to serve as a doula. It is paramount to attend ALL Deacon Doulas training sessions.
If a trainee has a documented conflict with either of the weeknight training sessions (e.g. class, lab, work) they will be permitted to watch a recording of the training on their own time, prior to the following session. Due to the hands-on nature of our training, weekend sessions must be attended by all trainees. If you have a conflict with either of the weekend trainings, we invite you to apply for our next application cycle.
Training dates:
- Wednesday, 04/10 from 6 – 8pm (online)
- Sunday, 04/14 from 10am – 1pm (in person)
- Wednesday, 04/17 from 6 – 8pm (online)
- Sunday, 04/21 from 10am – 1pm & 2-4pm (in person)
After training, volunteers commit to two on-call shifts per month. Volunteers sign up for their 12-hour shifts (8am-8pm or 8pm-8am) prior to each month based on their own availability and on a first come first serve basis. When on-call, you are not expected to be at the hospital if there is not a laboring patient requesting a doula.
Each semester after training, our doulas are required to complete at least one continuing education session. These sessions will be offered across multiple days and times so that volunteers may choose the one that works best for their own availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! So long as you have completed your first year of college by the time you will be trained (in Fall 2023), you are eligible to apply.
Due to the investment of time and resources that goes into training doulas, we ask that our volunteers commit to serving the program for at least one academic year, or two semesters.
If you are trained in the Fall, you may take a one semester-break to go abroad in the Spring and complete your commitment by serving the Fall semester when you return from abroad. Please note, however, that you are required to stay up-to-date on the requirements to volunteer at the medical center (e.g. getting your flu vaccine each year).
No. Certification is not a legal requirement and can be a costly process. We are confident that the Deacon Doula training (a combination of lectures and hands-on practice led by licensed medical providers at AHWFB and medical students at WFUSM) prepares our volunteers to provide excellent doula care.
Yes, we welcome applications from people of all gender identities! In fact, several of our volunteers identify as men.
Yes. All volunteers at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Prospective Deacon Doulas can reach out to Ashley Stockstill at astockst@wakehealth.edu or Callie White at collish@wakehealth.edu.
We receive a high volume of emails from prospective doulas so please read the entirety of the webpage before reaching out. If you still have questions about the program or just want to chat about being a doula, we would love to talk with you!