(BOP) - On March 12, 2025, FCI Aliceville proudly celebrated the graduation of its second cohort from the nationally recognized Doula Training Program. This group of ten inmates reflects the continued success of the initiative, first launched in 2024, to provide incarcerated women with valuable vocational training and a path toward meaningful service.
Led by Special Populations Coordinator Jhrron Spencer and facilitated by a local nonprofit, the program provides participants the opportunity to earn dual certifications—a Doula Certification and a Prison Doula Certificate—allowing them to serve as birth, antepartum, and postpartum doulas. This training plays a critical role in addressing cultural and systemic gaps in pregnancy care, particularly within underserved communities. The curriculum covers key topics such as Physiology of Labor and Birth, Becoming a Birth Doula, Communication Skills, Prison Birth Work, and Mentorship.
Beyond classroom instruction, certified doulas offer hands-on support to incarcerated pregnant individuals throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period. They provide essential advocacy and compassionate assistance during a vulnerable time, ensuring that expectant mothers receive emotional, physical, and educational guidance.
The Women and Special Populations Branch was instrumental in developing the Doula Training Program. The program is offered at five Bureau institutions—FCI Aliceville, FMC Carswell, SCP Greenville, FCC Victorville, and FCI Waseca. Participants undergo 125 hours of training, with the program held annually and accommodating up to 10 participants per location.
The inaugural Doula Training cohort graduated from FCI Waseca in January 2024, followed by subsequent cohorts at FCI Aliceville in January, SCP Greenville in April, FMC Carswell in July, and FCC Victorville in November.
As the initiative continues to grow, the Bureau remains committed to expanding its reach and impact. Doula services within the institution are available to incarcerated women on a voluntary basis, with contracted doulas providing essential care during pregnancy, birth, separation, and postpartum recovery. These services include birth plan development, emotional and educational support, collaboration with temporary caregivers, assistance through the separation process, and the creation of resource materials for prenatal and postpartum care.