Maternal Child Health Education Training and Consultation for Perinatal Professionals

Evidence-Based, Trauma-Informed, Celebrating Diversity and Promoting Social Justice in Maternity Care

 

 

Trainings Offered | Perinatal Consulting | Why Us | Contact Us

Training and Certification in Perinatal Health

HAPPY MAMA HEALTHY BABY ALLIANCE is a Maternal-Child Health training and advocacy organization located in Los Angeles, CA, USA. We offer a variety of training and consultation services for perinatal professionals globally. We work with physicians, midwives, hospitals, clinics, public health departments, birth centers, non-governmental organizations and  ministries of health to provide optimal maternal-child health programs. If your  staff cannot leave the worksite, we can come to your location.  Ensure that your  clinic or community-based program  stands above those run-of-the mill programs and attract more clients! Invest in staff development. Empower your prenatal staff with the knowledge and skills to provide quality, maternal-child health education and support to your program clients. Our trainings can be customized  to suit  the specific needs of your program, clientele and staff. We offer all-day or half-day programs. Contact us for pricing and scheduling.

Our  trainings are evidence based,  trauma-informed, celebrate diversity and promote social justice in maternity care

Intended Audience

Perinatal Home Visitors, Traditional Birth Attendants, Perinatal Case Managers, Family Health Advocates, Certified Perinatal Health Workers, Obstetrical, Neonatal and Maternity Care Nurses, Physicians & Physician Assistants, Nurse-Midwives & Licensed Midwives, Prenatal Clinic Managers and  Perinatal & Women’s Health Program Directors, Health Educators, Family Engagement Specialists, Promatoras de Salud/Community Health Outreach Workers, Public Health Educators, Doulas and Childbirth Educators, Lactation Consultants & Educators, Perinatal Social Workers, Newborn Nannies & Childcare Workers, Nursing Students, Student Midwives.

Current & Past Clients

• Wellnest Emotional Health and Wellbeing, Los Angeles, CA
• El Nido Family Services, Los Angeles, CA
• Pacific Clinics, Los Angeles, CA
• Childcare Resource Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Human Services Association, Bell Gardens, CA
• Health Net, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
• Fresno Department of Public Health, Fresno, CA
• Esperanza Community Housing Corporation , Promatora de Salud/Community Health Promoter Program – Los Angeles, CA
• UCLA Center for Health Promotion, Neighborhood Mother-Mentor Program – Pico Union Neighborhood of Los Angeles. CA
• Maternal Child Health Access, Welcome Baby! Pilot Program, Los Angeles, CA
• University Muslim Medical Association (UMMA)  Clinic – South Los Angeles, CA
• Pediatric Therapy Network , Torrance, CA
• Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (CHAP) Clinic, Pasadena, CA
• Pasadena Public Health Department Black Infant Health Program, Pasadena, CA
• Benevolence Industries Inc. Central Medical Clinic, Crenshaw District,  Los Angeles, CA
• All Care One Health Center Inc.,  San Fernando Valley & East Los Angeles, CA
• Prototypes Black Infant Health Program, Pomona, CA

Location of Trainings

Most courses are offered in downtown Los Angeles, unless otherwise noted.  During the COVID-19 crises, we are offering our courses on Zoom. We can also bring any training to your worksite, anywhere in the world. Courses can be customized to any length of time or budget or format.

PRENATAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND  PERINATAL TRAINING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Professional Conferences

The Association for Wholistic Maternal and Newborn Health (MotherBabySupport.org)  sponsors professional conferences, webinars, seminars, panel discussions, film screenings and other educational opportunities and community-building activities.

Review our 2017 Seminar: Life in the Womb and Its Lasting Impact

Review our 2016 U.S. Summit on Human Rights in Childbirth: Birthing Justice Forum and MCH Awards Recognition Ceremony

Review our  2015 Conference: Protecting the MotherBaby Dyad: Innovation in Maternity Care

Review our 2014 Conference: Medicine & Midwifery: Bridging the Gap

IN-SERVICE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS

The Association for Wholistic Maternal and Newborn Health offers maternal-child health education and consultation and in-service training for Community Health Clinics, Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Hospitals, Public Health Departments, Maternal-Child Health Programs and Obstetrician Medical Offices.

Trainings and Seminars Offered

• Intergenerational Impacts of Trauma on Fetal Development and Birth Outcomes (Taught by Dr. Sayida Peprah)
• Psychological considerations for  with women who have experienced genital cutting (Taught by Dr. Sayida Peprah)
• Pre and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (Taught by Dr. Sayida Peprah)
• Comprehensive Perinatal Support Program (CPSP) in-service staff training
• Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Training
• The Lifecourse Model: Addressing Perinatal Health Disparities
• Childbirth education for maternal infant health workers
• Doula labor support, postpartum doula support training
• Seminars on Fertility Awareness Natural Family Planning, Menstrual Health
•  Pre and Interconception Health Education
• Seminar on chronic disease health education
• Cultural awareness and  cultural competency
• Communication and counseling skills, including The Three Step Strategy, Motivational Interviewing Technique and Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change Training
• Postpartum Doula Training

 

PERINATAL SERVICES PROGRAM HEALTH EDUCATION AND CONSULTATION SERVICES

Maternal-Child Health Consultation

We  provide consultation to clinics, health plans, funders,  hospitals, non-governmental organizations, ministries of health, public health departments, etc. to improve  your Maternal-Child Health  programming  to deliver quality, evidence-based maternal and infant health programming. Focusing on staff training and development, we can assist directors and managers  in developing  quality programs that make a difference in the population you serve. Our specialty is Community-Based Doula Programs.

Services Offered

• Developing your Community-Based Doula Program. We can provide training, recruitment, management and partner in qualitative evaluation  of your program.
• Childbirth Education Classes – client prenatal education  and train-the-trainer  on our “Empowered Birth Natural Childbirth Preparation Class”
•  Comprehensive Perinatal Support Services (CPSP) Protocol Review (Health Education Consultant and Psychosocial Consultant)
• Consultation for perinatal care management – helping you set up your prenatal or doula program
• Developing prenatal protocols
• Training prenatal support staff and health educators on CPSP (weight grids, individualized care plans, Steps to Take, and motivational interviewing for client  health behavior change)
• Chart Audits for prenatal programs
• Setting up a hospital-based doula program
•  Multidisciplinary care coordination with team of perinatal health workers, case managers, clinicians (Nurse-Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Medical Doctors)
• Establishing a prenatal program at your agency –everything you need to set it up and make it stand out, setting your clinic’s program  apart from your competitors  “run of the mill” programs.

• Chart Audits – Medi-Cal Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) Prenatal Chart Auditing
• Developing evidence-based  perinatal practices in hospital, clinic or community setting
• Mental Health and Perinatal Psychosocial Issues
• Focus Group Facilitation & Survey Development
• Planning and Evaluation of Prenatal Programs
• Midwifery Care and Doula Support Service Integration
• Community mobilization in evidence-based maternity care
• Perinatal policy & resource development
• Perinatal program/project planning & implementation
• Curriculum development/adaptation for women’s  and children’s health programs and perinatal health programs
• Development  and adaptation of Health Education  materials  for perinatal programs
• Community Participatory Research Design and Implementation
• Integration of service systems from clinic to hospital
• Workforce Development: Perinatal Support Specialists, Community-Based Doulas, Community Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, Community Midwives, etc.

Additional Services Offered

• Chart Audits for your Comprehensive Perinatal Support Services (CPSP) Program
• Multidisciplinary Care Coordination with Clinicians (MDs, NPs, PAs, CNMs, etc.) and Paraprofessional staff including CPHWs, Case Managers, Medical Assistants (MA’s)
• Development of Prenatal Education Materials
• Childbirth Preparation Classes for Clients
• Breastfeeding Education Classes for Clients
• Support  and Discussion Group Facilitation for Prenatal Patients  and Postpartum Patients
• Birth & Postpartum Doula Support and Breastfeeding Peer Counselors for your patients/program clients
• Conference Planning
• Media interviews  (evidence-based maternity care, cesarean prevention, midwifery and Doula Support)
• Poster Presentations on Maternal Child Health Topics
• Presentations at conferences and seminars
• Panel Discussions
• Webinars (i.e., on the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative and Informed Consent and Refusal in Maternity Care)
• Plenary presentations and webinars
• In-service training for Staff Development
• Patient Prenatal Education Content  for  Company Website Integration
• Workshops
• Continuing education opportunities for RNs and MDs and CHES
• Academic course development and guest lectures (sociology,  nursing, women’s studies, anthropology, public health, contemporary health, human sexuality, child development)

HALF DAY AND FULL DAY SEMINARS

• Intergenerational Impacts of Trauma on Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes 
• The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative Primer for Hospital Staff Implementing evidence-based maternity care in the clinical setting
• Exploring Careers in Maternity Care (perfect for college resource fairs and health summits)
• Preconception and Interconception Health Education
• Motivational Interviewing & Stages of Change  Behavior Change Model
• Conscious Conception & Childbearing
• Hearts and Hands: The Art and Science of Mother-Centered Labor Support: A Seminar for Obstetrical  Residents and Labor and Delivery Nurses
• Cultural Awareness and Cross-Cultural Communication and Human Rights in Childbirth
• Seminar in Motivational Interviewing and Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change
• Counseling Skills for Health Workers
• Fertility Awareness and Natural Family Planning
• Menstrual Health & Pre-Menopausal Health
• STD  and HIV Prevention for Perinatal Health Workers
• Family Planning
• Midwives and the Midwifery Model of Care
• The Role of the Doula/Professional Labor Companion in Achieving Heath Metrics and Quality Measures

Trainings can also be developed to meet your specific staff training needs. Please contact us for details.

COMPREHENSIVE COURSES OFFERED

PERINATAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST  DOULA TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Dates of Next Course:  Fall, 2020

Location: Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, Los Angeles, CA

Days and Hours of Course: This course is offered in hybrid format. There are self-study modules, as well as online meetings and in-person workshops for skill-building. The class meets once per month for 6 months. Certification experiences may be obtained over a 6-month period.

Certification: Yes, as a Certified Perinatal Support Specialist (CPSS)

CEUs: BRN, CHES, ICEA

Learn how to address perinatal health inequities and disparities and promote human rights in childbirth in this course. This course will enable participants to gain skills in lactation education and counseling, childbirth education, labor support and postpartum care, and preconception/interconception health education. Graduates will be prepared to provide prenatal education, breastfeeding, birth and postpartum support to mothers-to-be and new moms.

This course is designed for agencies with  paraprofessionals such as Community Health Promoters, Home Visitors, Case Managers, Health Educators and Community Health Outreach Workers working in disadvantaged communities where perinatal health disparities exist. Also a good course for Certified Doulas who want to obtain knowledge to help them work with disadvantaged minority women.

The course will provide perinatal health workers with the skills to support informed choices in childbirth, educate about the birth process, facilitate maternal-infant attachment and labor coping skills and address barriers to breastfeeding initiation and continuation, and to inspire clients about  the possibility of empowered, family-centered childbirth.  Certification as a Perinatal Support Specialist (CPSS) is offered upon completion of requirements. Graduates of this course will be invited to participate in a Community-Based Doula Program  to provide volunteer labor support and postpartum care to low-income families.

Registration and Information: Contact us

 SUPPORTING INFORMED CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH: CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION FOR MATERNAL-INFANT HEALTH WORKERS

 

Certification Offered: No

Next Training:  July 2020

Days & Hours of Course: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, 3 days  (20 hours total)

Location: Zoom

Registration and Information: Contact us.

CEUs: CHES, ICEA

This course is designed to help maternal infant health workers promote mother-baby friendly care at among their clientele. Emphasis is on addressing ethnic health disparities and the impact of childbirth practices such as induction of labor, cesarean section on poor birth outcomes such as prematurity, low birth weight, infant and maternal mortality. Participants will also learn anatomy and physiology of childbirth and lactation, labor coping skills and the pros and cons of birth  interventions. The goal is to help participants empower mothers to be informed decision makers and develop confidence for normal birthing.

Registration & Information: Contact us

BREASTFEEDING PEER COUNSELOR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Next Training:  Call for Information

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Days and Hours of Course: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, for 3 days (20 hours total).

Certification Offered: Yes, as  Certified Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (CBFPC)

CEUs: BRN, CHES, ICEA

Support the Gift of Health That Lasts a Lifetime! This 3-day, 20-hour intensive course provides education on the basics of lactation support. Cultural awareness, communication and counseling skills are also part of this course. This course is available for individuals or agencies who work with with pregnant or parenting clients. Perfect for doulas, home visitors, prenatal case managers, home-based infant educators, health promoters, case managers, health educators. No prior experience with breastfeeding required.  Certification  is offered.

 

Registration and Information: Contact us

HEART AND HANDS POSTPARTUM DOULA TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Dates of Next Course:  June 10, 12, 15 & 17, 2020 -9:00 am to 2:30 pm PST

Location: Zoom 

Days and Hours of Course: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, 3 days, 20 hours total.

Certification: Yes, as a Certified Postpartum Doula.

CEUs: If requested

 

Master the Art of Mother and Baby Care! In this class, you will learn skills to support new mothers and care for newborns immediately following birth and the first months. More than a Baby Nurse, a Postpartum Doula provides emotional support, physical care and comfort to the new mother, instruction on self-care and baby care, and instills confidence in her clients for motherhood. Services of a Postoartum Doula also may include breastfeeding support, meal preparation, care of siblings, and linking families to supportive services in the community.

In this 20-hour course, you will learn how to support breastfeeding and address common problems  such as low milk supply and sore nipples. You will also gain cultural awareness skills when working with diverse communities. You will also learn communication and counseling skills. In addition, skills for providing physical care of mothers and babies in the immediate postpartum period will be taught. You will learn how to provide emotional support of postpartum women including helping mothers cope with newborn loss or disappointing or traumatic birth experiences, and recognition of Perinatal Mood Disorders.  You will also learn about newborn care and medical procedures, so as to inform clients about evidence-based options, and skills to care for newborn babies.

Registration and Information: Contact us

 

HALF AND FULL DAY STAFF IN-SERVICE SEMINARS

Hearts and Hands: The Art and Science of Mother-Centered Care (Labor Doula  Support Skills for Obstetrical Nurses, Residents and Obstetricians)

In this seminar, conducted by a seasoned Certified Doula, a Registered Nurse (Labor and Delivery) and Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor, obstetrical residents, obstetricians and labor and delivery nurses will learn non-pharmacological approaches to pain management and optimal positioning to support holistic, mother-centered, empowered  births  in the hospital setting. They will also learn to foster collaborative relationships with professional labor companions (doulas),with the goal to work towards empowered births for all families. Topics include: the science of undisturbed birth, the psychology of birth, cultural awareness, the sexuality of childbirth, labor support techniques, etc.

Format: Slide Show, Lecture & Skill Demonstration

Time:  90  minutes

Counseling for Change: Motivating Your Clients

In this course, health workers will learn the basics of communication and counseling skills, using a variety of counseling models including The Three Step Strategy, Motivational Interviewing and Transtheoretical Model. This is a half day seminar can be brought to agency worksite.

Format: Lecture/Discussion

Time: 4 hours

The ABCDEs of Pre and Interconception Health, Cultural Awareness and Cross-Cultural Communication &  Addressing  Disparities in Maternal and Child Health

In this course, health workers, teachers of young children and others  can learn the basics of how to promote the health of their  clients and their unborn children, using this simple model on Pre and Interconception Health, developed by Los Angeles County Dept. of Health Speaker’s Bureau.

In addition, participants will learn the about cultural awareness and cross-cultural communication, will learn about The Lifecourse Theory, a framework to explain and address disparities in the health of women, infants and children. This  seminar can be brought to your worksite, as a plenary at a conference, or can be integrated as part of a more comprehensive training for Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) Perinatal Health Workers (CPHWs). This half day seminar can be brought to agency worksite.

Format: Lecture/Discussion, Skill Demo

Time: 1 hour

Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) Skill Development for Certified Perinatal Health Workers (CPHWs).

In this course, Certified Perinatal Health Workers will gain deeper understanding of the California Comprehensive Perinatal Support Services Program (CPSP). CPSP is enhanced health services for low-income pregnant women who are Medi-Cal eligible. The program provides Psychosocial Assessment, Health Education ad Nutritional Counseling in addition to prenatal care. Participants in this  seminar will gain skills to  implement the CPSP program in their clinic.

Managers can be assured that by sending workers to this class, they will avoid negative audits and retain satisfied clients in their Medical Home.  Course taught by a MPH in Health Education and Promotion/Maternal Child Health  and a Clinical Psychologist who are on the approved list of CPSP Consultants at Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Maternal Child Health Programs, CPSP program. This course can be brought to agency worksite.

Course topics include:

• Client Assessment and Re-Assessment
• Client Care Plans
• Weight Grids, Nutritional Assessment and Counseling
• Psychosocial Assessment and Referral Guidelines
• Using “Steps to Take” (CPSP health education manual) to provide health education for clients
• Pre and Interconception Health Education
• Communication and Counseling Skills  to motivate health behavior change in clients.

Format: Lecture/Demo, Skill Demo

Time: 8 hours, 1 full day or two half days.

The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative: A Primer for Hospital Staff

This presentation is for nurses, hospital administrators and  physicians who want to gain awareness of how to implement evidence-based maternity care in the community, hospital or clinic setting using the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative developed by The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services.

The scientific basis for the MFCI was published in the Journal of Perinatal Education in 2007. The 10-step plan helps hospitals, clinics and providers of maternity care increase patient satisfaction, improve maternity care quality and achieve goals for perinatal health, and is closely aligned with the Affordable Care Act. This seminar can be brought to agency worksite or hospital.

Format: Slide Show, Lecture & Discussion Buzz Group

Time: 15-45 minutes (short and long versions available).

 

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE US?

Because we educate about and promote:

• Informed consent and refusal in maternity care–not only is it responsible and ethical. Because  women who felt they had decision-making power during birth had improved self-esteem and bonding with their babies.
• Alternative choices in childbirth such as homebirth, waterbirth, birth centers and midwife-assisted birth and Doula support.
• Physiological childbirth–it’s natural and normal, and results in healthy outcomes for mothers and infants.
• The lifelong importance of maternal-infant attachment.
• Breastfeeding–it protects and improves maternal and infant health for a lifetime and is also eco-friendly.
• Awareness of spiritual and emotional aspects of birthing.
• Awareness of the influence of the woman’s social environment on pregnancy, birthing, and breastfeeding.
• Family involvement in the birthing process.
• Complimentary modalities for pregnancy and childbirth: acupuncture, chiropractic, herbology, etc.
• Attachment parenting as the most sensible way to develop happy and secure children.

In short, we trust birth. We believe in women. We help you support your clients to develop confidence for birthing, breastfeeding and parenting.

We inspire your staff’s commitment to service, excellence, compassion and sensitivity.

We teach you to help your clients develop a vision for their birth; we support you to help them to manifest it.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Elsie Gutierrez, MPH, Manager of Community Programs at (626) 388-2191 ext. 2