Childbirth Education Training for Health & Human Service Workers
Supporting Informed Choices. Cultivating Trust in Birth
Gain skills to teach childbirth education to expectant parents. Help achieve goals for maternal and child health and reduce perinatal health disparities.
Help improve birth outcomes for mothers and infants of color
This class is evidence-based, trauma-informed and celebrates cultural diversity
NEXT HYBRID (VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON) COURSE: APRIL, 2024
Can’t attend in person? This course is now available for self-study!
Take this course online in a self-paced format
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Participants will learn about the anatomy & physiology of childbirth, labor support techniques and support methods, and how to teach evidence-based information about pregnancy and childbirth. This class will give
participants information and skills to help their students or clients make informed decisions during pregnancy and childbirth, cope with labor and cultivate trust in birth.
- Medi-Cal CPSP Workers
- Women’s health staff and clinicians
- Prenatal Staff & Clinicians
Instructor Cordelia Hanna teaching childbirth education to student
- Psychotherapists working with pregnant mothers
- Social Workers working with pregnant mothers
- Nutritionists working with pregnant mothers
- Home Visitors working with pregnant mothers
- Case Managers working with pregnant mothers
- LMAs and CNAs working in prenatal clinics
- Home Health Aides
- Birth or Postpartum Doulas
- Aspiring or Student Midwives
- Pre-Med and Medical Students with aspirations to become OB/GYNs
- Students of Public Health with interest in maternal and child health
- RNs & LVNs working with pregnant and postpartum mothers
- Health Educators working in maternal-child health or women’s health
- Breastfeeding Peer Counselors
- Lactation Educators
- WIC workers
- Community Health Promoters working with pregnant women
TRAINING SPECIFICS

Students practicing positions for second stage of labor
Days and Hours of Course: 8:00 am to 2:30 pm (PST) 4 days, 20 hours total. (There will be a half-hour lunch break each day, and two 10-minute breaks, morning and afternoon).
COURSE DESCRIPTION

Instructors Tai Carson and Cordelia Hanna, co-teaching the course
In this class, we will cover the following topics:
- Historical and Social Aspects of Childbearing in USA
- Overview of Perinatal Health Disparities in USA
- Premature Birth Prevention
- Psychological Preparation for Childbirth
- Overview of Prenatal Care
- Nutritional Guidelines for Pregnancy
- Understanding Prenatal Care
- Stages and Phases of Labor
- When to Go to the Hospital
- Labor Coping Methods & Support Techniques for Partners
- The Spiritual & Sexual Aspects of Childbirth
- Understanding Medical Interventions Advantages and Disadvantages
- Informed Consent and Refusal in Maternity Care
- Pain Medication for Childbirth Advantages and Disadvantages
- Promoting Informed Decision-Making in Maternity Care
- Birth Planning
- Promoting Parental-Infant Attachment and Bonding
- Sibling Preparation and Children at Birth
- Newborn Appearance
- Newborn Behavior
- Newborn Care
- Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
By 6-months after the course, participants will:
- Prepare one book report and one summary of a peer-reviewed journal article from the past 5 years on pregnancy or childbirth-related topic, demonstrating the ability to research and synthesize and prepare health education materials in plain language for consumers.
- Develop a Childbirth Education curriculum/lesson plan.
- Observe a Childbirth Preparation Class (online or in community).
- Teach Childbirth Education classes in a community setting (online or in-person).
- Obtain evaluations from participants in the childbirth education class conducted.
ABOUT THE COURSE LEADERS
Cordelia Hanna, MPH, CHES, ICCE, CLE, CBA- Principal Course Leader (English Course), Curriculum Developer
Email: Cordelia.Hanna@Motherbabysupport.net
Cordelia Hanna has been working in the field of maternity care for over 30 years. She obtained her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in Health Education and Promotion/Maternal Child Health from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California in 2008 and her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1986. Cordelia is currently pursuing her doctorate in Health Psychology at Walden University. Cordelia is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), the gold standard for professional health educators, accredited by NCHEC. She is also an ICEA-Certified Childbirth Educator, CAPPA-Certified Lactation Educator, and ALACE-Certified Birth Assistant who since 1991 has taught Childbirth Preparation Classes and Breastfeeding Education to hundreds of couples in private practice, clinics, public health, hospital and community settings.
She is an apprenticeship-trained midwife, who has worked as an Assistant Midwife and Labor Companion/Monitrice in homes, birth centers, and hospitals throughout Los Angeles County and Oregon since 1991.
Cordelia is passionate about promoting indigenous health promoters– breastfeeding peer counselors and doulas and community midwives– to address ethnic health disparities such as low rates of breastfeeding, high rates of prematurity cesarean section, and maternal and infant mortality occurring in communities of color. Cordelia thinks about maternal-child health globally and acts locally. Cordelia worked as a Perinatal Health Educator and Promoter for The Pasadena Public Health Department Black Infant Health Program from 2002-2012, a California Department of Health-funded program to reduce African-American/Black perinatal health disparities. Here, along with her mentor and collaborator the late Ms. Geraldine Perry-Williams, PHN, MSN, CD, CLE, LCCE, she initiated and managed a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program and established the very first Community-Based Doula Program for African-American/Black families in Los Angeles County; succeeding in lowering the high rates of infant mortality and cesarean section among Pasadena’s African-American population.
From 2011 to 2019, Cordelia worked with Esperanza Community Housing Corporation’s Promatora de Salud/Community Health Worker Program, providing training in perinatal health and Doula support for Community Health Promoters/Promatores de Salud working in South Los Angeles, one of the Los Angeles county regions with the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality due to negative social determinants of health.
Cordelia is a mother of two home-born, breastfed, and attachment-parented children who are now bright and capable young adults. She is a grandmother of two granddaughters and a grandson. Her life partner is from Ghana, West Africa, and they enjoy an international lifestyle spanning two continents.

Carla Michael is an advocate for maternal and child health and a multifaceted professional with a deep-rooted commitment to addressing disparities in healthcare. With a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work.
In addition to her MSW, Carla holds several certifications and qualifications that make her a well-rounded expert in her field. As a Full Circle Doula, she’s passionate about providing holistic support to expectant mothers during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Her dedication to empowering women during this transformative journey is further exemplified by her certification as a certified lactation education specialist, ensuring that mothers receive the guidance and resources they need for successful breastfeeding.
A registered yoga teacher, Carla recognizes the importance of physical and mental well-being during pregnancy and beyond. Her yoga expertise allows her to offer valuable guidance on maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle, which is especially crucial for expectant mothers.
Carla’s journey towards becoming a midwife reflects her unwavering commitment to addressing healthcare disparities. With a keen focus on maternal and child health, she’s working tirelessly to make childbirth a safer and more equitable experience, particularly for Black mothers and babies.
As a mother of three, Carla brings a personal perspective to her advocacy efforts. Her own experiences have fueled her dedication to creating a world where every Black family has access to the care and support, they deserve.
Her involvement with initiatives like AAIMM (African American Infant and Maternal Mortality) of Los Angeles County demonstrates her commitment to addressing racial disparities and promoting equitable healthcare. Through her work and passion, Carla is making a significant impact in the field of maternal and child health, ensuring that every mother and baby has the opportunity to thrive.
Carla is Manager of our Community and Professional Education and is Program Director, Generating African American Infant and Nurturers’ Survival Initiative (GAAINS) Postpartum Doula Program. Carla co-teaches our professional trainings coordinates our scholarship and certification programs and community perinatal health education classes for expectant parents. She looks forward to sharing her wisdom and experience with you in this training.
INSTRUCTORA DE ESPAÑOL
Ines “Augie” Rigual, CD, CPD, IBCLC, LCCE
Email: augiedoula@yahoo.com
Augie Rigual es Doula Avanzada de DONA y está certificada con DONA International desde hace 15 años, habiendo trabajado también en el Comité de Certificación de DONA International. Implementó y supervisó un programa de doulas comunitarias en el condado de Osceola, Florida, durante seis años a través de una subvención del Fondo Onza de Prevención de Florida, habiendo logrado la meta de reducir la tasa de cesáreas en un 14 % durante los primeros dos años en dos hospitales. en el condado A través de este programa comunitario de doulas, brindaron educación sobre el parto y servicios de doulas a las reclusas de la cárcel del condado de Osceola en Florida. Augie se convirtió en capacitadora de doulas de nacimiento en 2013 y ha estado ofreciendo capacitaciones principalmente en Puerto Rico, donde dos de los hospitales ya han capacitado a la mayoría de sus enfermeras de trabajo de parto y parto en un esfuerzo por reducir las tasas de cesáreas del hospital. Estas capacitaciones en hospitales han incluido médicos que han sido educados sobre lo que realmente es una doula y entienden el trabajo de la doula. Se ha capacitado en la República Dominicana, donde un médico obstetra se capacitó y ahora es una entrenadora de DONA Doula para su país. Augie ha estado ofreciendo capacitaciones de DONA Birth Doula en español en otros estados que tienen grandes comunidades hispanas como Utah y Carolina del Norte. Como educadora de parto de Lamaze durante los últimos 18 años, Augie ofrece clases de educación de parto en inglés y español semanalmente para dos departamentos de salud del condado en Florida. En 2010, Augie se certificó como IBCLC y se recertificó en 2015. Estableció el Grupo de Posparto CAFÉ en el Hospital Winnie Palmer para Mujeres y Bebés y este programa se extendió al Departamento de Salud del Condado de Osceola, Florida, donde el grupo todavía se reúne todos los miércoles por la mañana. . El CAFÉ no solo ofrece apoyo para la lactancia sino también apoyo posparto en general y se ha convertido en el lugar donde las mamás sienten que pueden ayudar a otras mamás y sentirse bien consigo mismas. CAFÉ significa Compasión, Apoyo (Apoyo), Fe y Educación. Augie es el especialista en programas de la Coalición Healthy Start del condado de Osceola, Florida.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, CONTACT:
Carla Michael, MSW, Community and Professional Education Coordinator
Telephone: (626) 388-2191 ext. 3 or Email: Carla.Michael@motherbabysupport.net
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation must be made in writing by deadline (30 days prior to start of course). Tuition will be reimbursed less $50.00 administrative fee if notification received by this date. After this date, there will be no refunds. However in extenuating circumstances such as documented illness or emergency, the tuition is fully transferable to another person or training (this course or another topic); credit is good for the amount of training. If course registering into is higher price, the additional balance will be required. If it is a lesser price, there will not be any refund of balance. Credit will be honored for one year from the training. If not used by that time, the credit will expire.
Special Cancellation Policy for Doulas and Midwives:
If you are “on call” and have a birth during the training, please notify instructor as soon as possible that you will not be attending. The full tuition will be transferred to another person, or different training (this course or another topic) to be used within one year of the training date. If the course you are registering into is higher price, the additional balance will be required. If it is a lesser price, there will not be any refund of balance.