Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority

Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Stakeholder Engagement

We Want Your Feedback on the NJ FamilyCare Doula Training Approval Process

The proposal for a new process to approve trainings for NJ FamilyCare

We have a complete packet of information linked here that includes the following draft documents :

  • Feedback request
  • Description of Process
  • Assessment Packet for completion by Doula Training Organizations
    • Acknowledgement Form
    • Rubric
  • Assessment of Doula Training for completion by DOH/DHS
  • FAQs
    • Attestation Form

To see an example of what we would expect to see in a completed “Assessment Packet”, NJMIHIA offers this completed Packet, filled out for NJMIHIA’s Community-based Doula Training linked here.

Your feedback helps us improve NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid)’s doula benefit so that we can better offer doula support to New Jersey families.

NJMIHIA, as the coordinating body for the state’s doula work, has been working with NJ Department of Human Services and NJ Department of Health to propose a new process to expand the number of doulas eligible to provide NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid) doula services.

This new process would standardize the minimum requirements and process to be an Approved Training for enrollment as a NJ FamilyCare Community Doula.

What are the goals of this new process?

  1. Create an open process for any Doula Training to be considered for Approval
  2. Be clear about NJ FamilyCare’s minimum competencies (i.e., standards) for its community doula providers
  3. Increase the number of doulas serving NJ FamilyCare clients

The deadline to share feedback to doula@njmihia.gov or Microsoft Form is  7/31/25.

Ongoing stakeholder feedback and state agency collaboration has been a defining feature of our state’s work with the NJ FamilyCare’s doula benefit for over 5 years.

We have worked closely with doula stakeholders to design, implement, and improve the NJ FamilyCare benefit.

Doula stakeholders have included doulas, Doula Training Organizations, community-based organizations, NJ FamilyCare managed care organizations and other maternal health entities.

We welcome feedback from any interested parties. In particular, we invite Doula Training Organizations to comment.

Feedback may include suggested changes or improvements—made more generally or with specific details. Line numbers have been added if organizations or individuals want to make a specific comment. In addition, we’ve used the comment feature to identify areas that the state is particularly interested in receiving feedback.

To provide comment, please use this Microsoft Form, or email your feedback to doula@njmihia.gov with the following:

  • Subject: “[Your name]: NJ FamilyCare Draft Assessment: Feedback”
  • Organization Name (if applicable)
  • Individual Name, Title (if applicable)
  • Written feedback. If you are commenting on specific areas, please provide the corresponding line number in the document.

The deadline to share feedback to doula@njmihia.gov or Microsoft Form is  7/31/25.

Doula Training Organizations are highly encouraged to schedule one-on-one feedback sessions with NJMIHIA staff.

All feedback will be reviewed by NJMIHIA, NJDOH, and NJDHS to help finalize the process. The state plans to release the final Assessment and Approval process in August with an open submission period for Doula Training Organizations to submit Assessment Packets starting immediately.

For any questions or support with completing the packet, Doula Training Organizations should contact doula@njmihia.gov. We will offer support in English and Spanish.

  • In 2021, New Jersey became the third state in the nation to offer statewide Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare) coverage for doula services.
  • The NJ FamilyCare doula benefit is a key part of NurtureNJ, a statewide initiative to make New Jersey the safest and most equitable place in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.
  • NJ FamilyCare’s community doulas are defined as individuals who have competencies not only in core doula work, but also in accessing NJ’s community-based resources and providing culturally-responsive care. New Jersey acknowledges that community doulas are best positioned to meet the needs of NJ FamilyCare population throughout pregnancy into the postpartum period.
  • NJMIHIA serves as the coordinating body for the state’s doula initiatives and policy. NJ Department of Human Services (NJDHS) is the agency in charge of the NJ FamilyCare community doula benefit. New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is the agency leading the NJ Doula Learning Collaborative.