HealthConnect One's® Community-Based Doula Program

Model effectiveness research report last updated: 2015

In brief

Evidence of model effectiveness

Title General population Tribal population Domains with favorable effects
HealthConnect One's® Community-Based Doula Program Does not meet HHS criteria because there are no high- or moderate-rated effectiveness studies of the model. Does not meet HHS criteria for tribal population because the model has not been evaluated with a tribal population.
  • Not applicable,

Model description

HealthConnect One (HC One) provides training, technical assistance, accreditation, and evaluation services to sites implementing the Community-Based Doula Program. The model was first implemented in 1996 as a four-year pilot in Chicago, under the name the Chicago Doula Project, and is now being replicated nationwide. HC One assists replication sites in adapting the essential components of the model to their existing program structure. Replication sites may refer to their programs using local names. The Community-Based Doula Program connects underserved, low-income pregnant women to doulas, members of the local community trained to provide support during pregnancy, delivery, and the early postpartum period. The program’s overall goals are to enhance infant health, strengthen families, and establish family supports. The program uses a range of service delivery methods to support women. The HomVEE review is based on Community-Based Doula Programs in which home visiting was the primary service delivery strategy. During prenatal home visits, doulas assess families’ needs and strengths, help them develop a birth plan, promote positive health behaviors, and facilitate access to prenatal care and other resources. Postpartum visits focus on supporting breastfeeding; fostering positive parent-child interactions; providing information on infant development, care, and safety; and referring mothers to community resources to address other health or environmental concerns. HC One recommends a minimum of six prenatal and eight postpartum visits. 

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Extent of evidence

Results of search and review
Number of manuscripts
At least one finding was eligible for review…
2
  …and at least one finding rated high
0
  …and at least one finding rated moderate (but none rated high)
0
  …and all findings that were eligible for review rated low or indeterminate2
2
  …but manuscript is additional source3
0

For more information, see the research database. For more information on the criteria used to determine the study ratings is available in the procedures and standards handbook.

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Summary of findings

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Criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This model has no manuscripts that report high- or moderate-rated findings and therefore does not meet HHS criteria for an evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery model.

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