NJ Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority

Governor Mikie Sherrill

Doula Training Approval Packet

NJ FamilyCare Approval Packet for Doula Trainings

How the Process Works

New Jersey has established transparent minimum standards and a standardized review process to approve doula trainings that meet NJ FamilyCare’s doula training requirements.

NJMIHIA, the coordinating body for the state’s doula work, conducts outreach and provides technical assistance to help training organizations complete the approval packet with detailed information about their curricula. NJMIHIA’s own doula training curriculum underwent the same review process. The New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS) and the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) share responsibility for reviewing and approving trainings, and NJDHS administers NJ FamilyCare at the state level

If approved, your organization’s training will be added to the list of NJ FamilyCare–approved doula trainings.

This list identifies trainings that meet NJ FamilyCare’s standards for Medicaid reimbursement of doula services. It does not determine whether a doula may practice generally in New Jersey. Doulas do not need to complete a training on this list to serve clients outside NJ FamilyCare.

NJ FamilyCare is the state’s Medicaid and CHIP insurance program and offers doula care as a maternity benefit for its members. It covers about 30,000 births in New Jersey each year.

Are you a doula training organization interested in helping your trained doulas serve NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries? We encourage you to submit an approval packet to have your training considered for the list of NJ FamilyCare-approved doula trainings.

Doulas who complete an approved training may be eligible to enroll as NJ FamilyCare doulas and serve NJ FamilyCare families.

Learn how to submit an Approval Packet.

 

Complete an Approval Packet

  1. NJ FamilyCare Rubric Tool (Parts 1-3)
  2. Syllabus
  3. Single-page documentation
  4. Acknowledgement Form

Download and complete the Approval Packet template.

To review an example of a completed approval packet, click here to see NJMIHIA’s draft submission for its Community-Based Doula Training.

NJMIHIA offers technical assistance in English and in Spanish to help doula training organizations prepare their submissions. We encourage you to Schedule a prep call with NJMIHIA’s doula staff.

See the full FAQ document [pdf].

If this document does not address your questions, please email doula@njmihia.gov  with the subject line: “NJ FamilyCare Approval Packet TA”; or schedule a time to meet with our doula team by clicking on this link: Calendly.

We can 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 populations throughout pregnancy into the postpartum period.
  • NJMIHIA serves as the coordinating body for the state’s doula initiatives and policy. NJDHS is the agency in charge of the NJ FamilyCare community doula benefit. NJDOH is the agency leading the NJ Doula Learning Collaborative.
  • In October 2026, New Jersey expanded the list of NJ FamilyCare-approved doula trainings to 29.