DONA International

DONA International (formerly Doulas of North America) was founded in 1992 and is the first and largest doula training and certification organization.^[1] The current president of the non-profit is Telia Anderson (2025), Erica Lane is the President Elect (2026), and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss (2024) is the Immediate Past President.^[2]

History

In the 1980s, Dr. Marshall Klaus, Dr. John H. Kennell, Phyllis Klaus, Penny Simkin (1938–2024),^[3] and Annie Kennedy first formed a partnership of doulas and medical professionals.^[4][5] Klaus (1927–2017),^[6] a neonatologist, and Kennell (1922–2013),^[7] a pediatrician, gave credibility to doulas Phyllis Klaus, Simkin, and Kennedy^[8] by supporting their work through the research of parent-child bonding in the 1960s at Case Western Reserve University.^{[citation needed]}

Doulas Of North America (DONA) was formally founded in 1992 and the organization was the first of its kind to both train and certify the non-medical birth support of doulas and marked the start of professional doulas on a nationwide basis.^[4][5] Kennedy (who had originally founded the Pacific Association of Labor Support in 1989 in Seattle, WA with Simkin alongside the doula training at Seattle Midwifery School) become ^[9] the first president of the organization.^[8]

In 2004, the organization re-branded as DONA International.^[4]

By 2016, there were 12,000 doulas certified through the organization.^[1]

Training and certification

DONA International offers birth and postpartum doula training and certification.^[10] To certify as a doula, an in-person, virtual, or hybrid workshop is mandatory, along with supplementary text reading, lactation training and childbirth education, and clients experience.^[11] The workshop is taught by approved trainers who are able to the required coursework which includes emotional support, physical support or comfort measures, communication, interventions, ethics and professional behavior.^[12]

Advocacy

DONA International has numerous advocacy areas:

• Doula profession promotion and credibility
• Health disparities and inequities
• Insurance payment
• Legislative action
• DONA International Data Project