Peer Support Doula
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Position Type: Full-Time
Schedule: Monday through Friday; hours may vary based on participant needs
About the Role
The Peer Support Doula provides compassionate, trauma-informed peer support to pregnant and postpartum individuals impacted by substance use disorder (SUD), trauma, or justice-system involvement. This unique role combines peer support and doula care to provide emotional, informational, and non-clinical support throughout the perinatal period.
Peer Support Doulas use the principles of peer support and lived-experience-informed practice to build trust, foster empowerment, promote positive maternal and infant health outcomes, and connect participants with appropriate community resources. Services are provided using a person-centered, culturally responsive, strengths-based approach.
This position requires employees to obtain and maintain Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification. Candidates who are not currently certified must be willing to pursue and complete CPRS certification once all applicable eligibility requirements have been met. Impact Life will support eligible employees through the certification process.
Professional doula certification is not required at the time of application. Impact Life will support the selected candidate in obtaining professional doula certification.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide emotional, informational, and non-clinical support to pregnant and postpartum participants impacted by SUD, trauma, or justice-system involvement.
- Utilize peer-support principles to offer mentorship, model recovery and wellness, foster hope, and support participants in preparing for birth, navigating healthcare systems, and connecting with community resources.
- Attend prenatal appointments, birthing experiences, and postpartum visits as appropriate and within the scope of the role.
- Provide non-clinical comfort measures and support throughout the perinatal period within the scope of peer and doula services.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and provide services consistent with organizational policies, ethical standards, and the scope of the position.
- Accurately document services and maintain participant confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
- Participate in supervision, ongoing training, team meetings, and quality-improvement activities.
- Collaborate with healthcare providers, community organizations, and internal teams to support participant care and continuity of services.
- Travel locally to participant appointments and service locations as required by the position.
Key Skills
- Peer Recovery Support
- Perinatal Support and Doula Care
- Trauma-Informed and Culturally Responsive Practice
- Effective Communication and Relationship Building
- Professional and Ethical Boundaries
- Confidentiality
- Documentation
- Collaboration and Resource Navigation
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Current Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification or willingness to pursue and complete CPRS certification once all applicable eligibility requirements have been met.
- Commitment to completing required CPRS training, supervision, work experience, examination, and other certification requirements within applicable organizational and certification timelines.
- Ability to understand and apply peer-support principles, including empowerment, self-determination, dignity, respect, and professional boundaries.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to maintain participant confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to travel locally to participant appointments and service locations as required to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
CPRS Certification
This position requires employees to obtain and maintain Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification. Applicants who are not currently certified must be willing to pursue certification once they have satisfied the applicable eligibility requirements established by the Delaware Certification Board.
Impact Life will support eligible employees through the certification process.
For additional information regarding CPRS certification and current eligibility requirements, please visit the Delaware Certification Board CPRS Certification page.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience providing peer support, recovery support, community-based, maternal health, perinatal, or related human-services support.
- Knowledge of substance use disorder, harm reduction, recovery-oriented systems of care, trauma-informed practices, and/or justice-system involvement.
- Experience working with pregnant and postpartum individuals or families.
- Familiarity with community resources and healthcare or social-service systems in Sussex County.
- Professional doula certification or previous doula experience is a plus but is not required at the time of application.
Benefits
Impact Life offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) and Roth 401(k) retirement options
- Paid time off
- 11 paid holidays annually
- Training and professional development opportunities
- Wellness resources