2024-2025 Calendar of Workshops

Hands all in

Combined Birth & Postpartum Doula Training Workshops

58-hr online training workshop includes both the birth and postpartum doula workshops, as well as the childbirth and lactation education components required for certification with DONA International. Choose from the daily or the once a week class offerings. DONA International is an approved provider of contact hours with the California Board of Registered Nursing (CA BRN). Use the Contact page for more information.

Investment: $995 (September 10am course), $1095 (October and beyond)

  • Sept 30-Dec 16, 2024: This class meets Mondays 10am-2pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Sept 30-Dec 16, 2024: This class meets Mondays 6-10pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Oct 17-Nov 8, 2024: This class meets Thursdays and Fridays weekly 9am-6:30pm Pacific Time on Zoom. There is no class Oct 31, and Nov 1 has a 1pm start time.
  • Jan 22-Mar 19, 2025: This class meets Wednesdays 5:30-9:30pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Feb 7-13, 2025: This class meets daily 9am-5pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Mar 14-20, 2025: This class meets daily 9am-5pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Apr 6-8 amd 13-15, 2025: This class meets daily 9am-6:30pm Pacific Time on Zoom.

Birth Doula Training Workshops

27-hr online training workshop includes the birth doula workshop, as well as the childbirth and lactation education components required for certification with DONA International. Choose from the daily or the once a week class offerings. DONA International is an approved provider of contact hours with the California Board of Registered Nursing (CA BRN). Use the Contact page for more information.

Investment: $650

  • Sept 30-Nov 11, 2024: This class meets Mondays 10am-2pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Sept 30-Nov 11, 2024: This class meets Mondays 6-10pm Pacific Time on Zoom.

Postpartum Doula Training Workshops

27-hr online training workshop includes the postpartum doula workshop, as well as the lactation education component required for certification with DONA International. Choose from the daily or the once a week class offerings. DONA International is an approved provider of contact hours with the California Board of Registered Nursing (CA BRN). Use the Contact page for more information.

Investment: $650

  • Oct 24-Nov 8, 2024: This class meet Thursdays and Fridays weekly 9am-6:30pm Pacific Time on Zoom. There is no class Oct 31.
  • Nov 4-Dec 16, 2024: This class meets Mondays 10am-2pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Nov 4-Dec 16, 2024: This class meets Mondays 6-10pm Pacific Time on Zoom.
  • Dec 13-15, 2024: This class meets daily 8:30am-6:30pm Pacific Time on Zoom.

FAQs about the workshops, the instructor, and certification with DONA International

What is the Mission and Vision of Harmony Doula Mentoring?

Teri Nava-Anderson and Harmony Doula have been committed to training and mentoring community-based doulas to serve the members of their own community for over a decade. It is our mission to increase access to doula care for every member of our community and increase knowledge of the unique health disparities facing pregnant people in the our location in the California Central Valley in particular, as well as across the globe, thereby leading to greater equity and better birth and postpartum outcomes for all.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

For a full refund minus a $75 processing fee, notification must be received at least 15 days before the first day of class. For in-person classes, no refunds are given if cancellation is within 14 days of class. For online classes, if notification is received 1-14 days before the first day of class, student will be given the option of transferring their enrollment fee to the next session of class or a 50% refund. Enrollment can only be deferred one time. No refunds are given after the start of class. Deferment after the start of class is on a case-by-case basis and will incur an additional $75 processing fee.

Does this course include certification with DONA International?

Students who complete the DONA approved Birth Doula Workshop, Postpartum Doula Workshop, or Combined Birth and Postpartum (also Community-Centered) workshop have the option to apply for certification with DONA International.

What are the steps for become a certified doula with DONA International?

Applying for certification requires a few steps beyond taking the introductory training workshop. You will need to complete some paperwork, which we will start during the workshop, and work with at least three clients after the workshop. You can find an overview of the application requirements for birth doulas here and for Postpartum Doulas here.

Is all the coursework required for certification included in the workshop?

Yes, unless otherwise specified, the workshops do include all the required coursework. Birth workshops include the childbirth education and lactation education requirements for DONA International. The Postpartum workshops include the lactation education requirements for DONA International.

Can an experienced doula take the workshop for continuing education or for the Alternative Pathway for DONA Certification?

Yes. DONA allows for birth doulas to take a postpartum workshop for continuing education contact hours. DONA also allows experienced doulas, whether previously certified with DONA or trained elsewhere, to use the workshop for the Alternative Pathway. We also occasionally host a class just for folks planning to use the Alternative Pathway that goes deeper on the required topics. Use our Contact Form if you have questions about the Alternative Pathway.

What is DONA International?

DONA International was founded in 1992 as a professional membership and training organization for doulas. Early members were traditional birthworkers, researchers, public health policy experts, advocates, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, labor and delivery nurses, doctors in perinatal and pediatric fields, postpartum suspport professionals, and more. It is the first and largest doula certifying organization, the only 501c6 non-profit doula organization, a respected leader, and a strong advocate for all doulas, regardless of training organization or certification, within the perinatal industry.

What is DONA International doing to address systemic racism in healthcare?

You can read DONA International's Call to Action here.

What involvement has the primary instructor/facilitator, Teri Nava-Anderson, had at DONA International?

Teri has been a volunteer with DONA International since 2016. Teri has served as the California Ambassador (formerly SPAR), the Regional Membership Chair, and the Director of Membership, as well as on the LGBTQ Committee in the DEI Department and helped facilitate the IMPACT Program. Teri serves as the Chair of the Continuing Education Committee and as the Director of Certification. In those roles, Teri has been focused on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education for doulas; improving access to online continuing education for doulas; removing barriers to certification especially for doulas in rural areas and maternity deserts and neurodiverse doulas; and in policy changes that improve the evolution, function, and focus of the organization, whose mission is "A doula for every person who wants one".

Is the primary instructor/facilitator, Teri Nava-Anderson, a working doula?

Yes! Teri has been supporting people through birth and pregnancy professionally for almost two decades and takes clients as a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation educator. Teri occasionally has spare time and enjoys working on history projects, volunteering on other perinatal and doula projects, parenting two teenagers, traveling, and hitting the gym with the whole family.

Is the course welcoming to queer, non-binary, and transgender people?

You betcha! DONA International is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, trauma awareness, and antiracism in the organization, our work, and our language. DONA membership represents the diversity that exists among all individuals, including but not limited to sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, family structure, geographical location, physical and functional ability, neurology, religious and spiritual beliefs, age and socio-economic status. This course embraces, celebrates, and welcomes this diversity and strives to ensure that the perspectives and experiences of all people are seen, heard, represented, and respected. This course and DONA International, therefore, use gender neutral language as the default in order that no one be excluded. Folks unfamiliar with gender neutral language in the perinatal space are also welcome to come learn.

Is the course political?

This course includes learning to advocate for your client, so yes even that at its most basic is political.