**Photo taken in 2002** (front) Bobby 7,(2nd row) Gabrielle 18 (left) Michael 11 (right),(3rd row) Me, Cindi(left) Elisha 22 (right)(back row) Joshua 21(left)My Husband, Robert (right)I have provided Labor Support since 1981. I am a certified Doula through DONA (Doulas Of North America)1995, A Childbirth Educator through FOCEP(Florida Outreach Childbirth Education And Parenting Program)1993, and a Breastfeeding Specialist with training through WIC / La Leche Peer Counseling Program (1993) and Lamaze Breastfeeding SpecialistProgram (1996)
I am member of DONA (Doulas Of North America)(1993), Florida Coalition Of Childbirth Educators(1995), Co-Founder of Dona Doula Of Palm Beach(1998), The Palm Beach County Breastfeeding Task Force(1991).
I believe every woman deserves support during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. I draw from both my professional and personal experience as the mother of 5 children, and have dedicated my life to birthing and parenting.
I was born in Ohio, and grew up in Palm Beach County, Florida and have lived here for over 30 years. I have been in the Maternal Child Health field since 1986. I worked 12 years (1986 to 1998) as a care coordinator / home visitor / educator for Healthly Mothers / Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County Inc., (HMHB) A private non-profit origanization that assists pregnant women in accessing prenatal care through medicaid or through a sliding fee program for families who are uninsured. HMHB also provides pre and postnatal education. I successfully implemented Childbirth Education Classes at HMHB, as well as an infant / toddler play group. I also worked for the Palm Beach County Health Unit / WIC in 1989 for 1 year in a pilot program as the First Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.
I was a guest presenter at several workshops in 1995 and 1996 at the "Healthy Start Sharing Solutions" Conference in Orlando Florida. The topics I covered were: "Consumers Empowering Consumers" and "Healthy Family Beginnings". I also have taught several workshops and in-services locally on various topics including: Newborn / Infant Care, Attachment Style Parenting, Labor Support, Breastfeeding, and Childbirth Education. I have attended numerous continuing education workshops and conferences on many topics relating to birth, breastfeeding, parenting, domestic violence, child abuse and social work. In February 1997, I hosted a DONA Doula Training workshop, with Penny Simpkin as the trainer, which took place in West Palm Beach Florida. Mentoring Doulas and Childbirth Educators in training has been a large part of the continuing community services I provide.
Several awards of recognition I have received are from the Palm Beach County Board Of County Commissioners (1992) and Social Worker Of The Year, (1992).
For More Information, Email me @
Doulaworks@bellsouth.net
Our Grandson Ari's site
