This report outlines an environmental scan of the doula and CPM workforces in Illinois. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to their clients before, during, and shortly after childbirth. CPMs are knowledgeable, skilled professionals who provide clinical midwifery care to birthing people in their homes and birthing centers throughout prenatal, birthing, and postpartum periods. This report refers to doulas and CPMs collectively as community-based birth workers and provides a snapshot of this specific workforce in Illinois in 2025, including an assessment of workforce needs to expand community-based birth worker provision of care throughout the state.
The analysis of the data supports the following recommendations:
- Expand the capacity of the community-based birth workforce by increasing its size and expanding its reach to vulnerable populations and rural areas in Illinois.
- Provide support and sustainability for this workforce by ensuring affordable professional development and offering a livable wage that establishes a clear, sustainable career pathway for current and emerging doulas and CPMs.
- Foster better integration of community-based birth workers into health care settings and social support networks that improve the birthing outcomes for patients and support continuity of care.
- Build power within the community-based birth workforce by including their perspectives and expertise in state-based policies for maternal and reproductive health.