In Kansas City, a Black woman walking into her first prenatal appointment already knows what the national conversation has spent a decade trying to say. She knows the health care system was not built with her in mind. She knows that being heard in a clinical setting is not guaranteed. And she knows that the support she needs during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum often depends on what she can afford rather than what she deserves.
As Black Maternal Health Week turns 10 under the theme “Rooted in Justice and Joy,” the Kansas City Health Department is working to change that experience.
The KC Doula Program, launched in July 2025 by KCHD in partnership with Community Capital Fund (CCF), was designed to close that gap. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the program takes a two-phase approach: first, investing directly in local doula businesses so they can grow and sustain their practices; then, giving expecting families the ability to choose their own doula and apply together for up to $6,000 in free support.
The Program arrives in a state of urgent need. Missouri ranks 44th in the nation for maternal health outcomes. Black women in the state face a pregnancy-related mortality ratio of 72 deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly three times the rate for white women, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. More than 70% of those deaths were deemed preventable.
“If we know Black women are experiencing disproportionate risk and that many pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, then our strategy has to include support that is grounded in community and culturally responsive,” said Terry Winbush II, division supervisor at the Kansas City Health Department.
Community Capital Fund brought deep roots in community-centered implementation to the partnership. CCF had already served as a trusted partner on other major city initiatives, including the community wellness ambassadors program. Winbush described building the doula program as “building a plane while flying it,” a process that required innovation, flexibility, and trust on both sides. The health department brought the public health and maternal lens. CCF brought the operational capacity to move it from concept to program.
Phase 1 provided up to $15,000 per doula to help local birth workers grow their businesses, expand their services, and deepen their skills. The first cohort reflects a range of experience, from veteran doulas with years in the field to newer practitioners still building their practice.
The group includes bilingual doulas, Kansas City natives, and birth workers who have made the city their home. The investment was designed to reduce the financial strain doulas often carry so they can stay present with families beyond delivery, through the postpartum period, which remains one of the most critical windows for maternal health.
“When doulas are better supported, families are better supported,” Winbush said. “Stronger doulas means stronger continuity of care, more stable support, and more capacity to stay present with those families beyond delivery. We look at it as a very great return on investment.”
Phase 2 shifted the focus to families. Beginning March 1, 2026, expecting parents in Kansas City, Missouri, can apply alongside a doula of their choosing for up to $6,000 in support covering birth services, postpartum care, lactation consulting, bereavement support, and other specialized needs. Both the doula and the client must apply together. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis while funds remain, with priority given to applicants who demonstrate financial need. Families expecting to deliver before the end of August 2026 or those recently pregnant and seeking postpartum care are eligible.
For families who have navigated systems that were not designed with them in mind, the ability to choose who walks with them through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum is not a small detail.
“The families yearn for support that feels personal, accessible, and aligned with their needs,” Winbush said. “And one of the things we set out to do specifically with this program was to help create that pathway.”
Research consistently shows that doula care leads to better outcomes. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that among 722 pairs of Medicaid enrollees, those with doula support were 46% more likely to attend a postpartum visit, had 47% fewer cesarean deliveries, and experienced 29% fewer preterm births. Missouri and Kansas both began covering doula services through Medicaid in 2024, removing one of the largest barriers to access. Women whose births are covered through Medicaid have a pregnancy-associated mortality rate seven times higher than women with private insurance, making expanded coverage and programs like the KC Doula Program a critical piece of closing the gap.
Early indicators from the program echo what the national research predicts. Postpartum reporting shows a breastfeeding rate of 90.8% among participants, an 81.8% improvement in emotional support and maternal recovery, and an 81.8% reduction in complications as defined by participants. Winbush was careful to describe these as early signals rather than final proof, but noted that what stands out most is the value families place on trust, continuity, and having an advocate.
“We’ve seen examples where families faced high-stress pregnancies, system barriers, or postpartum challenges where they’ve been able to feel more supported, more informed, and even just less alone because the doula was present,” Winbush said. “Those are really the moments that remind us why this investment matters.”
The KC Doula Program sits within a broader maternal health effort at the health department that includes the Buckle Up Baby program, which provides car seats and safe sleep education to Kansas City families, and the community wellness ambassadors program.
“During Black Maternal Health Week and beyond, the KC Doula Program is about making sure families feel supported, heard, and cared for, by offering free doula services and the ability to choose the support that feels right for them,” said Marvia Jones, Ph.D., health director for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.
For Winbush, the theme of “Rooted in Justice and Joy” speaks directly to what the work should aim for. Justice, he said, means being honest about the fact that disparities exist, that they are harmful, and that they are not inevitable. Joy means the vision for Black maternal health has to extend beyond reducing harm.
“We can face it with dignity. We can face it with healing. We can face it with support,” Winbush said. “And we can put these families in a position to succeed.”
For Black mothers and expecting families in Kansas City who want to connect with the KC Doula Program, support is available through the Community Capital Fund. Families who already have a doula in mind can apply together, and those who need help identifying one can reach out to grants@ccfkansascity.org for guidance.
