top of page

Conception of the
Doula Association of Vermont
(DAV)

The Doula Association of Vermont (DAV) was born from the shared vision and tireless efforts of Maria and her long-time collaborator, Sarah Teel. Both have long believed that doula support, as a form of behavioral health, should be accessible to everyone who needs it.

 

Doulas play a unique and essential role, providing deeply personal, empowering, and compassionate care that ensures individuals feel heard, supported, and understood throughout the birthing journey.​

 

Over the past decade, Maria and Sarah worked together to bring this vision to life, with Maria finding support at Washington County Mental Health to establish "The Doula Project," expanding doula services in the community.

Sarah complemented this work through extensive research, advocacy, and direct work as a doula, cultivating a network of support throughout Vermont.

 

Together, they championed the importance of doula care not only for clients but also for the doulas themselves, believing that a strong and supported doula community is essential for sustainable and effective care.​In 2023,

 

Maria presented findings on "The Doula Project" at the World Infant Mental Health Conference in Dublin, Ireland, showcasing Vermont’s innovative approach to an international audience.

 

Meanwhile, Sarah was instrumental in building relationships with stakeholders at the Vermont Department of Health and across the state, exploring creative ways to establish community doula programs to serve Vermont’s most marginalized pregnant people.​

 

The work also extended to the legislative arena. In 2017, Maria co-authored Vermont’s first legislative bill advocating for Medicaid coverage for doula care, and the efforts have since gained substantial statewide support. ​There is a clear need for a unified voice among doulas to achieve long-term, statewide success, which led to the formation of the DAV, as a response to this need.

 

With their combined experience and dedication, Maria and Sarah co-founded DAV to serve as a cohesive advocate for doulas and a resource for advancing doula services as a recognized, accessible part of Vermont’s healthcare system, and have brought several other doulas and stakeholders into the DAV, creating a strong team to steward this mission forward.

 

​Together, Maria and Sarah continue to work to secure doula support as an integral component of reproductive and behavioral health care. Their combined vision is to ensure that DAV elevates the doula profession, improves birth outcomes, and promotes a compassionate, inclusive, and equitable approach to reproductive health across Vermont.

bottom of page