This report provides evidence, best practices, and practical strategies for integrating doulas into maternal care, highlighting their role in improving birth outcomes, supporting families throughout the prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods, and advancing equitable maternal health in Louisiana.

This resource outlines key attributes of a doula-friendly hospital, highlighting practices, policies, and partnerships that support doulas as integral members of the care team and enhance the birthing experience for clients.

In 2024, with support from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, the Supporting Pregnant People with Opioid Use Disorder in Louisiana (SUPPORT LA) project was launched by the Louisiana Public Health Institute. The initiative aims to strengthen coordination, identify opportunities, and highlight effective approaches to supporting pregnant people with opioid use disorder across Louisiana. Early insights were gathered through key informant interviews, and this report summarizes findings that will guide SUPPORT LA’s next steps.