SECAUCUS, NJ – September 22, 2025 – On Friday, September 19, the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey (Partnership) honored twenty-six newly trained community doulas at the Montclair Women’s Club. The newly trained doulas join the growing workforce of maternal health workers focused on improving birth outcomes in the state.
The doulas were joined by their family, friends, and esteemed guests as the crowd of 100 people celebrated their accomplishments. Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, the Partnership’s President and CEO, opened the program with an inspiring speech. Yareni Sime, the Partnership’s Doula Training Manager, presented the graduates with their hard-earned certificates, alongside the doula training facilitators.
The Partnership training focuses on intensive hands-on training in a clinical setting, building fellowship among the doula students, and wrap-around support to ensure their success in the workforce. To date, the Partnership has trained 72 community doulas since the fall of 2023.
The New Jersey Department of Health Doula Learning Collaborative funded the free training. Saint Clare’s Health, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Hoboken University Medical Center, and Valley Health provided training sites and clinical placements for doula observations and experiences. The current doula class will primarily serve residents of Bergen and Morris counties. Previous cohorts were based in Union, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic counties.
“Congratulations to our newest Doulas! Your light and service will transform birth experiences and strengthen our communities for years to come. To date, we’ve proudly trained over 70 doulas, and each graduate expands the circle of support for mothers and babies across Northern New Jersey. I’m deeply grateful to our dedicated facilitators and clinical partners for making this milestone possible,” stated Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, MA, BSN, NE-BC, LNC, the Partnership’s President & CEO.
Chief Education & Learning Officer, Sarah Muller-Robbins, MPH, RN, IBCLC, ICCE, added, “Community-based doulas are a vital part of the birthing team for many families. It is a joy to share the journey with the women in our program as they dedicate their careers to supporting new mothers and families from their communities.”
The new class of doulas began their training in the early spring when they embarked on 20 weeks of training sessions following the HealthConnect One curriculum. The in-person training featured unparalleled comprehensive doula education, mentorship from trained doulas, and hands-on support for Medicaid provider enrollment. The Partnership provided additional training, including CPR education, introduction to breastfeeding education, and introduction to childbirth education competencies.
The Partnership would like to acknowledge the outstanding work and mentorship of the doula training facilitators: Marise Angibeau-Gray, Susan Bellocq, Karina Campos, Juwana Montgomery, Ines Serna, and Jill Wodnick.
Following graduation, the Partnership will continue to engage the doulas with ongoing support and continuing education opportunities. To learn more about the doula training program and the Partnership’s professional education opportunities, visit www.pmch.org.
About the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey
The Partnership is changing the paradigm in maternal health by amplifying, supporting, and empowering our communities. The organization firmly believes all people must have access to safe respectful births and every family deserves the opportunity to thrive. The Partnership serves nearly 50,000 people annually through 30 community programs that support pregnancy & parenthood, empower communities, and advocate for quality healthcare.