Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is partnering with Huston-Tillotson University, a historically Black university in Austin, Texas, on a new program aimed at educating doulas.
According to a Sept. 14 news release, the Boldly B.L.U.E program, which stands for birthing, learning, understanding and empowering, aims to improve Texas maternal and infant health by increasing the number of culturally-aligned and diverse doulas, lay midwives and certified lactation consultants in central Texas.
The partnership will also include Black Mamas ATX and Healing Hands Community Doula Project, two Texas maternal health equity nonprofits.
Healing Hands Community Doula Project's training for doulas will be updated with business and entrepreneurship courses from Huston-Tillotson University and will add a research skills component. The program's first cohort will begin in October, according to the news release.
A committee will also develop two new curriculums to train midwives and lactation consultants.