Program Information Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance was founded in 2020. HMHBA is a community-based, non-governmental organization located in Los Angeles, California, USA. We are 501 (c) (3) non-profit public charity 509 (a) (2), our IRS name is Wholistic Midwifery School of Southern California, founded in 1993.\r\n\r\nWe are diverse, multidisciplinary perinatal and mental health professionals united in a common vision to promote maternal\/parental and infant health, improve maternity care quality and access, reduce perinatal health disparities and achieve social justice in maternal and infant health. Our training programs and projects are evidence-based, trauma-informed, and celebrate diversity and promote social justice.\r\n\r\nWe would like give you some information about our new name\u2014which has changed from Association for Wholistic Maternal and Newborn Health, established in 2010. Our organization has been a training leader of the mental health and social service workforce of Los Angeles servicing mothers, infants and children. We have trained over 380 persons of color to work as perinatal health educators, birth and postpartum Doulas or have enhanced abilities to work with perinatal populations. In 2020, we developed a new strategic plan\u2013which our new name reflects, that includes integration of the latest evidence-based, trauma-informed maternal and infant mental health information into our trainings and community-based programs, highlighting the importance of maternal-parental wellness on child mental and physical health. Our courses are based on a biopsychosocial framework as promoted by leading maternal-child health researchers and teachers such as Dr. Gabor Mate, MD, Dr. Gordon Neufield, Dr. Nils Bergman MD, Dr. Sarah Buckley, MD, and Dr. James McKenna, and more.\r\n\r\nHMHBA is focused on improving birth outcomes for all women and birthing persons, with a special emphasis in communities of color who are disproportionately experiencing poor birth outcomes such as high rates of cesarean section, maternal mortality, prematurity, and infant mortality due to structural racism and provider implicit biases. \r\n\r\nIn addition, we have been a leader in the movement for Birth Equity in Los Angeles County since 2010, convening several conferences and events in collaboration with leading birthing justice advocates and organizations through our Birthing Justice Forum and MCH Advocate Awards Ceremony.\r\n\r\nOur Community-Based Doula Program, established in 2010, was one of the first of its kind in Los Angeles County dedicated to African-American\/Black and other families of color who are at the highest risk for poor birth outcomes due provider implicit bias and structural racism.\r\n\r\nWe serve all birthing persons, regardless of their ability to pay, because we believe EVERY family deserves a Doula. Our Doulas are culturally diverse and are members of the communities we serve including Black, Latinx, and LBGTQIA. We speak Spanish, French and African languages.\r\n\r\nOur board of directors, advisory committee and consultants are mental and perinatal health experts with training and expertise in Doula Support, midwifery, nursing, pre and perinatal psychology, social work, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, preventative care, global public health, and health education and promotion.\r\n\r\nOUR MISSION\r\nTo promote high-quality, family-centered, evidence-based, respectful maternity and newborn care, and improved health outcomes for all childbearing persons and their babies.\r\n\r\nOUR WORK\r\nOur work focuses on addressing health care disparities and to engendering birthing justice for all pregnant women, persons and their infants. As ethnically diverse, multidisciplinary professionals serving pregnant and parenting families, we offer Doula services, childbirth preparation classes, breastfeeding support, and maternal- infant mental health workshops and support groups.\r\n\r\nWe also offer professional training, certification, learning and networking opportunities for mental health and perinatal health professionals.\r\n\r\nOur focus areas are:\r\n\r\nTraining, Certification and Continuing Education Programs for Professionals\r\nChildbirth Doula and Postpartum Doula Services\r\nBreastfeeding Support Services\r\nPromoting Maternal Mental Health and Infant Mental Health\r\nEngendering Birthing Justice for All Childbearing Persons\r\nAmplifying the voices of Black, Indigenous and other persons of color and LBGTQIA+ persons about their experiences in maternity care.