This transformative legislation establishes a citywide initiative to expand access to free doula care, train birth workers, and support hospitals in creating doula-friendly environments.

October 30, 2025 (New York) –   At yesterday’s Stated Meeting, the City Council passed Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez’s Intro 1285, which would make the Citywide Doula Initiative a permanent program under the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). The bill guarantees ongoing access to free doula care for New Yorkers in underserved communities, expands training for birth workers, and pushes hospitals to adopt more inclusive, doula-friendly policies.Doula care saves lives and changes outcomes. A recent audit from Comptroller Brad Lander found that Black and Latina clients in the Citywide Doula Initiative had lower rates of C-sections, low birth weight, and pre-term births than Black and Latina/o birthing people citywide. Free doulas are now available in all 33 high-need neighborhoods. Demand is rising fast: doula-attended births more than doubled — up 107% — from spring 2022 to spring 2023 and continued to grow in 2024. Notably, there were zero reported pregnancy-associated deaths among program clients from March 2022 through June 2024.

“This is what it means to build public health with equity at the center,”said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez.“We are saying, as a city, that safe births are not a luxury. Every Black and Brown mother, every immigrant mother, every low-income mother deserves a trained advocate in the room, and we’re making that a right — not a pilot, not a grant, not a maybe. Permanent.”

Intro 1285 strengthens and makes permanent the pilot program, which Council Member Gutiérrez first codified in 2022 – meaning no administration could roll back this initiative. The bill:

  • Makes the Citywide Doula Initiative permanent
  • Requires DOHMH to continue offering no-cost doula services in neighborhoods with the highest rates of maternal health disparities.
  • Expands doula training in birth equity, trauma-informed care, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and culturally competent support.
  • Supports fair pay for doulas and builds a pipeline of community-based birth workers.
  • Works with hospitals to remove barriers and adopt doula-friendly policies — including recognizing doulas as part of the care team.

“This legislation represents a historic moment in maternal health equity and quality of care for traditionally underserved women in our city – and I commend Council Member Gutierrez for advancing this citywide Doula initiative,” said Council Member Julie Menin, Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus. “By guaranteeing mothers in financially vulnerable communities access to a trained doula, we are not only saving lives but transforming the birth experience into one of safety, dignity, and empowerment. This is a life-changing step for women and a vital advancement in how we support families from the very start.”

“The ongoing maternal mortality crisis is one of the most devastating indicators of racial inequity in our city. Black women continue to face systemic failures within our healthcare system that have cost too many lives and shattered too many families,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis, Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity. “Our majority women-led Council has advanced significant legislation that takes a critical step toward transforming maternal care into a model of equity, accountability, and compassion, and as Chair, I applaud this legislation that ensures that every birthing person, regardless of race, income, or ZIP code, has access to the quality care and support they deserve before, during, and after pregnancy.”

“As a registered nurse,  I’ve seen firsthand how having a doula can change birth outcomes and save lives,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, Chair of the Committee on Hospitals. “Making this program permanent means New York City is committing to equity, compassion, and care that centers the needs of every mother and baby. no matter their zip code or economic status. I commend Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez for her leadership and strong advocacy to make birth equity a permanent part of our city’s public health system.”

“Doulas serve as a vital bridge between our healthcare system and our communities and represent an increasingly integral facet of perinatal care; they advocate for the safety, comfort, and dignity of birthing mothers, and support new families as they transition into parenthood,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “By making this program permanent, New York City is recognizing that compassion, trust, and cultural competency save lives, especially for those historically marginalized by the traditional healthcare system. I applaud Council Member Gutiérrez for her leadership and commitment to advancing care, equity, and justice for this city’s new and expecting parents.”

“Doulas are an integral part of the care team, ensuring that families not only survive but truly thrive. They fill the gaps in access to care, resources, and support connecting families to both peers and professionals,” said Charline Ogbeni of the Birth By Queens Birth and Wellness Center. “Doula work is sacred and deeply reciprocal, offering opportunities to give and receive while reigniting the communal spirit of birth that once flourished. I wholeheartedly applaud the efforts to make New York City’s Doula Program permanent, as doulas leave lasting impressions on babies, families, and entire communities.”

The passage of this bill marks Council Member Gutiérrez and the Council’s ensuring commitment to advancing birth justice and maternal health equity, ensuring that all pregnant and birthing New Yorkers have access to safe, compassionate, and informed care.

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