Gatekeeping: A Letter from DTI
It has come to our attention that trained doulas are not being allowed to support their clients in the hospital setting at some hospitals. This gatekeeping is not new, but perhaps happening even more during the pandemic. We have not seen any decrease as of this yet. It seems that one way hospitals are keeping doulas away from their clients is by asking for proof of certification. Even then, only some doulas are permitted to enter. As a response, DTI Programs Director, Tiek Johnson has written this letter to send to hospital and to have here on the DTI blog...
Read MoreProtecting Trans Kids
Illustration by: Caitlin Blunnie Oh, Texas. Last year doulas, reproductive health advocates, and folks all over the globe spoke out against legislation that put bans on bodies and here we are once again, fighting for human rights in Texas. This time its to protect trans kids and their caregivers. Texas Governor Abbott and A.G. Paxton, are pushing for parents and caregivers that allowed trans children to receive gender affirming care to be investigated and prosecuted for child abuse. At DTI, we know that reproductive justice is radically inclusive and values trans voices. Trans kids deserve to be affirmed, validated, and...
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Black History Month
When it comes to reproductive health, much of the work we do today whether it be abortion care, sexual health education, reproductive healthcare etc all started with the profound contributions that Black reproductive advocates and activists have paved the way for. February is Black history month and as the DTI team plans for the year ahead we celebrate and acknowledge (this month and always) organizations that bring Black history year round. We’d like to amplify 6 organizations and thought leaders with you all below. Some of which you may be familiar with through DTI’s partnerships or some of which may...
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This Month At DTI
The Holidays are here, and 2021 is quickly coming to a close. As we wrap up the year, we want to give you some updates on DTI, the 2022 schedule, introduce you to a new edition to the DTI team, and let you know how thankful we are to you. Here’s the list of things happening in and around DTI for the rest of the year that you’ll definitely want to know more about. We’re Going Dark A little announcement. DTI will be taking a short break starting on December 20th. That means that our social media channels, online store,...
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This Month At DTI
Happy November doulas! For this month, we have a lot in store for you! Get ready for our online meetup coming soon with a special guest we know you’ll all love. We also have some great news about our upcoming DTI training schedule for the rest of 2021 through 2022. And last but not least, we can’t wait to show you what we have in our DTI store. Here’s our list of all the things you can expect at DTI coming soon! Born Into This First up, we have exciting news about Born Into This. Back in September, we had...
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This Month At DTI
The end of Summer was a very eventful time for us and so many exciting things happened. For this month’s update, we’ll show you all the exciting things that have happened to us, like a new project and successful meetups. We’ll also give you simple reminders for upcoming events and more opportunities for our doulas. We’ve got it all here to get you excited about the future of DTI along with us! Be sure not to miss any of our announcements by following us on social media. Texas Abortion Law Stance Before that, we wanted to highlight the situation surrounding...
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Our Stance on Texas’ Anti-Abortion Laws
On May 19, the governor of Texas, Greg Abbot, signed a bill that made it illegal for people to have abortions after six weeks of being pregnant. And in September, the law was put into effect. Doulas, reproductive advocates, and people worldwide spoke out publicly against this law and restriction. We at DTI also would like to share our exact thoughts on this subject with our community as well. Our stance is that the Texas Senate Bill 8 is an unconstitutionally passed law that aims to greatly restrict abortions and puts Texans’ rights and health in danger. This law takes away autonomy...
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5 Doula Training Tips
If you signed up for one of our training courses to become a DTI doula, then the first thing we want to say is congrats! We’re so happy that you’re starting your doula journey with us and can’t wait to see you get started. Beginning your online training with us is a gigantic step in the right direction if you have a passion for reproductive health. And with all the intensive coursework and certification requirements, it may seem a little overwhelming, right? But don’t worry! We want to make your training with us as simple as can be, so here are some...
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This Month at DTI
DTI already had a great month, and the next few weeks are going to be a very exciting time for our growing community of doulas. From events and news, we have a lot of special ways that you can experience our community and learn from each other. But if you’ve missed any of our announcements throughout the weeks, don’t worry. Keep reading to get a list of everything that’s happening with DTI in the next couple of months. MOMCares Receives Grant First up is a bit of news that made us all happy. MOMCares was recently awarded a grant by B’more Invested...
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On Plant Medicine, Doula Life And Design: Cristina Leoni-Osion
In 2021, we’re profiling DTI doulas who are shaping the world through birth work, doula work and reproductive health advocacy. What does it mean to live and work as a doula day-in and day-out? Today, we’re featuring Cristina Leoni Osion (she/her/they/them)—a DTI-trained, full-spectrum doula based in Richmond, Virginia. Cristina Leoni Osion (she/they) is a white, femme, Mediterranean descendant, lover of the sea, and avid home gardener born and currently based on the ancestral lands of the Powhatan and Monacan people, also known as Richmond, Virginia. After having lived and worked in NYC, Berlin, and Tel Aviv as a young dancer they...
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