Employment Opportunities

The Sangamon County Department of Public Health is seeking applicants to perform duties primarily as a Community Based Doula.  The successful candidate will:

• Provide support to clients during the prenatal and postpartum period
• Promote maternal child health and positive birth outcomes
• Assist families in advocating for themselves during the birth process and beyond 

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Under the supervisor, provides physical and emotional support during the woman’s third trimester, labor, and postpartum periods.  Prepares participant for the labor and delivery experience and for their role as a new parent.
• Maintains regular contact and support with participant families; builds trusting relationships that offer strength-based services for families.  Meets with participants and their families in the home.
• Assists with community outreach and marketing efforts, targeting local community resources, hospitals, and medical staff
• Facilitates prenatal education services
• Advocates for participant families
• Works collaboratively with the Family Support Specialist/home visitor to ensure quality services continue after the birth of the baby
• Provide and encourage breastfeeding, including initiation of breastfeeding
• Doulas must be on call 24/7 and be present to support clients through labor and delivery at the local hospitals.  Doulas are required to be accessible to families 24/7 as needed for labor support, be on-call for attendance of labor and delivery

• Bachelor’s degree in family services, social work, psychology, human services, or a closely related field is preferred.  Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent with lived experience will also be considered.
• Experience in working with or providing services to children and families
• An ability to establish trusting relationships
• Acceptance of individual differences
• Experience and humility to work with the culturally diverse families
• Knowledge of infant and child development
• Willingness to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g., capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.)
• A valid Class D Illinois Driver’s License
• Applicants must be a resident of Sangamon County or be willing to move into the count within 6 months of employment
• Ability to use personal automobile with proof of current insurance
• Be able to maintain a physical condition necessary for moderate activity such as walking upstairs, squatting, stooping, kneeling, and sitting on the floor for extended periods of time
• Be able to maintain emotional control under stressful situations
• Must be able to lift 25-30 pounds
• Demonstrate willingness to work flexible hours
• Regularly be available to attend births at any time to provide doula support 24-hours/day.
• Experience working with parents during the prenatal and postpartum period is preferred
• Infant mental health endorsement preferred (if available in the state)

Work hours are varied (see job description)

Salary range: $53,470-$57,470/yr
2 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid sick leave days, 3 paid personal days, 13 paid holidays per year
Health insurance, Dental insurance and Life insurance. Mileage reimbursement/Death Benefits/Retirement

Submit application and supporting documents through one of the following methods:
email: healthhr@sangamonil.gov
fax: 217-535-3104
mail: John W. Ridley, Director of Public Health, Sangamon County Department of Public Health, 2833 S. Grand Avenue, East, Springfield, IL 62703

Position will remain open until filled.

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