A Statewide Movement for Equitable Birth Care
Re-imagining Birth Care Together
Across Illinois, Black, brown, and indigenous birthing people continue to face alarming disparities in maternal health outcomes, limited access to culturally grounded care, and systems that too often overlook the expertise of community birth workers. The Chicago Illinois Doula Coalition Network (CIDCN) was created to change that. By bringing together doulas, midwives, and community organizations across the state, CIDCN is building a stronger, more connected system of equitable, community-led maternal care—because we are stronger together than we are alone. Through collaboration, advocacy, training, shared standards, and policy change, the coalition is working to advance birth equity and ensure every birthing person in Illinois has access to respectful, compassionate, and culturally responsive support.
Who’s Part of the Network
“Too often, the expertise of community birth workers is overlooked or undervalued. This coalition creates the infrastructure for doulas and midwives to lead—not only in providing essential support during the perinatal period, but also in shaping the policies, standards, and care models that will drive health equity in Illinois for generations to come.”
— Sonia Collins & Nancy Cowans, Co-Founders of Sokana Collective and CIDCN Coalition Members