Michigan Community-Based Safety Net Funding Brief

The Michigan Community-Based Safety Net Funding Brief advocates for a transformative approach to financing community-based doula care that ensures long-term sustainability and equitable access, particularly for traditionally marginalized communities. Traditional funding models have often failed to adequately support doula programs, leaving critical maternal health services underfunded and inaccessible to many families. To address these gaps, this brief introduces a liberatory funding model rooted in equity, empowerment, and community self determination. Developed in collaboration with Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, Focus: HOPE, Miigwech, and Health Equity Resources and Strategies (H.E.R.S.), this model prioritizes diverse funding sources, fair compensation for doulas, and active community engagement to establish a strong safety net for maternal health services. Designed for philanthropists, policymakers, and community-led initiatives, this brief provides actionable strategies to create a just and sustainable system where high quality doula care is available to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.