Mercy Health-Springfield has launched the region's first integrated doula program, embedding three certified doulas directly into its delivery unit to support mothers before, during and after birth.
The new team — Deshae Jackson, Alayzia Ponder and Arnetia Davis — advocates for mothers and works alongside their medical teams throughout labor and recovery, as reported by the Springfield News-Sun.
A Grant-Funded Start With a Deadline
The program runs on a two-year state grant, which Garcia said Ohio awarded to Mercy Health-Springfield to help establish the initiative. That funding runs out in April 2027.
That financial runway lines up with a statewide push. Ohio's Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Program was established under House Bill 33, the state's FY 2024–2025 biennial budget, as a core strategy against persistent infant mortality, according to Children's Defense Fund - Ohio. The Ohio Department of Medicaid opened coverage for certified doula services on October 3, 2024, per Bornbir.
Doulas In The Operating Room
Mercy Health's doulas provide support to mothers during labor and delivery.
Support does not end at discharge. Doulas stay alongside mothers for up to eight weeks after delivery, connecting new parents to resources such as car seats and pack 'n plays. One of Mercy Health's original doulas spoke Haitian Creole, and Ponder speaks Spanish, with the hospital also offering additional language resources for patients, a detail that matters in a county where language and access barriers have long compounded maternal health risks.
Statewide Numbers Tell A Mixed Story
Ohio's overall infant mortality rate improved from 7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 to 6.6 in 2025, but the state's maternal mortality rate climbed from 24.5 to 25.4 deaths per 100,000 live births over the same period, according to Children's Defense Fund - Ohio.
Clark County's own history with infant mortality has been especially stark. The county recorded a rate of 13.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016, nearly double the state average of 7.4 that year, according to the Clark County Combined Health District.
Scaling Up Amid New Billing Rules
Mercy Health-Springfield is expanding its broader women and infant health programs.
Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine reached out in 2024 to assess how the state could support Springfield, according to the News-Sun's reporting. Governor DeWine later signed House Bill 238 in January 2025, updating state law governing the Ohio Board of Nursing's Doula Advisory Group, per the Office of the Governor of Ohio.
Private doula care in Ohio typically costs between $500 and $2,000 per birth out of pocket, making hospital-integrated, Medicaid-eligible programs like Mercy Health's especially important for lower-income families, Bornbir's reporting notes.
Ohio's effort also fits into a fast-growing national trend. The Springfield program supports the community and families who walk through Mercy Health's delivery doors.
