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Mary's Hands Network
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Mary's Hands Network

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Mission and Vision

Mission

Our Vision

Our Vision

At Mary's Hands Network, we're on a mission to empower women, promote birth excellence, and bridge the health equity gap in our community. We provide top-notch training programs and manage a network of dedicated volunteer community doulas who offer essential support services to the women in our community free of charge.

Our Vision

Our Vision

Our Vision

To ensure that every woman has access to the benefits of a doula and a dedicated community of support during the perinatal period. We strive to create a society where women can achieve birth excellence and have equitable access to quality healthcare, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Our Name

Why are we called "Mary's Hands"?

At the heart of our name is a story. A story about a teenage girl named Mary—young, vulnerable, and with nothing to her name—who traveled across the country to support her older cousin Elizabeth through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Long before we had words like “doula,” we had Mary: a model of unwavering presence, compassion, and care.

This ancient story, found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, isn’t just a piece of Christian tradition, it’s a human story. It’s a story of showing up. Of meeting someone where they are. Of being the hands that hold, lift, soothe, and remind another woman that she is not alone.

At some point in our lives, we’ve all been a Mary, offering help when we had little else to give. And we’ve all been an Elizabeth, needing someone to stand beside us. This is the spirit that moves through every doula we train and every mother we serve.

Mary’s Hands Network exists to honor that legacy of care, one rooted in courage, connection, and compassion. Because we believe the least among us often have the most to offer. And that through the simple act of showing up with love and skill, we can bring strength, beauty, and life into this world.

That’s why we’re called Mary’s Hands.
Because that is who we are, and that is what we do.

The Mary’s Hands Network Difference

What sets Mary’s Hands Network (MHN) apart is not just what we do—but how and why we do it. At the heart of MHN is a powerful vision: to build a thriving, connected network where every birthing person is surrounded by care, dignity, and advocacy from people who truly see them. We are more than a doula program—we are a movement rooted in community, equity, and service.

Community Supporting Community

Every MHN client is supported by a team of 2–3 trained volunteer doulas, carefully matched to walk with them through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Our team model fosters not only more reliable and consistent support for clients, but also encourages community-building, professional growth, and collaboration among doulas. Volunteers stay in contact with one another, share strategies and shifts, and reflect on care plans together, creating a dynamic model of peer learning and mutual accountability.

When someone receives services from MHN, they’re not just being assigned a support person, they’re being embraced by a circle of care. Our doulas are community members supporting community members, invested in each client’s story, health, and empowerment.

A Network Rooted in Equity and Relationship

MHN is a safety net, accepting clients up to our capacity with no barriers based on income, insurance, or immigration status. Our services are always free. Every birth is viewed as an opportunity to center the client’s autonomy and rewrite generational stories of trauma, neglect, or silence with care, dignity, and voice.

Our diverse network includes women of all backgrounds: teachers, nurses, mothers, birthworkers, students, survivors, and grandmothers—bringing a wealth of lived experience and cultural wisdom to the birthing space. Many of our volunteers are also professional doulas in the community, mentoring newer doulas and expanding support across hospital systems, clinics, and birth centers.

Collaborative, Connected, Culturally Responsive

MHN collaborates directly with hospitals, birth centers, and health professionals across the region, not just to establish our work but to continuously refine it. We believe in active listening, cultural humility, and shared learning. This openness has made MHN a trusted bridge between families and care providers, increasing communication, advocacy, and respectful care inside clinical systems.

Our doulas receive ongoing education and professional development, including opportunities to learn from one another and from leaders in the maternal health space. We proudly support the professionalization of doula work, knowing that the field must grow to meet the rising demand for culturally congruent, trauma-informed, community-rooted support. We are excited to see more independent doulas, collectives, co-ops, and organizations emerge, and we are committed to supporting that evolution while keeping the heart of our service rooted in community.

Accessible Training, Real Impact

We offer low-cost or free birth doula training to community members who join and actively serve in our volunteer network. Our comprehensive course meets the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) training requirement for certification, and we provide all necessary materials, supplies, and meals to ensure no one is left out due to financial barriers.


💡 Scholarships are available for full tuition coverage, see our “Training” section for more details on how to qualify.
 

From the beginning, MHN has taken bold, intentional steps to combat maternal health disparities. From increasing rates of breastfeeding, to reducing NICU admissions, to decreasing preventable complications and birth trauma, our model is making a measurable difference in birth outcomes, and in how people feel as they give birth.

Doula Volunteers by Cohort

Nu - Lafayette, LA

Yolanda Cardona, Samantha Harrelson, Kaya Hunter, Ariana Johnson, Kniyielle Jones, Kristi LeBlanc, Amber Muhammad, Lauren O'Brien, Lubna Rashmawi, Denise Smith, and Kloie Walker.

Mu - Baton Rouge, LA

Natahsa James, Destiny Guthrie, Lauren Carline, Kyla Redditt, Latasha Boatner, Sonya Walker, Torri Gautier, and Willie Hobdy.

Lambda - Houma, LA

Lambda - Houma, LA

Marilyn Benoit, Emily Coots, Dominique Garner, Lainey Harlow, Sheletha Hatch, Kaya Hunter, Bethany LeBlanc, Layla Thomas, Kendra Vessel, Kandake Wallace, Daniellw Wilson, and Tyler Wilson.

Doula Volunteers by Cohort

Kappa - Well Center - Lafayette, LA

Victoria Achord,  Lucy Baker, Taylor Broussard, Ashley Franciol, Lani LeBouf, Lauretta Mellein, Hailey Prevost, Lacy Rebollo, Madeline Rushing, Anthea Smith, Jenee Stassi, and Erina Walden.

Iota - Hybrid Pilot

Aaron Brown, Aleia Duhe, Sophia Gibson, Ashley Green, Elizabeth Isaac, Lisa Moore, Teasa Rashadeen, Akia Richards, Ally Thomas, and Qiao Xie.

Theta - Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Breea Carter, Paige Davis, Roxie Ducote, Augusta Dunn, Phoebe Green, Lyn Hakeem, Iesha Harris, Brittany Istre, Joy Johnson, Miriam Lamy, Brittany Martin, Jasmine Montague, Shelna Myers, Adrena Nguyen, Torian Rose, Cathy Salinas, Raven Sparrow, Kelsey Watson, Jasmine Williams, and Alexxus Williams.

Eta - Well Care - Lafayette, LA

Zeta - Eden Park Branch Library - Baton Rouge, LA

Carrin Arceneaux, Ashley Augustine, Suzanne Authement, Krystal Baudoin, Malorie Brabham, Hope Breaux, Nicole Carter, Mary Frances Church, Micah Fontenot, Taylor Fontenot, Katherine Hayes, Toni Hayes, Brittany Henderson, Sharetha Henry, Abriella Mayon, Bridgette Mouton, Keisha Robillard, Kayla Romero, Emily Saltzman, Sarah Tate, Kyla Wilson, and Karleana Olivier.

Zeta - Eden Park Branch Library - Baton Rouge, LA

Zeta - Eden Park Branch Library - Baton Rouge, LA

Zeta - Eden Park Branch Library - Baton Rouge, LA

Dosha Banguel, Kaci Belanger, Jasline BoBo, Sharron BoBo, Esther Brady, Kieaerra Curry, Essence Dunn, Shameka Ewings, Sierah Jones, Monica Legard, Tahja Miles, Saleemah Muhammad, and Sarah Offutt.

Doula Volunteers by Cohort

Epsilon - Baton Rouge General - Baton Rouge, LA

Delta - Restoration Christian Center - Baker, LA

Delta - Restoration Christian Center - Baker, LA

Na'Tasia Bradshaw, Chaunte'y Carter, Entisar Elshawarby, Sanaa Jackson, Tieka Jones, Lara-Jeanne "O" Kling, Angela Bell, Kameron Ellis, Lydia Haymond, RaeVyon Jamison, Tiara Ponton, Essence Sherrell, Michelle Tate, Aletha Taylor, Renee Wells, and Kayla Wolf.

Delta - Restoration Christian Center - Baker, LA

Delta - Restoration Christian Center - Baker, LA

Delta - Restoration Christian Center - Baker, LA

Rhonda Chube, Linda Clopton, ShaDarrian Langford, Nicole Lanford, Rachel Lanford, Caryl Miller, Naomi Peters, Connie Price, Elizabeth Roussel, Lindsey Roussel, Sarah Salpietra, Jasmine Smith, Megan Upperman, Alicia Vidrine, Vanessa Williams, Lark Spears, Jenny Thompson, Zoe Thomas, and Lucinda Warren.

Gamma - Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge

Delta - Restoration Christian Center - Baker, LA

Stefan Johnson, Jasmine Johnson, Myisha Morris, Lyric Johnson, Creola Jacque, Nadirah Caine, Brandi Paynes, Jeseka Holloway, Dena Christy, Margaret Evans, Renietta Chatman, Sheran Duncan, Pamela Smith, Deborah Porterfield, Marisa McCon, Tylea Davenport, DeAnna Townsel, Terrie Hollins and Jena' Dennis.

Beta-Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Alpha - *Inaugural Class* - Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Devon McKnight, Kendra Ross, Angela Gregoire, Taylor Franklin, Jeanne Ard, Cijii Dupont, Diana Mangrum, Tierney Rowe, Rosemary Peters-Hill, Kara Hobbs, Elizabeth Erikson, Colleen Buras, Malika McGee, Alkinee Jackson, Rashida McKnight, Lorraine Davidson, Bobbie Walters, and Janeen Broussard.

Alpha - *Inaugural Class* - Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Alpha - *Inaugural Class* - Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Alpha - *Inaugural Class* - Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Cheramie Achee, Kaprisha Adikema, Pamela Adikema, Lynn Agnew, Patricia Brown, Karen Clark, Talisha Davis, Emma Fontenot, Nelda Hunt, Lilliana Johnson, Alyssa Kinchen, Jennifer Leonard, Nanette McCann, Michaelyn McGinnis, Tasha Sibley, Yolander Smith, and Glenda White.

Meet Our FIRST Doulas

Meet the amazing people who support the network!
Inaugural Doula Cohort

Doulas on the News

Check out our community features and see MHN spotlights!

Learn more

Mary's Hands Network Equal Opportunity Policy

Mary's Hands Network maintains a strong policy of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants. Our partners must have their own equal employment opportunity policies and comply with both their policies and ours in the hiring and supervision of volunteers and staff.

Mary's Hands Network Equal Opportunity Policy

Mary's Hands Network is dedicated to hiring the best-qualified individuals. We ensure equal employment opportunities, hiring, training, promoting, and compensating based on competence and potential. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other protected classifications. This policy applies to all employment aspects.

We comply with the ADA and relevant laws, providing reasonable accommodations for disabilities. Partner applications and job descriptions must align with our policy. We may request partners remove unnecessary ableist language unless it is an essential function that cannot be reasonably accommodated. For example, "must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds" might be revised to include “with the assistance of a lift, dolly, or other reasonable accommodation.”

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Mary's Hands Network, we're all about leveling the playing field and ensuring everyone gets a fair shot. We're tackling the stark disparities in maternal health head-on, especially for minority groups. Did you know Black women in the US are three to four times more likely to face pregnancy-related complications compared to white women? And Indigenous women are also at significantly higher risk. That's why diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords for us—they're the heart and soul of what we do.

We believe it's time for bold moves. By forging strong partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to equity, we're ensuring everyone has a voice in tackling society's biggest challenges. Because healthy communities can't thrive when historic and systemic racism, class oppression, and gender discrimination hold people back. We're investing in equity and divesting from outdated systems to pave the way for real change.

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Mary's Hands Network

451 E. Airport Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806

info@maryshandsnetwork.org

Copyright © 2023 Mary's Hands Network - All Rights Reserved.

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