In early 2025, SisterWeb saw a dip in reported improvement in birthwork skills, coinciding with a temporary reduction in training offerings due to organizational restructuring and staff layoffs. No SW-provided trainings were held in February, which likely contributed to the drop in average ratings during that period. However, the average score rebounded in March following the reintroduction of training opportunities, including the pilot of the new Black Doula training. These fluctuations highlight the importance of consistent training availability. To guide future training development, SisterWeb has begun analyzing data from monthly doula surveys to identify specific areas where doulas seek growth. In addition, doulas are working with a Birthland mentor to align training topics with the SMARTIE goals they set for their career paths—ensuring that professional development remains relevant, intentional, and personalized.

SisterWeb has collaborated with partners such as UCSF and the Tulsa Birth Initiative to provide no-cost training opportunities for doulas. These partnerships have been instrumental in sustaining training efforts during times of limited internal capacity. Doulas are also engaging with a Birthland mentor, who helps connect their self-identified goals to the skills and competencies offered in upcoming trainings. As new programs are piloted, particularly those focused on supporting Black doulas, ongoing collaboration with trusted partners will remain key to ensuring training is equitable and effective.

What’s working well is a shift toward data-informed training planning—using real-time feedback from monthly doula surveys to determine relevant training needs. Additionally, one-on-one goal-setting using the SMARTIE framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Inclusive, and Equitable) has helped doulas articulate their career paths and focus their learning. Externally, organizations like HealthConnect One, The National Black Doulas Association, and Commonsense Childbirth Institute offer replicable models that prioritize culturally responsive and community-led doula training. These models emphasize empowerment, self-determination, and clinical readiness, and could be used as references when developing or adapting SisterWeb’s own curriculum.

SisterWeb will continue collecting and analyzing monthly doula survey data to better understand training needs and refine future offerings based on real-time feedback. In collaboration with the Birthland mentor, training content will be aligned with the SMARTIE goals that each doula sets for their personal and professional development. The team will also explore and adapt best practices from national organizations that provide equity-focused, evidence-based doula training to ensure that SisterWeb’s approach remains culturally relevant and impactful. Finally, efforts will be made to maintain and strengthen existing partnerships—such as those with UCSF and Tulsa Birth Initiative—to ensure doulas have ongoing access to high-quality, no-cost trainings, particularly during periods of internal transition.