DOULA LEARNING AND ACTION COLLABORATIVE (DLAC)
Some of the Oregon team members at the first in-person convening hosted by Institute for Medicaid Innovation in Las Vegas, NV. 6/2025
Left to Right: Melissa (Missy) Cheyney (IMI National Advisor), Raeben Nolan, Kestrel Gates, Hannah Briggs, Martha Rivera, Katie Minich, Aver Yakubu, Iris Bicksler, Ruby Ramirez
Oregon Doula Association submitted a proposal for a three-year Doula Learning and Action Collaborative (DLAC) through the Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) with the initial priorities below in the summer of 2024. This application process included getting letters of commitment from doulas, community-based organizations, health care providers, and state Medicaid and health plan representatives. Our initial outreach for letters of commitment was to those that had previously participated in IMI's Learning Series as suggested by IMI.
Because of its competitive process and only room for six states to participate in this initiative, Oregon was not initially selected. However, with continued efforts from the IMI team, additional resources were secured and thus team Oregon was added as a seventh state in the collaborative!
As participant's priorities and commitments change and as the project evolves, it has been important for this collaborative to have fluidity. Oregon's Team is comprised of doulas, community-based organizations, health care providers, Coordinated Care Organization and Oregon Health Authority representatives.
Our team meets virtually to work through our SMARTIE GOAL of developing a Doula Toolkit.
OREGON DLAC PARTICIPANTS
Allison Lux
Alyson Day**
Aver Yakubu
Christina Clay
Dalila Morales
Delia Flores
Desha Holden-Nelson **
Ellen Tilden**
Eva Marie **
Hannah Briggs
Iris Bicksler*
Jackie Leung **
Jacquelyn Clemmons**
Jesse Remer**
Katie I. Minich
Kestrel Gates
Lily Sintim
Martha Rivera*
Marquita Jaramillo
Meg Wills**
Melissa Cheyney
Ophelia Vidal
Raeben Nolan
Shaun Cook
Tamara Martinez
* Team Leads
** Thank you for your contributions during your time on the collaborative!
Year One Convening
Representatives from the seven selected states meet in Nevada
for a 2-day in-person convening hosted by IMI - 6/2025
In year one, Oregon's team was guided by IMI to identify root causes and priorities to advance doula access in our state, then develop a SMARTIE goal to work through in the following two years of this initiative.
Oregon DLAC Team at Barbie's Village
Top L: Ophelia Vidal, Rebecca Johnson, Iris Bicksler, Andrew March, Kestrel Gates, Raeben Nolan, Sara Luna, La Tasha Barnwell, Hannah Briggs, Christina Clay, Chenoa Laundry, Katie Minich
Front row L: Marquita Jaramillo, Tara Owens, Martha Rivera, Aver Yakubu
The Oregon Team met in May at Barbie's Village in Portland, OR in May along with IMI Team for a site-visit and to dive deeper into the development of the toolkit. We identified a Priority Timeline that will guide this work for the months to come.
As this project evolves, we invite you to join us!
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