JUST Birth Network

JUST Birth Network

Born from community, built for community. The JUST Birth Network was created to support Black, African American, African, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families through pregnancy and beyond, with doulas and cultural navigators who share your experiences.

Featured Services

Our services are available throughout your pregnancy and during postpartum recovery:

  • Birth and postpartum doulas that are matched to your language and culture
  • Inpatient cultural navigators
  • Community organization partnerships and referrals
  • Bereavement support

About the JUST Birth Network

From your first prenatal visit through postpartum recovery, JUST Birth connects you with doulas and cultural navigators who reflect your community and advocate for you every step of the way.

  • Justice. Providing fair and just care to underserved and underrepresented populations that have been at a disadvantage due to situations created by systemic, explicit and implicit racism.
  • Unity. Joining together with each community and providing care based on our shared values and understandings. Providing a wholesome experience to each individual while valuing their ancestral and current circumstances.
  • Support. Understanding the direct impact our institution has on each community and organization, empowering each individual’s voice, assisting and guiding the process of integrating community cultural relevance within our health care.
  • Trust. Trusting the community to show us how to provide the best care and, in turn, being an organization impacted communities can rely on.

The JUST Birth Network was founded in 2022 as part of Providence Swedish's commitment to birth equity. Rooted in the Justice, Unity, Support and Trust principles that give the program its name, every service is designed around the real experiences of Black and Native families to ensure they receive respectful, culturally responsive, high-quality maternity care.

Every family is matched with a doula based on background, language, race, ethnicity, gender identity and personal preference. Our doulas are experienced across all birth types – including C-sections and medicated births – and work for you, not the hospital. Support is available for prenatal visits, labor, delivery and postpartum care. Doulas also provide specialized support for bereavement, addiction recovery and navigating the healthcare system. For families who qualify, Medicaid covers your doula support. Self-pay options are available for additional hours.

The JUST Birth Network works alongside community organizations to extend its reach beyond the hospital. This includes partnerships with organizations serving African American, African, Alaska Native, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Muslim and LGBTQIA+ communities. Our team connects families with referrals, resources and advocacy support, from culturally relevant maternal health organizations to family services programs for children up to age five. If you're looking for support outside the hospital, we can help you find it.

Cultural navigators are available in the labor and delivery, antepartum, postpartum and NICU units at Providence Swedish First Hill. They bring culturally relevant resources and education directly to your bedside, advocate for your needs and support communication between you and your care team. You can request a cultural navigator at any time during your stay – no referral needed. Cultural navigators are available to all Black, African American and Native birthing patients and families at the Providence Swedish First Hill campus. Meet our team.

Find a Provider

What JUST Birth Means to Our Community

Patients share their experiences with the Network in their own words.

Cultural understanding

"They understood my needs perfectly... Thank you for giving women of color the courage to speak up."

Care beyond the hospital

“My doula was a huge part of my recovery … She has provided the kind of care that every person of color needs from a doula."

Whole-family support

"Doula's support and laughter were important; she worked with my schedule and the needs of my family.”

Care that centers you

"The best parts were my doula always checking on me to make sure I was feeling okay and she was with me every step of the way in the hospital."

Find Care That's Close to You

Frequently Asked Questions

To learn more about the program, email us. A member of our team will reach out to discuss your options and introduce you to doulas who match your background, language and preferences. You can begin the process at any point – during pregnancy, labor or the postpartum period. For assistance with the referral form on this page, contact our administrative coordinator at 206-291-7929. Please expect an email or phone call within a few business days.

It depends on your insurance. For families who qualify, Medicaid covers your doula support. For families with private insurance, coverage varies by plan – we recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to understand your benefits. For families without insurance, self-pay options are available, including payment plans, FSA and HSA. No family should have to go without support because of cost – contact our team at 206-291-7929 or email swedishdoulaservices@swedish.org to discuss your options.

Yes, JUST Birth support is designed with the whole family in mind. Doulas help involve partners and family members in the birth experience, guiding them on how to provide support during labor and in the postpartum period. Our doulas also help families identify their unique parenting style together and adjust to life with a newborn as a unit. For families navigating single parenthood or other circumstances, doulas adapt their support to meet your specific situation and needs.

Yes. A common misconception is that doulas are only for unmedicated vaginal births, but JUST Birth doulas support all birth types, including C-sections, induced labors and epidural births. During an epidural birth, doulas assist with positioning and labor progression. During a C-section, they provide emotional support and advocacy before, during and after the procedure. Every birth is different, and there is a JUST Birth doula for every experience.

Cultural navigators are available at the Providence Swedish First Hill campus in the labor and delivery, antepartum, postpartum and NICU units. They bring culturally relevant resources and education directly to your bedside, advocate for your needs and help bridge communication between you and your care team. You don't need a referral – simply ask any member of your care team to connect you, or request one directly when you arrive. Cultural navigators are available to all Black, African American and Native birthing patients and families.