Int 0472-2022

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings: Commissioner. The term "commissioner" means the commissioner of health and mental hygiene. Doula. The term "doula" has the same meaning as such term is defined in section 17-199.10 of the administrative code. � 2. No later than October 1, 2022, the commissioner shall establish a program to train doulas and provide doula services to residents of marginalized neighborhoods in all five boroughs at no cost to the resident. Such program shall provide for continuing doula care, and include no fewer than 50 doulas. Doulas will be trained in subject matters including, but not limited to, birth equity, trauma-informed care, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, navigating the hospital environment and support services available to low-income birthing people and their families. The provision of such doula services shall also include providing information regarding supportive services as a doula deems it appropriate. � 3. Such program shall continue until June 30, 2024, and may continue past that date at the sole discretion of the commissioner, based on factors including but not limited to the public health efficacy of the program and the allocation of sufficient funds. � 4. No later than June 30, 2024, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post online a report on this program. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number and type of doulas trained through the program; (ii) an overview of topics covered in such doula training; (iii) the number of individuals served by doulas involved in the program; (iv) a list of the zip codes that such individuals live in, provided that such information would not reasonably identify any such individual; (v) an evaluation of the benefits of the program and how such benefits were measured or evaluated; (vi) an overview of challenges or lessons learned from the program, and (vii) recommendations as to whether and how such program should continue or be expanded. � 5. This local law takes effect immediately. BM / HKA LS 8366/9393 8/3/22 10:16pm 2 1