Abortion Doula Training Summer 2023
Registration is now complete for this cohort! Sign up for our mailing list to hear about our next one.
About
This comprehensive training was developed by Birth Mark* and The Abortion Doula to share everything we consider essential to providing abortion support in Canada. It is a labour of love and hope for increased access to intentional community support for folks who have abortions and those who care for them.
You don’t need to be a doula or plan to be one to benefit from this training!
You'll build a strong foundation to support anyone having an abortion no matter your role or context. Past participants have included doulas, community workers, therapists, social workers, advocates, and folks who just wanted to learn more about abortion! Check out what they had to say about the training below.
*Birth Mark is a charity organization providing free full-spectrum doula support and registration in this training directly supports our abortion services including 1-1 logistical & abortion doula support, after abortion support, and abortion care packages. Thank you for your support ♡
Details
Our next cohort begins July 22nd, 2023!
Saturdays 10 AM - 1 PM ET |
Wednesdays 1 PM - 4 PM ET |
Thursdays 10 AM - 12 PM ET |
|---|---|---|
| Essential weekly sessions will include training content presentations, group discussions, and guest speakers. | Training session recording replay for folks who missed the Saturday session, with time for questions. |
Optional drop-in co-working sessions to work through the training manual and certificate requirements. |
This training is offered entirely virtually on Zoom from July 22 - September 23, 2023. There will be no sessions on August 12th or September 2nd.
We recommend that participants dedicate 4-6 hours a week to this training to attend sessions and review course materials.
Weekly sessions will be recorded but participants are strongly encouraged to attend live when possible! There unfortunately aren’t many spaces in which people gather to speak openly about abortion due to stigma and our time together is an opportunity to build comfort and community. Options will be provided for participants to ask questions anonymously or request a recording pause while they share. Guest speakers will choose if they want their session recorded so some may not be. The safety and comfort of our participants and guests during this learning process is our priority. You will have access to recordings until October 16th, 2023.
We know it can be hard to prioritize catching up on recordings on your own when you miss a session, so we're also hosting live weekly replays of each session on Wednesdays with the trainer present for questions. Even if you attended the Saturday session, you're welcome at these replays if repetition helps you better process the information (we know it helps us!).
A detailed 185-page course manual and weekly presentation slides will be shared with participants for their own reference.
Participants will have the option to receive a certificate of completion by completing additional activities and readings within 1 year of the last training session.
If you can't join us this time but would like to know when future trainings are announced, sign up for our training mailing list here.
Weekly Content
Participant Feedback
Pricing
This training directly supports our abortion program's services which include free 1-1 logistical & abortion doula support, after-abortion support, and abortion care packages in our communities.
The pricing for this training is set on a sliding scale from $400-$800, with payment plans available for each option. We ask participants to place themselves on the scale with no need to provide any justification or documentation to support their choice.
Rate |
Cost | Payment Plan Option |
|---|---|---|
Supported |
$400 | 4 monthly payments of $100 |
Regular |
$600 | 4 monthly payments of $150 |
Supporter |
$800 | 4 monthly payments of $200 |
We've created the graphic below to help you consider where you might be on the scale:
(click here for a larger view)
There are five sponsored spots in this cohort reserved for folks who are BIPGM and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ AND would be unable to participate at any available pricing option.
These spots have now been filled, but you can submit this form to be considered for a spot in a future cohort.
About the Trainer
Mel Fuller
Mel (she/her) is an abortion doula, educator, and the Abortion Support Program Manager at Birth Mark. Her work focuses on navigating the barriers and bridging the gaps that often make abortion inaccessible.
Mel has been sharing her passion for sexual and reproductive health for over a decade through writing, workshops, and individual support. While completing her master’s in sexology, she became interested in social stigma as a barrier to accessing support. Using a qualitative approach to her thesis research, she witnessed the impact of holding a kind, non-directive space for participants to share their experiences and needs without judgement.
Inspired to deepen her ability to hold this space, Mel trained as a birth and abortion doula. She then co-founded the Montreal Abortion Access Project (MAAP) and has since expanded her skills with training in pregnancy options counselling, sex & pregnancy support, pregnancy loss support, and grief literacy.
As a doula, Mel views every client as the expert of their own experience and holds space for them to catch their breath. As a trainer, she values flexibility, connection, and creating spaces where everyone can show up exactly as they are.
Mel can be found on Instagram @theabortiondoula and at www.theabortiondoula.ca
This training was made possible through the generous support of Oxfam Canada and Global Affairs Canada through the Her Future Her Choice Financial Support for Community-Based SRHR Initiative.
