Graduate School
Boston University School of Public Health currently; Yale University, MPH

Undergraduate School
University of California, Berkeley

Fellowship
Division of Pregnancy, Infancy, and Early Childhood, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Supervisor
Ann Peralta, Director

Mentors
Steve Walsh, President and CEO, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Rappaport Institute Advisory Board member and former Rappaport Boston Urban Scholar and Hill Wolfe, Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale School of Medicine and 2022 Rappaport Policy Fellow

Biography
Cara will write a report consisting of lessons learned from other states currently implementing or developing policies to expand access to perinatal doula care. The report will include a thorough review of the literature on state efforts to include doula care in Medicaid. She will work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) and a Doula Partner Advisory Group to increase access to doula services in the state. MA DPH is seeking legislative authority to certify doulas and to set up a statewide system that reduces barriers to entry for a diverse group of doulas and ensure that all birthing people who want a doula have access to a competent professional that meets their linguistic and cultural needs.