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The Oregon Prison Birth Project began with a commitment to providing compassionate care for incarcerated pregnant women. Inspired by similar programs and supported by the passage of Oregon House Bill 2535 in 2023, we now bring essential doula services to prisons, ensuring dignity and support during childbirth.
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Our Path Forward: Key Moments in Establishing the Oregon Prison Birth Project
2010 - Establishment of the Minnesota Prison Doula Project (MNPDP)
- The Minnesota Prison Doula Project was founded to support incarcerated pregnant women through pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. This project became one of the first in the U.S. to offer such services, setting a precedent for similar initiatives in other states.
2016 - Founding of the Alabama Prison Birth Project (APBP)
- Inspired by the work in Minnesota, the Alabama Prison Birth Project was established, focusing on providing education and doula support to incarcerated women. Their success and advocacy efforts demonstrated the positive impact of such programs, garnering attention from other states.
2018 - Formation of the Ostara Initiative
- The Ostara Initiative was created as a collaborative effort to expand perinatal care and support for incarcerated women across the U.S. By connecting with both the MN PDP and the AL PBP, Ostara played a pivotal role in promoting the idea that all incarcerated pregnant individuals deserve compassionate and comprehensive care.
2023 - Legislative Advocacy and the Passage of Oregon House Bill 2535
- Advocates, including those linked to the Ostara Initiative, successfully lobbied for Oregon House Bill 2535. This law mandated the Oregon Department of Corrections to allow incarcerated pregnant women access to doula services. The bill was a key milestone in paving the way for the Oregon Prison Doula Project.
2024 - OPBP Granted Financial Support from Seeding Justice
- After years of advocacy and collaboration with organizations like the Ostara Initiative, Seeding Justice helped plant the financial seed to allow doulas to enter prisons and support incarcerated women during childbirth. They funded this initiative when we were a mere idea. This was a huge milestone which opened the door to our work in the facility.
2025 First Doula-Assisted Birth in an Oregon Prison
- In 2025, the Oregon Prison Doula Project celebrated its first doula-assisted birth in an Oregon prison, marking a significant achievement in providing comprehensive perinatal care to incarcerated women in the state.
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