Why a cooperative? What is a birth work cooperative, and how will it affect my care?

After witnessing the extreme burnout in the birth work field, as well as the sense of competition and scarcity between birth workers themselves, TCPS dares to be different. In fostering community over competition, and creating a business model that supports the whole birth worker as well as the whole client, we believe that not only will we continue to see improved client outcomes, but longer lasting, more sustainable birth work practices as well.

From a provider perspective:

The cooperative model allows you to keep a lot of the autonomy and individuality of owning a private practice. You are ______ under the Terra Cotta Perinatal Services umbrella, instead of being a TCPS doula. But along with that freedom, you still are able to benefit from the structure and support of a larger group. We call this “business scaffolding.” You don’t handle the administrative work, you just get to be with clients. You have a pool of backup doulas, and the insight of a larger team as you navigate the twists and turns of working with clients. You also have access to all of our resources and educational materials, both for continuing education as a birth worker, but also to help prepare your clients. All together, this means: Happier doulas, happier clients, longer lasting doulas, more clients supported with better outcomes.

From a client perspective,

You’re sort of getting a team of doulas for the price of one. You’ll still have an assigned birth doula that will be your primary point of contact throughout, but you have access to the resources and support of a larger team: a backup doula if necessary, childbirth education included in every birth support package, and postpartum and speciality services in house. Beyond the care that you receive, you’re also paying into a system that pays providers fairly for their time and expertise, as well as helps financially offset the cost families who would otherwise not be able to afford these same services.

When you pay full price for any service under the TCPS umbrella, you are paying it forward and making the same support available to another family in your community.