Career pathway
Maternal & Family Health
Support birthing people, infants and families through pregnancy, postpartum and early childhood.
About this specialty
This pathway centers on equitable birth outcomes and healthy early childhood. Professionals provide home visits, perinatal education, breastfeeding and nutrition support, and advocacy inside clinical settings where families are too often unheard.
Communities served: Pregnant and postpartum people, infants and toddlers, young parents, and multigenerational families.
Careers to explore
Real roles members move into within this specialty.
Community Doula
Continuous labor and postpartum support
Perinatal CHW
Education and navigation across pregnancy
Home Visitor
Family support in the home setting
WIC Peer Counselor
Breastfeeding and nutrition support
Family Resource Center Coordinator
Programming and referrals for families
Skills you already have
Transferable CHW competencies that carry directly into this pathway.
- Family-centered communication
- Health education
- Advocacy in clinical settings
- Referral coordination
- Cultural and language responsiveness
- Home visiting comfort
Skills to build
What can help you step into or advance within this specialty.
- Doula training and certification
- Lactation support fundamentals
- Perinatal mental health screening
- Child development milestones
- Home visiting model curricula
- Reproductive justice frameworks
Recommended training
Professional development that supports this pathway. More programs are added each cohort.
Community Doula Foundations
Unique Catalyst · 6-week cohort
Perinatal Mental Health 101
Partner hospital · Workshop
Breastfeeding Peer Counseling
WIC partner · Online + practicum
Employment opportunities
A sample of the kinds of roles that appear in this specialty. Live postings live in the Career Center.
Community Doula
Birth equity collaborative · Inland Empire, CA
ContractPerinatal CHW
Community clinic · Moreno Valley, CA
Full-timeHome Visitor
Family support agency · Field-based
Full-time
Mentorship in this specialty
Soon you'll be able to discover members already working in maternal & family health and request a mentor from within this pathway. In the meantime, explore our mentorship cycles.