HealthConnect One

What HealthConnect One does

HealthConnect One is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that develops and disseminates evidence-based training programs for community-based doulas, breastfeeding and lactation peer counselors, and perinatal community health workers. Its core product is the nationally recognized Community-Based Doula Program, refined over 30+ years and structured around a five-component framework, a 20-session interactive training course, and a formal National Accreditation Program that enables replication by partner organizations. Adjacent program modules include Training of Trainers (TOTs), Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Programs, the DoulaREADI workforce program, and Early Relational Health Training Modules developed with the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

The organization serves Black, Brown, and Indigenous birthing families, addressing maternal and infant health disparities through partner organizations such as Open Arms Perinatal Services, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, BirthMatters, Tewa Women United, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Uzuri Birth (Ghana), and others. Operations span 36 U.S. states across 175+ communities and 2 continents, supported by offices in Chicago, Charlotte, Asheville, and Accra. Its go-to-market is community-led: HealthConnect One co-designs and replicates programs with hospitals, maternal-child health organizations, tribal nations, and grassroots organizers rather than selling a discrete product.

Revenue derives from foundation grants (including a $1.5 million Elevance Health Foundation grant in June 2025 to fund training in six states), training and consultation fees paid by replication partners, accreditation fees, individual and corporate donations, and partnership grants. The organization is led by President & CEO Dr. Twylla Dillion and newly appointed COO Janessa Mondestin (effective June 30, 2026), holds a GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency, and operates with a small core staff (11–50 employees).

Name

HealthConnect One

Legal name

HealthConnect One

Website

https://healthconnectone.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HealthConnect One is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 that trains and accredits community-based doulas, breastfeeding peer counselors, and perinatal health workers to advance birth equity in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities across 36 U.S. states and Ghana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal-Child Health Community Programs

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN), Breastfeeding, Lactation & Infant Feeding Support (EDACAMAB), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Community-based doula training
• Maternal and child health
• Birth equity advocacy
• Perinatal community health workers
• Breastfeeding peer counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding: Primary revenue source from foundation grants including a $1.5 million Elevance Health Foundation grant. The nonprofit receives funding to support doula training programs and maternal health initiatives.
2. Training and Consultation Services: Revenue generated through training programs, technical support, and consultation for organizations seeking to replicate the Community-Based Doula model. Includes accreditation fees and replication partnership fees.
3. Donations: Individual donations and corporate donations to support birth equity mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HealthConnect One trains community-based doulas, perinatal community health workers, and breastfeeding peer counselors through a nationally recognized evidence-based curriculum. It partners with hospitals, nonprofits, and tribal nations to replicate its Community-Based Doula Program, providing training, technical assistance, and accreditation. Its work is focused on advancing birth equity and improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities across 36 U.S. states and internationally.

Product overview

HealthConnect One operates as a national birth equity nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a traditional software product. The core offering is the nationally-recognized Community-Based Doula Program, an evidence-based model refined over 30+ years that trains community-based doulas to provide culturally sensitive support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. This core program is supported by Training of Trainers (TOTs) and DoulaREADI modules for workforce development, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Programs for lactation support, and Early Relational Health Training Modules for early childhood focus. Regional initiatives like the North Carolina Doula Collaborative expand reach locally, while public awareness campaigns like 'Doulas Are for Every Body' drive broader adoption. The organization also provides advocacy, research collaboration, and formal replication partnerships with maternal-child health organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved breastfeeding rates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Uzuri BirthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Partnership to launch Ghana's first Community-Based Doula training cohort. Uzuri Birth formalized as HealthConnect One's first certified international training partner. Fifteen graduates completed the inaugural program in Accra.
• March of DimesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Partnership for North Carolina March for Change event, hosted by March of Dimes to advance maternal health advocacy.
• UNC School SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew community-based partnership between UNC school system and Robeson County supporting maternal health initiatives in North Carolina.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SisterWeb: San Francisco-based community doula organization that co-presented the Doula Data Consortium Time Use Study with HealthConnect One. Operates a directly comparable community-based doula model serving communities of color.
• Ancient Song Doula Services: Brooklyn-based doula training and perinatal support organization focused on birth equity for Black and Brown families. Directly comparable mission, training model, and target beneficiary community.
• Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association: Detroit-based nonprofit focused on breastfeeding support in Black communities; an accredited replication partner of HealthConnect One. Overlapping mission around maternal-child health equity and a documented customer relationship.
• National Birth Equity Collaborative: National nonprofit focused on birth equity research, policy, and training for Black maternal and infant health. Closely aligned mission, national scope, and shared funder ecosystem with HealthConnect One.
• Uzuri Birth: Ghanaian community-based doula training organization that became HealthConnect One's first certified international training partner. Directly comparable community doula model with an explicit cross-border partnership.
• Maternity Care Coalition: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing maternal and child health services to 135,000+ families. An existing HealthConnect One replication partner with closely aligned perinatal support programming.

Emerging players

• Commonsense Childbirth: Perinatal health organization founded by midwife Jennie Joseph, focused on improving birth outcomes in underserved communities via the JJ Way model. Overlapping equity-centered perinatal philosophy and practitioner-training approach.

Broad incumbents

• Every Mother Counts: National maternal health nonprofit founded by Christy Turlington Burns with broader advocacy, grantmaking, and global maternal health programs. Operates in the same maternal-equity category but with a wider geographic and programmatic footprint.
• March of Dimes: Large, established nonprofit addressing maternal and infant health with research, advocacy, and hospital partnerships. HealthConnect One has partnered with March of Dimes on advocacy events, indicating overlap in the maternal-health nonprofit ecosystem.
• National Healthy Start Association: Federally affiliated association supporting the federal Healthy Start program focused on reducing infant mortality in high-risk communities. Operates a network of community-based maternal-child health programs comparable in scope and target population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HealthConnctOne
• Facebookfacebook.com/healthconnectone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthconnect-one
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthconnctone

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HealthConnect One