Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance

What Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance does

Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance (HMHBA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity operating as a DBA of Wholistic Midwifery School of Southern California, an entity originally established in 1993; the HMHBA brand debuted in 2020 alongside a new strategic plan. The organization pursues evidence-based, trauma-informed maternity care for low-income Black, Indigenous, and Latinx pregnant persons in Los Angeles County, addressing documented disparities in maternal and infant mortality. Service delivery is built around the Community Doula Program (est. 2010), one of the earliest such programs for low-income families in the county, alongside group and private childbirth education, prenatal/postpartum yoga, support groups, breastfeeding education, placenta encapsulation, fatherhood support, and Blessingway ceremonies. All parent services are priced on a sliding scale with no one turned away for inability to pay; insurance is billed through Medi-Cal (Molina, LA Care, Kaiser Permanente) and PPO plans. HMHBA also offers professional certification tracks for birth doulas, postpartum doulas, childbirth educators, and breastfeeding peer counselors, plus self-paced online courses and consulting services to healthcare organizations. The organization is registered as an NGO in Ghana and South Africa and runs an international Doula Mission of Service to Africa, with the next training scheduled in Pretoria in April 2026.

The business model blends three revenue streams: (1) insurance reimbursement from Medi-Cal managed care plans (Molina, LA Care, Kaiser Permanente) and PPO plans (Kaiser, LA Care/Covered California), (2) sliding-scale parent service fees and training program tuition, and (3) tax-deductible donations via GiveButter, text-to-donate (HMHBA to 53-555), and grants including a disclosed $150,000 from UnitedHealthcare in August 2022. Distribution relies on direct service delivery and a referral network spanning hospitals (Martin Luther King Medical Center, LA County General Hospital), community clinics (Eisner Health, Venice Family Clinic), and health plans, supported by annual symposia (Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative) and the Birthing Justice Forum. HMHBA operates as a program of Heluna Health, leveraging that organization's infrastructure while retaining its own DBA and brand identity; the underlying clinical methodology is grounded in psychologist George Engel's biopsychosocial framework rather than proprietary technology or AI systems, and cumulative program output since 2010 includes training 350+ perinatal health educators, doulas, and breastfeeding peer counselors.

Name

Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance

Legal name

Wholistic Midwifery School of Southern California

Website

https://motherbabysupport.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a community doula program and perinatal health training and certification tracks for low-income Black, Indigenous, and Latinx pregnant persons, billing Medi-Cal and PPO plans while accepting sliding-scale fees and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal and Child Health Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Postpartum Family Helper (Non-Medical) (HSAAAGAJ), Newborn Care Specialist Placement, Matching & Staffing Services (HSAAACAK), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

Keywords

• Community doula services
• Perinatal professional training
• Maternal child health
• Breastfeeding peer counseling
• Postpartum support

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Insurance Reimbursement: Revenue from Medi-Cal and PPO insurance plans including Kaiser Permanente, Molina, and LA Care/Covered California for doula and support services
2. Sliding Scale Service Fees: Competitive rates and sliding scale fees for families without insurance coverage. No one turned away for inability to pay. Families who can afford services encouraged to pay it forward.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted through GiveButter platform and text-to-donate (HMHBA to 53-555). Organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance delivers evidence-based, trauma-informed community doula support to families during labor, birth, and postpartum (one of the first programs in LA County for low-income families, established 2010) on a sliding scale regardless of ability to pay. It also operates professional certification training programs for birth doulas, postpartum doulas, childbirth educators, and breastfeeding peer counselors, complemented by perinatal consultation services for healthcare organizations.

Product overview

Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance operates as a unified maternal-child health organization offering both direct service programs and professional education/training. The core offerings include a Community Doula Program providing free/low-cost doula support to families (established 2010), complemented by professional certification programs for Birth Doulas, Postpartum Doulas, Childbirth Educators, and Breastfeeding Peer Counselors. Parent support services include childbirth education classes, yoga, support groups, breastfeeding education, placenta encapsulation, and birth consultations. The organization also runs international programs in Africa and provides technical consultation to healthcare organizations. Online self-paced courses are available via a dedicated learning platform. All programs are grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches with a focus on equity and social justice for communities of color.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Doula Program Community-based doula support providing professional labor and postpartum companionship to families, with focus on low-income, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. Services offered on a sliding scale with no one turned away for inability to pay, and bills Medi-Cal/PPO insurance.
• Community Birth Doula Training & Certification Program Comprehensive evidence-based, trauma-informed training and certification for individuals seeking to become birth doulas; available bilingually in English and Spanish and celebrates diversity and social justice.
• Heart & Hands Postpartum Doula Training & Certification Program Certification program training postpartum doulas to support families during the postpartum period with infant care, breastfeeding support, and maternal recovery.
• Childbirth Educator Training Certification Program Professional certification program qualifying health and human service workers to teach evidence-based perinatal education to expectant parents.
• Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Training & Certification Program Certification program preparing breastfeeding peer counselors to provide lactation support and education to new mothers in community and clinical settings.
• Online Self-Paced Courses Online learning platform offering self-paced perinatal professional development courses accessible via courses.motherbabysupport.net.
• Childbirth Education Classes (Group) Group childbirth preparation classes for expectant parents covering labor, delivery, and early newborn care in Spanish and English.
• Childbirth Education Classes (Private Instruction) One-on-one private childbirth preparation instruction for first-time and experienced parents seeking personalized education.
• Prenatal and Postpartum Yoga Yoga workshops designed for pregnant and postpartum persons to support physical wellness, stress reduction, and preparation for childbirth.
• Fatherhood Support Services Mentorship and support programs for fathers and partners, providing guidance on involvement during pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting.
• Mother's Support Group (Mothercraft Circle) Support groups for new mothers providing community connection, shared experiences, and mutual support during the transition to motherhood, offered in Spanish and English.
• Birth Options Consultation & Pre-Conception Counseling Individual consultations helping families explore birth options and make informed decisions about pregnancy, birthplace selection, and care provider choices.
• Breastfeeding and Postpartum Education Class Educational classes on breastfeeding techniques, postpartum recovery, and infant care for new and expectant parents.
• Placenta Encapsulation Services Professional placenta encapsulation services for postpartum recovery support.
• Nurturing Roots Support for Childbearing Families Comprehensive support services for childbearing families addressing emotional, physical, and educational needs during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Doula Mission of Service to Africa International program taking delegations of American birth workers to provide doula services, conduct trainings, and educate healthcare providers on respectful maternity care in Ghana and South Africa; next training scheduled in Pretoria, South Africa, April 10, 18, 25, 2026.
• Doula Apprenticeship Program Unpaid volunteer apprenticeship for new graduate doulas that pairs them with experienced doulas for hands-on experience required for birth and postpartum doula certification.
• Blessingway Ceremonies Celebratory ceremonies honoring pregnancy, birth, and motherhood as meaningful life transitions.
• Professional Networking Events & Conferences Annual conferences, symposiums, and webinars including the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative Symposium, Birthing Justice Forum, and Maternal-Child Health Champion Awards offering CEUs and professional networking.
• Technical Support & Staff Development Services Consultation and training services for healthcare organizations including hospitals, health plans, FQHCs, and health departments to integrate community-based doulas, childbirth education, midwifery model of care, and lactation support into perinatal services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully trained over 350 individuals as perinatal health educators, birth and postpartum doulas, and breastfeeding peer counselors
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Heluna HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHappy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance is a program of Heluna Health, working to improve health outcomes for all mothers and infants along with other community doula programs throughout California.
• Rising CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization focused on health of pregnant persons and their infants.
• Martin Luther King Medical Center Prenatal Care ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing prenatal care program services.
• Los Angeles County General Hospital Nurse-Midwifery ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing nurse-midwifery services.
• Eisner HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health center partner providing pregnancy care services.
• LA Care Health PlancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLA Care Generating Support for African American Infants and Nurturer's Program. Accepts LA Care insurance and PPO plans for doula services.
• Venice Family ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity clinic partner providing health services to pregnant persons.
• California Nurse-Midwives AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative Symposium, promoting nurse-midwifery integration into healthcare.
• Black Women Birthing JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on Black women's pregnancy and childbirth experiences and birth justice.
• Human Rights in ChildbirthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization co-hosting Birthing Justice Forum and Human Rights Summit on rights of childbearing persons.
• Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI) to improve maternity care.
• Pasadena Public Health Department Black Infant Health ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic health program partner dedicated to reducing perinatal health disparities among African-American women and infants.
• Maternal-Child Health AccessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing maternal-child health services and advocacy.
• California Latinas for Reproductive JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on reproductive justice for Latina communities.
• Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative Symposium focused on perinatal psychology.
• Maternal Mental Health NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing maternal mental health services, co-sponsor of events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HealthConnect One: National non-profit that pioneered the community-based doula model for underserved families. Operates similar training, certification, and direct-service programs targeting Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color — the closest direct analog to HMHBA's mission and model.
• Ancient Song Doula Services: Community-based doula organization providing no-cost or sliding-scale birth doula support to women of color and low-income families in New York/New Jersey. Operates both direct services and a doula training program, mirroring HMHBA's dual model.
• Mamatoto Village: Washington D.C.-based non-profit providing community doula and home visiting services specifically for Black women and women of color, with a perinatal workforce training pipeline. Highly comparable mission, target population, and service mix.
• Commonsense Childbirth: Non-profit founded by Jennie Joseph offering midwifery and doula services to underserved communities plus a perinatal professional training school. Closely aligned with HMHBA's midwifery/doula dual focus and equity-driven model.

Emerging players

• National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC): National non-profit focused on birth equity research, training, and advocacy for Black mothers and infants. Overlaps with HMHBA on training and advocacy but is less focused on direct in-home doula service delivery.
• Frontline Doulas: Community-based doula program operating in multiple states with a workforce development model for doulas from underserved communities. Comparable mission and emerging geographic footprint to HMHBA.

Broad incumbents

• DONA International: Largest and oldest doula training and certification body globally. Provides the underlying certification framework many community doula programs (including HMHBA) build upon; represents the established incumbent in doula workforce credentialing.
• Lamaze International: Established childbirth education credentialing and parent education organization with comparable professional certification programs for childbirth educators. Overlaps with HMHBA's Childbirth Educator Training track but is broader and more consumer-facing.

Others

• Black Mamas Matter Alliance: National advocacy and policy body advancing Black maternal health rights. Complementary to HMHBA's birth-justice advocacy work but does not deliver direct doula services or training.
• Choices in Childbirth: Maternal health advocacy organization focused on consumer education and policy reform. Thematically aligned with HMHBA's policy and Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative work but does not run direct service programs.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv59CZjWlMMQGrMlLl_K8bA
• Xx.com/mombabysupport

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance