We’re Now Sierra Doula Academy (Formerly Sierra Childbirth Institute)

Big news! We’ve changed our name from Sierra Childbirth Institute to Sierra Doula Academy — and I want to share a little bit about why.

Our Mission Remains the Same

From the beginning, our mission has been to educate, empower, and uplift birthworkers who support families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey. While that core hasn’t changed, our focus has evolved—and it was time our name reflected that growth.

Why the Change?

When I first launched Sierra Childbirth Institute, my goal was to offer a wide range of education around childbirth — and we’ve done that at SCI. But as time went on, one area became especially near and dear to my heart: doula training. 

I’ve been training doulas since before the term “doula” was brought in—when we were still known as Childbirth Assistants, Birth Assistants, or Labor Assistants. I’ve seen firsthand how doulas change birth experiences, build community, and offer critical support to birthing families. More and more of my energy was going into training and mentoring doulas.

Over the last 22 years since launching SCI, I’ve been blessed with a team of other educators to help build the bridges between doulas and the birthing families. 

Now, it’s time for our name to reflect what we’ve truly become.

What Sierra Doula Academy Represents

  • Sierra still grounds us in nature, strength, and our roots — whether that’s geographic or symbolic.
  • Doula puts our purpose front and center. We train doulas, support doulas, and believe in the transformative power of this work.
  • Academy reflects our structured, professional, and heart-centered approach to education.

Same Values, Sharper Focus

While our name has changed, our values have not. We remain dedicated to cultivating a supportive, inclusive, and empowering learning environment for doulas at every stage of their journey.

Whether you’ve trained with us before or are just finding your way to this work—we’re so glad you’re here. Thank you for being part of our evolution.

We can’t wait to walk this next chapter with you.

With gratitude,
Janine


Janine Maitri, BDT(DONA)
Founding Director
Sierra Doula Academy
916-999-0210
sierradoulaacademy.com 

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We are now Sierra Doula Academy (formerly Sierra Childbirth Institute)

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