全美首个助产士注册学徒计划在宾夕法尼亚州启动：边学边赚扩充孕产照护队伍
宾夕法尼亚州夏皮罗政府10月19日在 Lancaster 正式启动「宾夕法尼亚州全州注册助产士学徒计划」（Pennsylvania Statewide Registered Doula Apprenticeship Program），这是全美首个专门培训助产士（doula）的注册学徒计划。助产士是在产前、分娩过程中及产后短期内，为孕产妇提供持续身体、情感与信息支持的专业人员。
该计划由宾夕法尼亚州公共服务部（DHS）、卫生部（DOH）、劳工与工业部（L&I）与非营利机构 Patients R Waiting 合作推出，采用「边学边赚」（earn-while-you-learn）模式，把助产士培训正式化，内容包括为期八周的在线培训、16个模块的助产士课程、为期12个月的循证分娩实践订阅，以及由 DONA International 认证培训师主持的两天线下培训。申请已于10月16日开放。
宾夕法尼亚州公共服务部部长 Dr. Val Arkoosh 在启动仪式上表示，与助产士合作，能让孕妇在整个孕期、分娩和产后都有一位熟练的倡导者和顾问，帮助她们应对各种变化、为分娩做准备，并在出现问题时及时识别、寻求额外支持；这个首创的学徒计划通过消除入行障碍来扩大助产士服务的可及性，是壮大这一重要队伍的重要一步。劳工与工业部（L&I）负责劳动力发展的副部长 Patricia Blumenauer 表示，该计划把注册学徒制扩展到新兴领域，为宾夕法尼亚州居民创造建立有意义职业的机会。
据宾夕法尼亚州公共服务部（DHS）介绍，该州2024年已通过宾夕法尼亚州认证委员会为助产士设立官方认证，获认证的助产士可首次登记成为医疗补助（Medicaid）服务提供者；目前全州有255名获认证助产士，其中150名已登记加入 Medicaid。夏皮罗政府自2023年1月以来已为宾夕法尼亚州卫生部（DOH）的妇幼健康项目争取到超过1,750万美元资金，并于今年早些时候发布该州首份孕产健康战略行动计划。（GSM 据宾夕法尼亚州公共服务部 DHS 新闻稿报道）
Pennsylvania Launches Nation's First Registered Doula Apprenticeship Program
In Pennsylvania, the Shapiro Administration on October 19 launched the Pennsylvania Statewide Registered Doula Apprenticeship Program in Lancaster, the first registered apprenticeship program in the United States designed specifically to train doulas. Doulas are professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and educational support to clients before, during, and shortly after childbirth.
The program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), and the nonprofit Patients R Waiting. Through an earn-while-you-learn approach, it formalizes doula training with eight weeks of online training, a 16-module doula school with certified trainers, a 12-month subscription to Evidence-based Birth Practices, and a two-day in-person training with a certified DONA International trainer. Applications opened on October 16.
Pennsylvania DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said working with a doula connects pregnant women with a skilled advocate and advisor through pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period, and that the first-of-its-kind program will increase access to doula services by removing barriers for those who want to become doulas. L&I Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Patricia Blumenauer said the program expands registered apprenticeships into new and emerging fields.
According to DHS, Pennsylvania created an official certification for doulas through the Pennsylvania Certification Board in 2024, allowing certified doulas to enroll as Medicaid providers for the first time; there are currently 255 certified doulas in the state, 150 of them enrolled in Medicaid. Since January 2023, the Shapiro Administration has secured more than $17.5 million for the Department of Health's maternal and child health initiatives and earlier this year unveiled Pennsylvania's first Maternal Health Strategic Action Plan. (GSM, based on a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services release)
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0，作者 Randolph Carney（Lancaster 市中心实景）
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
