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Doula training community, Grounded Beginnings Birth
Inland Empire, Southern California

Birth support, built for your community.

Grounded Beginnings Birth trains doulas who are deeply embedded in the communities they serve. Our programs are built around collaboration, lived experience, and practical skills that make a real difference during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

4
Lead trainers on the team
100%
Community-focused curriculum
IE
Rooted in the Inland Empire
Open
Trainings forming now
Grounded Beginnings Birth team
Who We Are

A team that knows what community means.

Grounded Beginnings Birth is a team of passionate doulas committed to making a real difference in birth and postpartum support. We are headquartered in the Inland Empire area of Southern California, where we are deeply connected to the communities we work within.

Our primary focus is training doulas who expand access to essential birth support, especially in communities that have historically been underserved. We bring professional competencies. Communities bring their own wisdom and strengths. Together, the result is training that actually works where it needs to.

We believe every community has its own knowledge. That is why we co-create, not just instruct. Our programs are built with the people they are built for.

Inland Empire Based Community Co-Creation Pregnancy Support Birth Training Postpartum Skills Accessible Care
Our Programs

Training that travels with you.

Three focused training pathways designed to equip doulas with the skills, confidence, and community knowledge to provide exceptional support.

Doula foundation training
Foundation

Doula Foundations Training

A comprehensive start for new doulas. Covers pregnancy support, labor companionship, immediate postpartum care, and the fundamentals of working within community systems.

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Community birth support training
Community

Community-Centered Birth Support

Built for doulas already working in specific communities. Focuses on co-creation, culturally-responsive practice, and expanding reach within underserved populations.

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Postpartum support skills training
Postpartum

Postpartum Skills Intensive

Focused training on the fourth trimester: infant feeding support, emotional wellbeing, family systems, and the practical skills that make the first weeks possible.

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The Trainers

People who have been there.

Our trainers bring diverse backgrounds, deep community ties, and real experience in birth work to every program they lead.

Deidre Medley, Co-Founder
Deidre Medley
Co-Founder

A passionate advocate for accessible birth support, Deidre brings years of doula experience and a deep understanding of community dynamics to every training she leads.

Priscilla Valenzuela, Co-Founder
Priscilla Valenzuela
Co-Founder

Priscilla brings lived experience and professional training together to create programs that resonate across cultural contexts throughout the Inland Empire region.

Bianca Reid, Co-Founder
Bianca Reid
Co-Founder

Bianca specializes in postpartum support and community outreach, ensuring Grounded Beginnings programs are built on collaboration, not just instruction.

Chantel Runnels, Co-Founder
Chantel Runnels
Co-Founder

Chantel's focus is on empowering doulas to expand their services and make essential birth support more accessible to the families who need it most.

Our Approach

Training built on collaboration, not just curriculum.

Most doula training programs hand you a manual and wish you well. We do it differently. We study the community you work in, bring our expertise, and build the training around what that community actually needs.

The result is doulas who are not just certified but genuinely prepared to show up for the families in front of them.

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Community Co-Creation

We build programs with the communities they serve, not just for them.

Diverse Trainer Backgrounds

Our team brings a breadth of lived and professional experience to the table.

Expanded Access

We specifically focus on making birth support more accessible in underserved communities.

Practical Skills

Every training is built around skills that work in the real world, not just in a classroom.

How It Works

From application to trained doula.

A clear four-step pathway from your first inquiry through to completing a Grounded Beginnings training program.

01

Apply

Submit a short application. Tell us about yourself and the community you serve.

02

Connect

We reach out to talk through fit, timing, and which program is right for you.

03

Train

Attend the training with a cohort of passionate doulas. Hands-on, community-focused, practical.

04

Show Up

Return to your community equipped, confident, and connected to a wider support network.

From Our Community

What trainees say.

Grounded Beginnings programs are built for real people doing real work. Here is what it looks like in practice.

★★★★★
This training did not just give me skills. It gave me confidence. The Grounded Beginnings team understood the community I was going back to, and that made all the difference.
Vanessa L. Doula Foundations Graduate
★★★★★
I had done other doula programs. Nothing came close to the depth of what Grounded Beginnings covers around community practice. Genuinely different.
Rosario M. Community Birth Support Graduate
★★★★★
The trainers bring so much lived experience. It felt like being trained by people who actually understood the work, not just people who studied it.
Tamika W. Postpartum Skills Intensive Graduate
Grounded Beginnings Birth community impact
Our Mission

Every community deserves grounded birth support.

We are rooted in the Inland Empire and focused on communities that have been historically underserved when it comes to birth care. Through tailored training, co-created curriculum, and a team with real community connections, we are working to change that.

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FAQ

Questions, answered.

The things we get asked most often before people apply.

Do I need prior experience to apply for a Grounded Beginnings training?

No prior doula certification is required for our Foundations program. We welcome people who are new to birth work as well as those already practicing. Our Community-Centered and Postpartum programs are best suited for doulas with some existing experience.

Where are the trainings held?

Our home base is the Inland Empire area of Southern California, and most in-person trainings take place here. We also offer select programs in other locations and are expanding our reach. Get in touch to ask about your area.

How long does a training program take?

Program length varies by pathway. The Foundations training is typically delivered over a weekend intensive plus follow-up sessions. Community-Centered and Postpartum intensives are structured similarly. Full schedules are provided when you apply.

Is the training focused on a specific community or background?

Our programs are designed for doulas serving a wide range of communities, with particular emphasis on communities that are historically underserved in birth care. We bring our professional expertise and co-create curriculum around the specific community context of each cohort.

What happens after I complete a training?

Graduates become part of the Grounded Beginnings network. We stay connected, share resources, and support ongoing professional development. Our goal is not just to train doulas but to build a community of practice that lasts well beyond the training itself.

How do I find out about upcoming training dates?

The best way is to submit an application or reach out through the contact form below. We will let you know about upcoming cohorts and can add you to our notification list for new training dates as they are scheduled.

Apply Now

Ready to train as a grounded doula?

Applications are open for upcoming cohorts. Fill in the form below and a member of the Grounded Beginnings team will be in touch within one business day.

Tailored Programs

Curriculum built around your community context, not a generic template.

Small Cohorts

Intentional group sizes so every trainee gets real attention and support.

Ongoing Network

Graduates stay connected through the Grounded Beginnings community.

Get in Touch to Apply
Get In Touch

Let’s talk.

Whether you want to apply for a training, ask about upcoming cohort dates, or explore how Grounded Beginnings can serve your community, reach out and we will respond within one business day.

Tell us about yourself.

A member of the team will respond within one business day to talk through next steps.

What happens next: You will receive an email confirmation right away. A Grounded Beginnings trainer will follow up within one business day to discuss fit and upcoming dates.

We got it. Thank you.

A confirmation is on its way to your inbox. Expect to hear from our team within one business day.