Overview
A Doula Story documents one woman’s fierce commitment to empower pregnant teenagers with the skills and knowledge they need to become confident nurturing mothers.
A woman of remarkable magnetism and complexity, Loretha Weisinger returns to the same neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side where she once struggled as a teen mom. She uses compassion and humor to teach the young mothers-to-be about everything from the importance of breast-feeding and reading to their babies to the practical details of communicating effectively with healthcare professionals.A community doula for more than 10 years, Loretha knows that pregnant teens need guidance and education, not judgment or pity. In the face of overwhelming challenges—from absentee fathers and drug addiction to the disparagement of society—a doula reveals how one person can make a difference in the lives of young mothers and their babies.
A Doula Story was broadcast on almost 100 PBS stations nationwide. In addition, the film won a CINE Golden Eagle and was Best Documentary at the Director’s View Festival and the Milwaukee International Film Festival. It screened in competition at the San Francisco International and Hot Springs Documentary Film Festivals and at numerous other festivals around the country.
Impact
A Doula Story’s strategic engagement plan inspired communities to:
- Engage the public in candid, practical discussions about teen pregnancy and parenting, prenatal care, reproductive health and early childhood development.
- Inspire community action
- Replicate the Chicago Health Connection’s community-based doula model in pilot sites around the country.
Kindling and Active Voice, in partnership the Chicago Health Connection (now Health Connect One), worked with local and national community experts and educators in organizations that intersect the fields of women’s health, education, early childhood development and family services. Initial sites include the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Chicago and Cleveland. Committed to leveraging Loretha’s story to inform and engage key
stakeholders and the general public, AV and CHC will develop extensive components, including community discussion guides, an interactive Web site and shorter educational “modules” culled from the film.
Replication of the community-based doula program portrayed in the film in communities across the nation. The program was included the 2007 federal budget as a result of Washington DC screenings of the film and extensive conversations with sponsors Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and then-Senator Barack Obama (D-IL).
The creation of innovative, interactive community toolkits allowed different stakeholders within a community to appropriately use the film for their audiences. The DVD includes themed segments, built-in discussion questions, electronic versions of campaign materials Spanish translations and materials tested for cultural appropriateness. Grants enabled this toolkit to reach thousands of high schools and partnerships with Doulas of North America, Healthy Teen Network and others extended its reach even further. The film and program were covered by the New York Times, People magazine, The Chicago Tribune
Thousands of educators, healthcare providers, and community organizations have screened A Doula Story for their constituents.
Acknowledgements
Directed by Danny Alpert and Produced/Edited by Susanne Suffredin. Funding for the film and impact campaign was made by:
- The Spirit Foundation
- The Susan A. Buffett Foundation
- Marguerite Casey Foundation
- The George Gund Foundation
- The Chicago Foundation for Women
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Daniel Alpert
Laura Fallsgraff
Mara Sheban
Ingrid Roettgen
Adam Joel
Adam Wisneski
Ines Sommer
