The U.S. Census offered a surprising snapshot of stay-at-home moms last week and tucked into that report is a finding that suggests the need for diverse doula programs: Roughly a third of stay-at-home moms were born in other countries.
While the summary doesn’t break down all of the nations, it suggests a demand for doulas familiar with the foreign cultures that define neighborhoods where early learning groups focus their efforts.
An obvious example is the Seattle-area’s White Center neighborhood. Open Arms Perinatal Services, with the support of Thrive by Five Washington, has launched an outreach doula program that helps that community’s Latino and Somali moms get the help and support they need through their pregnancies and births and for up to two years after their child is born.
Of course, reaching moms from Somalia, Croatia, Mexico, Russia, China, Vietnam and other countries isn’t easy. That’s why program workers need to know their communities and focus on the greatest need.
Other interesting findings from the Census report:
- In the U.S., 62 percent of children were in households with married parents who both worked.
- Married couples headed 67 percent of families with kids, a drop from 87 percent in 1970.
- Stay-at-home moms are younger than working moms - 44 percent were younger than 35, compared to 38 percent of working moms.
Finally, as a part-time stay-at-home dad, I have to question the Census finding that there are 165,000 stay-at-home fathers in this country. I counted at least three in my daughter’s 15-student pre-kindergarten class.
But this is a story for another day, maybe tomorrow.
Further reading: