Our History

Welcome Home Doula Services, Inc. was founded in 2010 by Madeleine Shernock as a doula business with a special interest in serving low-income families. Over the next several years, Madeleine and a dedicated team of Mentor Doulas helped to build the Apprentice Doula Program, a larger community of doulas available to meet the diverse needs of families in the greater Sacramento area.
​Since the start of the Apprentice Doula Program in 2011, over 30 doulas have received training and experience through Welcome Home.
In 2014, Welcome Home Doula Services, Inc. was recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

Welcome Home Midwifery Services was founded in 2016 as a sister organization to WHDS, facilitating affordable midwifery care and clinical midwifery training to the Sacramento region. We received our determination letter as a 501(c)(3) at the end of 2017.

Welcome Home Doula Services and Welcome Home Midwifery Services are underwent a corporate merger in 2018 with Welcome Home Midwifery Services, Inc. as the remaining organization. These organizations combined resources and personnel to better serve the childbearing community of Sacramento. 

Mission Statement

Welcome Home Midwifery Services (WHMS) strives to improve upon and diversify the midwifery community and provide options, quality, and sensitivity in the promotion of perinatal health for families in Central California.

Our Philosophy of Care

Our fundamental philosophy is that pregnancy and birth are normal, healthy events in the life of a family. Birth is an opportunity for personal growth and the strengthening of relationships. It is a unique process that belongs to the pregnant client and their family. 

We offer options to families for their place of birth, care provider, the appropriate level of expertise given their clinical history, and the evidence-based use of technology. Licensed Midwives, who are experts in the care of normal and healthy childbearing families, work independently and in collaboration with other healthcare providers. Together with families, WHMS staff are dedicated to taking the time to educate, advise and support the childbearing family while facilitating a safe, healthy pregnancy and birth. 

​We are guided by the principles of prevention, sensitivity, safety, appropriate medical intervention, and cost effectiveness.
                    
It is our responsibility to provide excellence in a childbearing client’s care and education, and sensitivity to their concerns and needs. The client’s health is also their own responsibility; we expect and encourage them to communicate with us and be leaders in decision-making. We acknowledge the value of both traditional and alternative forms of health promotion and treatment. We will listen to our clients, and treat them and their families with respect, dignity and assurance of confidentiality.

Our Vision

  • To be a model of innovative, consent-based healthcare for student midwives in the Sacramento region.
  • To provide an educational environment to student midwives free from discrimination or intimidation on the basis of class, sex, gender, orientation, cultural background, race, ethnicity, nationality, age, or ability.
  • To provide a safe, humble care environment to clients and their families free from discrimination or intimidation on the basis of class, sex, gender, orientation, cultural background, ethnicity, race, nationality, age, or ability.
  • To promote care by Licensed Midwives and Birth Centers independently and in collaboration with other health care resources.
  • To be a workplace which recognizes the value of teamwork, staff wellness, creativity, and mutual respect and support.
  • To be an educational resource for our clients, our profession, and our community. 
  • To be a financially responsible organization providing affordable, accessible education services and cost-effective midwifery care.

Our Workers

Click here to learn about our care team.

Our Leadership

Click here to learn about our Board of Directors.