Denver’s Roots Family Center Expands Support for Expecting and New Mothers

The Roots Family Center in Denver, Colorado, has recently expanded its services to better support expecting and new mothers and families, with a particular focus on providing culturally and linguistically sensitive care. This expansion includes a growing community doula program designed to address disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Addressing a Critical Demand

For many families, navigating pregnancy, birth and postpartum care can be overwhelming, especially for those new to the country, adjusting to a new language, or facing challenges within the healthcare system. The Roots Family Center aims to bridge these gaps by offering comprehensive support services.

The Role of Community Doulas

Community doulas play a vital role in the center’s expanded services. Alejandra López, a community doula and program coordinator at Roots Family Center, emphasizes the importance of doulas in providing emotional, physical, and informational support to expectant mothers. “We have a lot of women in the U.S. Birthing alone, having lots of questions that sometimes they don’t feel comfortable asking their medical providers, or there’s a language barrier,” López said. “That’s where we approach in, and support.”

Pioneering Spanish-Language Doula Training

The Roots Family Center is unique in its commitment to serving Spanish-speaking communities. It has established Colorado’s first Spanish-language doula training program for immigrant families, addressing critical gaps in care that disproportionately affect this population. Alejandra López was recently recognized nationally with the Kugel & Zuroweste Health Justice Award from the Migrant Clinicians Network for this work .

Medicaid Coverage for Doula Services

Increased access to doula care is becoming more widespread. Colorado Medicaid began covering doula services in 2024 as part of broader efforts to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities in birth outcomes.

Meeting Families Where They Are

The Roots Family Center prioritizes culturally responsive care, offering programs in both Spanish and English to accommodate the needs of diverse families. “One of the things that makes us unique is that our programs are completely in the language of their heart, Spanish or English,” López explained. “We try to accommodate their needs.”

A Growing Demand and Future Goals

Executive Director Crystal Muñoz notes a significant increase in the need for support services, particularly for women giving birth without nearby family. This growing demand prompted the organization to secure a larger, dedicated space to accommodate its expanding programs. The center aims to train more doulas to ensure that every person who needs one has access to support in their preferred language and with someone they feel connected to.

Doula Training and Certification

To date, the program has trained over 30 doulas, with approximately half already certified and more participants currently in training. Scholarships for training are available, though limited, and applications are open.