Key Learning Objectives

  • Provide comprehensive community based perinatal education which addresses inequality and barriers to care.

  • Provide support for pregnant people and families during early and late pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

  • Provide culturally competent breastfeeding education and support, as well as early recognition and intervention of breastfeeding problems and barriers, and ways to increase retention.

Course Description

The purpose of the Community Outreach Perinatal Education (COPE) program is to improve and promote healthier outcomes for women and babies, and to reduce disparities in maternal child health by implementing the The JJ Way® model of perinatal care. 


The COPE program uses a culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed curriculum that includes comprehensive training for community-based Doula, Childbirth Education and Breastfeeding Education for peer-supporters, community health workers, para- professionals and home visitors. Participants that complete the program become Certified Perinatal Educators (CPE).

 

The JJ Way® has proven successful. In studies, The JJ Way® clients were 42% less likely to have a preterm baby, 46% less likely to have a low birth weight baby, and 32% less likely to have a cesarean section in comparison to the averages for Orange County, Florida. Most importantly, racial disparities were eradicated between African American and white women for prematurity, low-birth weight and breastfeeding rates.

Course Highlights & Focus Areas

  • Participants have a better understanding of The JJ Way® Method and are able to utilize this methodology when caring for their clients. 
  • This empowering and engaging program increases the confidence and wisdom to build capacity for community based organizations and individuals to actively reduce barriers to breastfeeding initiation and retention.
  • A culturally sensitive curriculum that includes comprehensive training on community-based Doula, Childbirth Education and Breastfeeding Education for peer supporters, community health workers, para- professionals and home visitors.
  • The curriculum includes teaching tools and resources. At the end of this educational program, participants will have become proficient and competent, with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide:

    • Comprehensive community based perinatal education.

    • Support for pregnant women and families during early and late pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

    • Breastfeeding education and support, as well as early recognition and intervention of breastfeeding problems and barriers, and ways to increase retention.

Certified Perinatal Educator (CPE) credential

We are proud to offer the Certified Perinatal Educator (CPE) certification pathway for graduates of the COPE program. In addition, public health agencies who employ CPEs are able to bill for educational units according to their individual state or federal guidelines. 

CPE’s are eligible to move to higher levels of education in the perinatal arena based on this foundational training. CPEs may become independent providers and register for a National Provider Identification (NPI) number under the taxonomy codes for Health Educator or Doula with the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), and depending on individual state statutes, may be eligible to bill for Medicaid and insurance for their services.