Where every baby has a chance to be the best baby.
Best Baby Wake is a collective impact initiative within Wake County Public Health working to improve the lives of families and children (aged 0–5) in Wake County by offering unique and tailored evidence-based programs to all families. Best Baby Wake works with the community to address our three program goals:
Upcoming Events
Connect with us!
Have questions? Email hhs.bestbabywake@wake.gov
Doula Services Program
Best Baby Wake’s doula services provides complete doula care during the prenatal, labor and delivery and into the postpartum period for Wake County Residents. Best Baby Wake serves expecting families through emotional support, education and advocacy to help families achieve a positive birthing experience. By increasing access to doula care for high-risk families we work to address disparities that often result from systematic oppression and structural barriers.
Those with doula support during their pregnancy are less likely to have a cesarean birth, less likely to use Pitocin and more likely to rate a greater satisfaction with their birth experience. Studies also show that doula support can improve the preterm birth and low birthweight rates among non-Hispanic Black women and helps reduce racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes through education, awareness and advocacy.
What is a doula?
A doula a trained birth companion that provides physical, emotional and educational support to the birthing person and their support person(s) before, during and after childbirth, including continuous labor support to help achieve the healthiest, most satisfying birth experience as possible.
Need a doula?
Due to limited capacity of our pilot program, referrals are currently only being accepted from existing Best Baby Wake community partners, Nurse Family Partnership, Maternal Home Visiting, Childbirth Education, WIC and WCHHS Clinics. Referred clients must meet the eligibility criteria below to potentially receive doula services.
We encourage community members to sign up for “Ask a Doula” where our team provides 30-minute doula consultations monthly for community members who may not be eligible or for more immediate assistance.
Client eligibility:
- Live in Wake County
- Birthing at WakeMed – New Bern
- Identified as high need or high-risk
- Referral must be made between 24–29 weeks.
Additional doula programs serving Wake County
Interested in becoming a doula?
Join our newsletter to know when applications are open!
Doula Applications
The Best Baby Wake program is excited to share two paid opportunities for Spanish‑speaking community members to serve as a breastfeeding support group leader and as birth doulas (certification required; DONA certification preferred) supporting prenatal and postpartum families in Wake County. Interested individuals are invited to complete the applications below. Selected applicants will be contacted for a virtual meeting to learn more about the roles and participate in an interview. Please share or apply using the forms below and submit applications by Monday, June 15. Questions may be directed to ph.bestbabywake@wake.gov.
Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
Triple P, Positive Parenting Program, is one of the world's most effective parenting programs. With more than 30 years of ongoing research, Triple P is one of the few evidence-based parenting programs with more than 230 trials and studies around the world showing that it works regardless of culture, country or individual situation. Triple P has helped more than 6 million children and their families in more than 20 countries around the world. Best Baby Wake currently offers level 3 Primary Care Triple P and Level 4 Triple P Baby.
Find a Triple P Practitioner in Wake County, learn more about Triple P, view parenting articles and more at triplep-parenting.net.
Why Triple P?
Triple P supports parents in raising confident, healthy children and teenagers. It gives parents the practical skills they need to build strong family relationships, manage misbehavior and prevent problems from happening in the first place. It doesn't tell people how to parent, rather it gives them simple and practical strategies they can adapt to suit their own values, beliefs and needs. Triple P also recognizes that one size doesn't fit all. It's a system that offers increasing levels of support to meet parents' different needs.
Interested in Triple P?
Check out these Triple P resources:
Level 3: Primary Care Triple P
Practitioner Support
Accredited Triple P practitioners serving families in Wake County are welcome to join us for our peer assisted supervisory (PASS) sessions. PASS sessions are thoughtfully curated to provide the best support for our practitioners as they work to serve local families. These sessions provide an opportunity to connect with other Triple P Providers, ask questions on implementation, and receive technical support from Best Baby Wake and our partners. Individual coaching sessions are also available.
Upcoming PASS Session - Nov. 14
Are you a newly trained Triple P practitioner? Connect with your cohort, receive your practitioner materials, and explore your first steps toward implementing Triple P with confidence and fidelity. This session is designed to help you network, ask questions, and build a supportive community as you begin your journey in supporting families.
Friday, Nov. 14 | 10 a.m. - noon | Wake County Public Health Center (room 344) | Register here.
Want to Become a Trained Practitioner?
Are you a professional or individual dedicated to supporting families during the exciting, yet challenging, transition to parenthood? Triple P Baby is designed specifically for you!
Triple P Baby is ideal for Family Support Workers, Doulas, Case Managers, Social Workers, Home Visiting Staff, etc. engaged in one on one sessions with families.
Discover how the Triple P Baby Program can enhance your work with parents of infants (up to 12 months). Plus, find out how you can qualify for a Scholarship to join this valuable training!
Upcoming Triple P Baby Scholarship Coming Spring 2025!
For more information on future Triple P trainings, please contact our Triple P Coordinator, tiffany.lawrence@wake.gov.
Additional Parenting Resources
Have a community event coming up? Invite Best Baby Wake to come support!
Email HHS.BestBabyWake@wake.gov to request a tabling.
Funding Acknowledgement
The Improving Community Outcomes for Maternal and Child Health (ICO4MCH) Program was established by the North Carolina Division of Public Health in 2015 to provide funding to local health departments to improve birth outcomes, reduce infant mortality, and improve health among children ages birth to five across North Carolina.
Wake County ICO4MCH, also known as Best Baby Wake, is one of five sites across the state of North Carolina receiving funding to implement various evidence-based strategies to contribute to the improvement of birth outcomes, the reduction of infant mortality, and the improvement of children’s health ages birth to five.