When Sylvia Halliburton became the first person to complete Arkansas' new community-based doula certification process, it marked more than a professional achievement. It marked the beginning of a long-overdue shift in how Arkansas recognizes maternal support, especially in rural communities that have been underserved for generations.

For years, doulas across Arkansas have done essential work largely without formal recognition, sustainable funding, or reimbursement pathways. They have shown up for women in labor, sat beside mothers navigating high-risk pregnancies, connected families to transportation and resources, and helped women advocate for themselves inside complex health-care systems. Most have done it for free, or at a very low rate, because the need was too urgent not to.

Now, for the first time, Arkansas is creating a framework that could allow community-based doulas to receive Medicaid and insurance reimbursement for their........

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