The Carleton Advocacy Network of Douglas (CAN-DO)

With prior experience working as birth doulas and in abortion settings, Rinya Kamber and Sarina Chaiken (with the help of other resources) were able to train new doulas to physically, emotionally, and informationally support patients. The first abortion doula training was in spring of 2016. In fall of 2016, CAN­DO formed a partnership with Whole Woman’s Health of the Twin Cities and coordinated a second comprehensive doula training. By November 2016, CAN-­DO doulas were in clinic, supporting people during abortion procedures. Another training will be done in Winter 2016. Our Goals: 1) Abortion Doula Volunteers: Sustain and expand our pool of abortion doula volunteers who work at a Whole Woman's Health in the Twin Cities, providing direct support to patients choosing abortion. Everybody deserves support when vulnerable. Our goal is to ensure that all people choosing abortion will have equal access to quality doula support. We will provide care to anyone who seeks it, which may include people from Carleton, Northfield, and greater Minnesotan communities. 2) Community Awareness: Create a sustainable chain reaction of positive change by increasing the number of reproductive justice advocates in the community. The positive outcome of this effort is the creation of more accurately ­informed, trustworthy, approachable, and nonjudgmental people in the world. As students graduate, this knowledge can permeate into a wide array of settings. CAN-­DO will continue to educate all interested community members, including those who do not wish to become in-clinic doulas.

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