REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2026
FROM
JANKI PATEL, Acting Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Diversity Uplifts, Inc. for Doula Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 4400026149 with Diversity Uplifts, Inc. for doula services, increasing the contract amount by $400,000, from $400,000 to $800,000, and extending the contract term through June 30, 2028, for a total contract period of December 23, 2024 through June 30, 2028.
(Presenter: Janki Patel, Acting Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The amendment increases the contract amount by $400,000, from $400,000 to $800,000. The contract services are funded by the State of California’s Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2026-27 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) is a state program established in June 2018 that seeks to address disparities in maternal and infant mortality within the Black and African American community by providing evidence-based and informed interventions to support mothers, birthing people, their children, and families to improve health outcomes. PEI serves pregnant and parenting Black and African American women and their partners through the first year of their child’s life. Activities include father/partner initiatives, maternal mental health support services, and doula care. Doulas are trained, non-medical, non-licensed advocates who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a mother before, during, and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
Through its contract with the DPH, Diversity Uplifts, Inc. provides administrative support for Sankofa Birthworkers Collective, the organization responsible as a subcontractor for delivering direct doula services to PEI participants. Services include ongoing assessments of enrolled participants, development of comprehensive birth plans, and postpartum and newborn assessments to support maternal and infant health outcomes.
Through this partnership, PEI participants may receive up to ten doula sessions throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. To date, the program has served 93 birthing people and provided 443 doula sessions, exceeding the initial goal of serving 80 participants in the first two years. The extended contract term would allow approximately 100 additional participants to receive up to 1,000 doula sessions.
On December 23, 2024, as the result of a formal procurement (No. DPHE24-MH-500), Purchasing executed Contract No. 4400026149 with Diversity Uplifts, Inc. to provide doula services in the amount of $200,000 per year, for a total of $400,000 for the contract period of December 23, 2024 through December 23, 2026.
Approval of Amendment No. 1 would increase the contract amount by $400,000, from $400,000 to $800,000, and extend the contract term by eighteen months, for a total contract period of December 23, 2024 through June 30, 2028. In accordance with County Policy 11-04, the increased annual budget of $250,000 exceeds the Purchasing Agent’s authority and requires approval by the Board of Supervisors.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 29, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Guy Martinez, Principal Administrative Analyst, 386-5428) on October 30, 2026.