Work with GALS

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The next community baby shower is May 17th, 2025.

Sign up to volunteer HERE!

GALS is accepting applications for Birthworkers and childcare specialists!

Learn more about those positions below, and sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media to keep up to date on job opportunities.

GALS Birthworker

Giving Austin Labor Support (GALS) is dedicated to providing emotional, physical, and informational support to birthing people and healthcare professionals who are under-supported in order to improve birth outcomes and strengthen families.

Dedicated to advancing reproductive justice in Central Texas and beyond, we are improving birth outcomes and ensuring no one births alone. GALS provides low-income and BIPOC families with wrap-around perinatal support through the following programs: On-Call Birth Support for those actively in labor through postpartum, a Full Spectrum Doula Program, a Postpartum Doula Support Program, Jail Support Program for those pregnant/postpartum at the Travis County Correctional Complex, and a collaborative Maternal Health Equity Collaborative program called Childcare for Black Mamas that offers free perinatal childcare to support health and mental health care visits and respite care for Black families. Since 2009, over 800 families have received support from our programs in Central Texas. GALS has supported families as far north as Temple/Killeen and as far south as San Marcos, TX. 

We are looking for folks who are:

  • Passionate about birthwork

  • Always willing to learn

  • Have availability to commit to birthwork (prenatally, posptartum, or on-call)

  • Awareness of social and reproductive justice

  • Ability/willingness to navigate social service referrals with families

  • Priority will be given to birthworkers/doulas who

Priority will be given to birthworkers/doulas who are:

  • Trained or working as a postpartum doula 

  • Trained by a doula organization, or working as a birth doula

  • Bilingual in Spanish, French, and/or Portuguese 

  • BIPOC or LGBTQIA+

  • Trained in Trauma-Informed care, maternal mental health and Reproductive Justice 

  • Have past doula clients who are able to provide a testimonial

  • Previously received services from GALS

Contracted Birthworkers will be offered further training and mentorship by GALS staff and partners.

  • Supervised by GALS, Giving Austin Labor Support, the primary purpose of the GALS Birthworker is to meet the needs of under-resourced birthing people in Central Texas during the perinatal period. This will include but is not limited to traveling to residential areas and birthing locations to provide professional doula support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

    GALS is dedicated to antiracism, reproductive justice work, and is devoted to ending maternal mortality in Central Texas.

    We are seeking culturally competent, compassionate Birthworkers to join our team. For some positions, no prior experience is necessary- but a willingness to learn, a flexible schedule, and the emotional and physical stamina to attend long labors is needed. We provide on-site training and continuing education for GALS Birthworkers, in return for a minimum commitment of 12 months of active participation in the On-Call, Prenatal, Jail or Postpartum programs.

    This opportunity requires a minimum commitment of being on-call twice a month and potentially very long hours at births.

    The average time our Birthworkers stay at a birth is 9-14 hours, but it may be quite a bit shorter or considerably longer. Prenatal and Postpartum support is also provided and can vary from 1-5 hours at a time.

  • Provide education, emotional, and physical support to pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people

    Honor the wishes and plans of the birthing person, not imposing your own beliefs about birth upon them

    Provide support to the whole family

    Be available for on-call labor support for two 24-hour periods per month (you designate the day, and start and end times)

    Record visit notes within 24-72 hours following any meeting with a family

    Uphold the values of GALS with families and amongst the GALS community of birthworkers

  • -be at least 18 years old

    -agree to and sign a confidentiality agreement

    -agree to and sign our Scope of Practice agreement

    -participate in GALS-sponsored continuing education workshops including an approved anti-racism training: MHEC anti-racism, Groundwater Analysis Training, or Racism & Privilege in Birthwork from Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings

    -read The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

    -attend the GALS Training and Orientation

    -complete a self-paced, virtual Data Collection training following orientation

    -support GALS through participation in community outreach, fundraising and education

    *for the Postpartum Program, complete a virtual, self paced training

    *for the Jail Program, complete TCSO background clearance, orientation and onboarding at the jail, as well as additional onboarding from GALS

  • At the Orientation, you will learn about GALS history, our mission and vision, and your role as a GALS Birthworker.

    We will cover topics including:

    History of GALS and our framework for supporting families

    Systemic racism and the impacts on maternity care

    Overview of how trauma and racism can affect the birth experience

    Overview of birth support, with emphasis on common GALS scenarios

    How to respond to a call for support

    What to do when you arrive at the hospital

    Overview of collecting and reporting GALS data

    Other opportunities within GALS

  • Job Type: Contracted

    Pay is variable depending on program; Group facilitation: $50, On-call: $300, Postpartum: $600, Prenatal: $1000.

    As a GALS Contracted Careworker (birthworker or childcare specialist), you have access to:

    -A community of other like-minded careworkers via online platform
    -Profile/bio on GALS website
    -Access to clientele (families) without the need to market or advertise
    -Ability to work for families who don’t have the ability to pay out of pocket
    -Compiled resources for families you are providing care including financial support, postpartum meal(s), access to physical donations, etc.
    -Mentorship opportunities
    -Data platform to keep track of client support
    -Access to storage unit with physical items for the families you work with
    -Staff support in processing emotionally challenging situations
    -Access to confidential Employee Assistance Program for you and your family including short-term therapy, financial coaching, substance abuse treatment, and legal support
    -Internal training and certifications such as: Postpartum Birthworker training, Childcare Specialist training, Perinatal Educational Course, Babywearing, Anti-racism training, Perinatal mental health training, Monthly meetings, Birthworker Skills Days, PLUS Discounted external trainings

  • Other books GALS recommends include:

    Birthing Justice, edited by Julia Chinyere Oparah, and Alicia D. Bonaparte

    The First Forty Days, by Heng Ou

    Pushed, by Jennifer Block

    Medical Apartheid, by Harriet A. Washington

    Birth without Fear, by January Harshe

    Killing the Black Body, by Dorthy Roberts

    Where’s the Mother? by Trevor MacDonald

    When Survivors Give Birth, by Simkin/Klaus

I want work with GALS!

Apply Here

Childcare Specialist with MHEC

The Maternal Health Equity Collaborative centers Black Women and Women of Color-both in leading the collaborative, and in the work we do in and with the community. The MHEC is made up of four doula organizations, Black Mamas ATX, Giving Austin Labor Support, Healing Hands Community Doula Project, and Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, and two parental support organizations, Hand to Hold and Partners in Parenting.

The MHEC was awarded a 3 year grant that will add culturally-sensitive and comprehensive perinatal childcare services to compliment the wraparound community doula support of the collaborative organizations, and ensure that Black mothers and their families are able to access the holistic, whole-person care needed to alleviate maternal health complications and reduce inequities.

Maternal Health Equity Collaborative (1).png

  • Supervised by GALS, Giving Austin Labor Support, the primary purpose of the Childcare Specialist is to meet the lack of childcare needs for Black birthing people in Central Texas during the perinatal period. This will include but is not limited to traveling to residential areas to provide professional supervision and care for children whose parent is attending doctor visits, experiencing birth/postpartum, hospital readmission, and during periods of health concern such as prescribed bed rest or Perinatal mental health diagnosis.

    Both GALS and the collaborative are dedicated to antiracism, reproductive justice work, and is devoted to ending maternal mortality in Central Texas.

    We are seeking a culturally competent, compassionate Childcare Specialist. The ideal candidate will be required to supervise children’s daily activities, prepare stimulating activities, and ensure healthy meals and snacks are available. You may also be required to provide support to a hurt or injured child.

  • Provide a safe, nurturing, and fun environment for children

    Provide basic childcare services such as changing diapers, assisting with bath time and ensuring children are properly fed and dressed

    Offering emotional and physical support when children are hurt or injured

    Notifying primary caregivers and the GALS dispatcher when children are hurt or injured

    Adjusting to parents’ schedules as required

    Providing on-call emergency childcare service

  • 18 years of age or older

    Commitment to providing culturally relevant, racially equitable, and high quality childcare

    Extensive knowledge and/or lived experience of Black community

    Successful completion of MHEC Childcare Specialist training

    Complete MHEC anti-racism training

    The ability to pass a criminal background check (fingerprinting)

    A qualification in early childhood education or similar may be advantageous

    Experience working  with children is preferable 

    Completion of CPR and First Aid Certifications 

    The ability to work in fast-paced, unpredictable environments

    Sound judgement skills

    Superb multitasking abilities

  • Job Type: Contracted

    Pay:

    $25/hour / 1 child

    $28/hour / 2 children

    $30/hour / 3 children

    $35/hour / 4+ children

    Benefits:

    Flexible work schedule

    Opportunity to learn with a fast-growing nonprofit

    Work adjacent to and within the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative

    Gain educational skills to take your career further

    Work alongside Birthworkers/Doulas to create better Maternal Health outcomes for Black mothers and children whilst learning something new every day

  • The above description covers the principal duties and responsibilities of the job. The description shall not, however, be construed as a complete listing of all miscellaneous, incidental or similar duties which may be required from day-to-day. The candidate selected for employment will be required to submit to a criminal background check.

    Position is dependent on grant funding.

I want to join the childcare team!

Apply Here

View the 2024 Impact Report

Volunteer

GALS is now accepting applications to volunteer with us! These opportunities include baby shower/event support, advocacy, administrative support, and more.

Birthworkers and childcare providers are not volunteered positions. If you are interested in becoming a GALS Birthworker or MHEC please use the links above.

Are you a university student interested in interning with GALS? Contact us to learn more.