Join us for The Emberlight Author Series featuring Jane K. Callahan, author of Stories at the Threshold: A Death Doula’s Guide to a Meaningful End, on July 28 from 12:00–1:00 PM EDT. This online presentation is a wonderful opportunity for emerging and new end-of-life doulas to explore the power of presence, meaningful connection, and compassionate accompaniment at the end of life. Come listen, learn, and deepen your understanding of what it means to walk alongside individuals and families at the threshold.

Dying is not a problem to be solved—it is a deeply human experience to be supported with compassion, dignity, and presence. Inspired by a recent CancerNetwork interview, this article explores the growing role of end-of-life doulas and how they provide emotional, practical, and non-medical support to individuals and families navigating serious illness.

Discover how compassionate companionship can transform fear into connection and help ensure that every person's values and wishes remain at the heart of their end-of-life journey.

NEDA Scholarship Opportunity for End-of-Life Doulas

Pursuing professional growth as an end-of-life doula can be both rewarding and challenging. If the cost of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) Proficiency Assessment is a barrier, there may be help available.

NEDA offers a monthly scholarship to assist doulas with the cost of obtaining their End-of-Life Doula Proficiency Badge. This credential demonstrates a commitment to professional standards and continued excellence in end-of-life care.

If you are actively working toward proficiency, we encourage you to apply. Scholarship recipients receive funding for the assessment and have an opportunity to give back through volunteer engagement within the NEDA community.

Remember, opportunities often begin with taking the first step. Applications are typically due by the 1st of each month, with decisions announced shortly thereafter.

At the Blue Water Doula Collective, we are committed to supporting doulas as they continue their professional development journey. We encourage our members to explore available resources, pursue their goals with confidence, and invest in the growth of their practice.

Scholarship Application:

Why Every Adult Should Complete a Five Wishes Document

Many people believe advance care planning is something to think about later in life, but the truth is that every adult should have their wishes documented before a crisis occurs.

One of the most valuable tools available is the Five Wishes document. Unlike a traditional advance directive, Five Wishes helps individuals communicate not only their medical preferences, but also their personal, emotional, and spiritual wishes. It guides you through choosing a healthcare decision-maker, outlining treatment preferences, describing comfort needs, expressing how you wish to be treated, and sharing meaningful messages with those you love.

Completing a Five Wishes document is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. It provides clarity during difficult times, reduces uncertainty, and ensures your voice is heard when you may not be able to speak for yourself.

At the Blue Water Doula Collective, we believe these conversations are not about preparing for death—they are about living intentionally, creating peace of mind, and helping loved ones feel confident they are honoring your wishes.

The best time to complete your Five Wishes document is before you need it. Start the conversation today.

Explore a directory of green burial cemeteries across the U.S. and Canada to help doulas support environmentally conscious, natural, and personalized end-of-life planning conversations with individuals and families.

Discover handcrafted coffins, burial shrouds, natural burial resources, and eco-conscious end-of-life planning tools that doulas can use to support meaningful, personalized, and earth-centered deathcare experiences.

Explore how the Michigan Deathcare Collaborative supports doulas through education, community resources, advocacy, and connections to compassionate, community-centered end-of-life care throughout Michigan.

Explore how Compassion & Choices provides educational tools, advance care planning resources, and advocacy support that doulas can use to guide compassionate, informed end-of-life conversations within their communities.

A compassionate planning resource to help doulas support LGBTQ+ individuals, caregivers, and chosen families through healthcare decision-making, advance care planning, legal preparation, and end-of-life conversations.

No family should have to navigate the end-of-life journey alone due to financial hardship. Learn how doulas can help clients access compassionate support and funding opportunities through the Evergreen End of Life Care Foundation.

Clarity, Confidence, and Presence is a BWDC recommended resource supporting doulas in strengthening their voice and communication through structured, supportive practice like Toastmasters International. It bridges intuitive, heart-centered work with clear, grounded expression—empowering doulas to lead, teach, and connect with confidence in community settings.

Doulas starting or growing a business receive personalized, one-on-one guidance from a SBDC Business Consultant. This support is a BWDC recommended resource to help build your business and turn your ideas into clear, actionable plans for success.

All services are 100% free, and confidential —making expert business support accessible to everyone. Click for more information and how to request a consultation.

Drawing from On Becoming a Person by Carl Rogers, this resource explores the role of active listening, presence, and non-directive support, offering insight into how doulas strengthen connection and trust in their work.

Drawing from a SAMHSA advisory on crisis care standards, this resource explores how awareness, communication, and responsiveness shape support in high-stress moments, offering insight into how doulas remain steady and attuned in their work.

Drawing from the Dying in America report by the National Academy of Medicine, this resource explores how communication, clarity, and honoring individual preferences shape end-of-life experiences, offering insight into how doulas support grounded, client-led care.

Drawing from research on quality of life at the end of life, this resource explores the factors that shape how individuals experience dying, offering insight into how doulas support comfort, dignity, and meaningful connection.

Drawing from a Cochrane Review exploring complementary approaches in labor, this resource offers insight into a range of non-medical therapies that may influence the labor experience, supporting doulas in informed, client-led care.

Drawing from a Cochrane Review on continuous labor support, this resource explores how steady, non-medical presence influences both the experience of birth and measurable outcomes, offering insight into the impact of doula care.