How Dads To Doulas Program Is Empowering Black Fathers At Birth And Beyond
In 2017, Brad Edwards and his partner faced an unimaginable loss when their twin boys were delivered stillborn. Like many men, Edwards internalized his grief, burying it below a fragile veneer that eventually shattered. In the midst of navigating his own healing, and trying to support his partner, he felt a powerful call to action. Contemplating how best to support and empower his community through the fatherhood journey, he channeled his own emotions into exploring ways to educate men about various topics, such as pregnancy and postpartum.
In 2020, he launched a program called STR8 Mental, in partnership with St. Louis-based Dear Fathers, an organization dedicated to sharing stories of Black fatherhood while providing resources for Black men. Using Dear Fathers as an umbrella organization for this program, STR8 Mental was created to be a mental health resource for Black men, connecting those interested in one-on-one therapy with mental health care providers. The program was launched on May 18, 2020 - the same day Edwards’ daughter was born.
Building on the success of this program, which saw over 5,000 men from across the U.S participate, Edwards explored other ways to offer support to his community. In the summer of 2024, Edwards and Dear Fathers introduced the Dads to Doulas initiative. Drawing from his own experiences, Edwards saw firsthand how critical support and information can be for fathers. With the help of his longtime friend, Kyra Betts, who is a doula, he and his partner were able to navigate childbirth and postpartum with confidence and care. He recognized how important it is for Black men to be advocates for Black women, who die at higher rates of pregnancy-related causes. Betts would go on to help him execute Dads to Doulas.
Through the Dads to Doulas program, Black men and expectant fathers are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to be advocates for their families from pregnancy through infancy. Over the course of six weeks, they are given a hands-on, doula-level education that provides them with basic birthing knowledge, pharmacological pain management education, partner advocacy education and a crash course regarding infant care.
“I want people to understand that our shared experience should be shared. Every time I share my story with some brothers, that’s therapeutic for me. I don’t want us to be so tight-knit with our experiences that we’re not able to use that to empower not only ourselves but also someone else who needed to hear them.” - Brad Edwards, St. Louis Magazine
Brad Edwards' journey from personal tragedy to community empowerment reflects the transformative power of lived experiences in shaping meaningful change. Welcoming its first group of participants in July 2024, Dads to Doulas is more than just about knowledge - it is about empowerment. Fathers who complete the program are better equipped to change the narrative around Black maternal and infant mortality rates. By being more present and engaged, their advocacy helps create a safe space for the mother of the child.