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Marina proclaims February Black History Month; council recognizes local doulas expanding Medi‑Cal access
Summary
The City of Marina issued a Black History Month proclamation and highlighted local doula LaVisha Franklin’s work training doulas to serve Medi‑Cal clients after state reimbursement for doula services was approved.
The Marina City Council proclaimed February 2025 as Black History Month at its Feb. 19 meeting and used the occasion to highlight local maternal‑health work that aims to address racial disparities in birth outcomes.
Council member Bridal McCarthy read the proclamation and invited LaVisha Franklin, who operates a local doula service called Queen's Council, to the dais. Franklin told the council she has trained 10 Black doulas in Monterey County with grant funding from Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH) and that Medi‑Cal approved doula services as a reimbursable benefit in 2023.
Franklin said the workforce had been lacking locally when Medi‑Cal added the benefit, and that grant funding allowed training and certification so doulas could bill for services for postpartum care and pregnancy support, including bereavement after pregnancy loss. She said the newly trained doulas were beginning to serve Marina families.
Council members praised Franklin’s work and noted the broader context: one council member said about 70% of births in Monterey County occur to families on Medi‑Cal or members of the Central Coast Alliance for Health, underscoring how expanded doula access can affect birth equity for a majority of families in the county.
Ending: The council presented the proclamation and invited further community recognition of Black History Month; council members and attendees encouraged residents to learn more about Queen’s Council and local doula training efforts.
