Open Arms provides community-based support during pregnancy, birth, and early
parenting to nurture strong foundations that last a lifetime. Organizational Information
Working in the Puget Sound region since 1997, Open Arms Perinatal Services is a
nonprofit focused on strong community-based support for people through pregnancy,
birth, and early childhood. We currently support 17 different languages and serve over
300 new parents and over 300 babies each year. We carefully pair families with trained
birth and lactation professionals who are a cultural and/or language match whenever
possible. Open Arms has served over 3,000 families and conducted over 22,000 home
visits to help improve parental and infant health, as well as build healthy foundations for
early learning. Open Arms is the leading non-profit providing doula and lactation services
specifically for pregnant and parenting families in Washington State who are facing
economic oppression. For more information on Open Arms' history and specific programs
and services, please go to our website: www.openarmsps.org. 
This is an ideal placement for a practicum student interested in deepening their reflective capacity, anti-oppression community work, and experience on a mezzo and macro level working with parental and child health, public health, and early learning.

Participate in foundational learning including anti-oppression framework, birth
work, and infant mental health.

This placement is NOT a clinical placement. There may be occasional opportunities
to interact with community and families, however this is not a primary
responsibility. Shadowing clinical work may be an option, but students are not expected or typically allowed to have independent client contact.

Facilitate intra and inter-agency learning, resource sharing and family support.

Participate in coalition meetings and partnerships with other agencies and funders.

Experience living or working within BIPOC communities preferred.

English (required)
Spanish (optional)
Somali (optional)

Please submit a resume and a cover letter to Kate Wilhite Brickell at kateb@openarmsps.org. In the subject line of the email, write: “BASW or MSW Practicum Applicant UW”.