🌿 The Village Code™ - The Cheniah 22 Project

Every strong village has a foundation. These policies are here to create clear expectations, protect our time together, and ensure every family receives thoughtful, professional, and compassionate care. Please review these policies before booking. Your signed service agreement will contain the complete terms governing your services.

🐾 Booking & Non-Refundable Retainer your estimated due date is not reserved until your service agreement is signed and your non-refundable retainer has been received. Retainer amounts vary by package and are applied toward the total cost of your selected service. Because accepting your booking requires reserving availability around your estimated due date and may mean declining other clients, retainer fees are non-refundable.

💛 The Promise Plan™ — Payment Policy: After your non-refundable retainer is paid, the remaining balance may be divided into payments due every two weeks. Payment amounts are determined by the package selected and the number of payment periods available when you book. Birth packages must be paid in full by 37 weeks of pregnancy. Clients booking later in pregnancy will receive an adjusted payment schedule.

🌿 A Place in the Village™ — Sliding Scale A limited number of sliding-scale spaces are available for eligible families experiencing financial barriers. Sliding-scale availability is not guaranteed and may be based on financial circumstances, availability, service needs, and travel requirements. Approval for a sliding-scale rate does not change the standard of care you receive. Sliding scale changes the price—not the promise.™

📅 Prenatal Visit Scheduling: Prenatal visits are scheduled in advance and generally last approximately 60–90 minutes, depending on the package and purpose of the visit. Please provide as much notice as possible if you need to reschedule. Repeated cancellations, missed appointments, or last-minute changes may require a rescheduling fee or may count as a completed visit. Your signed agreement will specify the applicable terms.

📱 Communication: Phone and text support are available throughout pregnancy according to your service agreement. Routine questions and non-urgent communication will be answered during established communication hours whenever possible. Once you enter the on-call period at 37 weeks, communication expectations change so I can respond appropriately when labor begins.

⏰ On-Call Birth Support: Birth doula on-call availability begins at 37 weeks of pregnancy. When you believe labor may be beginning, communication instructions will be provided during your prenatal visits. Because birth is unpredictable, exact arrival times cannot be guaranteed. We will discuss when in-person support should begin based on your labor pattern, circumstances, location, and preferences.

🚗 Travel to and from your birth location is included according to the terms of your selected package and service agreement. This may include applicable mileage and/or Uber/Lyft expenses incurred by your doula. Included travel refers to doula transportation expenses only and does not include transportation for the client, baby, partner, or other family members. Births outside the standard service area may require additional arrangements or fees agreed upon before booking.

🏥 Doula Scope of Practice: Doula services provide non-medical physical, emotional, informational, and advocacy support. As your doula, I do not diagnose medical conditions, perform medical procedures, prescribe or administer medication, make medical decisions on your behalf, or replace your physician, midwife, nurse, pediatrician, mental-health professional, or other licensed healthcare provider. I can help you prepare questions, understand information, communicate your preferences, and advocate for your voice to be heard. Your medical decisions remain between you and your healthcare team.

🤎 Advocacy & Birth Preferences: Your birth preferences belong to you. My role is not to speak over you or make decisions for you. My role is to help you feel informed, prepared, and confident communicating your wishes. No specific birth outcome can be promised or guaranteed.

🍼 Immediate Postpartum Support: Birth packages include up to 2 hours of immediate postpartum support following birth, unless otherwise specified. Additional immediate postpartum support at the birth location may be purchased through Build Your Birth Village™ and is subject to availability and facility policies.

🏡 The Welcome Home Experience™ The Welcome Home Experience™ is provided according to the level included in your selected package or may be purchased separately when available. This service is subject to medical circumstances, discharge timing, transportation logistics, distance, doula availability, and other unexpected circumstances surrounding the birth. It is intended to provide non-medical transition support and does not replace professional postpartum medical care.

💻 Virtual Support When distance or circumstances make an in-person postpartum visit impractical, eligible support may be provided virtually. Virtual doula support remains non-medical and does not replace evaluation or treatment by a licensed healthcare professional

📸 Privacy, Photos & Social Media: Your birth story belongs to you. Your name, photographs, baby's photographs, birth details, testimonials, or other identifying information will never be intentionally used for marketing or social media without your permission. Families may choose whether they wish to provide separate written consent for photography, testimonials, or social-media sharing. Saying no will never affect the care you receive.

🤒 Illness & Safety: Please notify me as soon as possible if you or someone in your household has a known contagious illness or other circumstance that could affect an in-person visit. When appropriate, we may reschedule, use virtual support, or make another reasonable arrangement to protect everyone involved.

🤝 Respect Within the Village The Cheniah 22 Project LLC is committed to creating a respectful environment for families. Discrimination, harassment, threats, violence, or abusive behavior toward the doula or others involved in care will not be tolerated. Likewise, every family receiving services deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

🚨 Emergencies: Doula communication is not an emergency medical service. For urgent medical concerns, contact your healthcare provider or follow the emergency instructions provided by your medical team. In a medical emergency, contact emergency services.

🌱 Backup & Unexpected Circumstances: Birth doesn't always follow the plan. Illness, emergencies, simultaneous births, severe weather, transportation interruptions, or other circumstances outside anyone's control can occur. Your service agreement will explain the backup plan and what happens if your primary doula is unexpectedly unable to attend your birth.

💛 Cancellation & Changes: Cancellation, refund, package-change, and service-transfer terms will be outlined in your signed client agreement. The retainer remains non-refundable, and refunds or credits for other payments will be handled according to the circumstances and terms of the signed agreement.

🐾 The Promise Behind the Policies

The Village Code™ isn't here to make your experience complicated. It's here so we both know what to expect from one another. Clear boundaries create room for trust—and trust gives us more space to focus on what really matters: you, your family, and your journey. Come as you are. Be respected as you are. Leave knowing your Village showed up.™

The Beginning

Rooted in Your Birth

Before the First Contraction

When It’s Time

The First Golden Hours

Choose Your Birth Journey

A Village Within Reach

Phalon’s Promise™

Words From the Village

Let’s Begin Together

📞 Enter the Village

What Keeps Our Village Safe, Supported & Rooted in Respect

“A village built with love still needs a foundation. Ours is rooted in respect, strengthened by trust, and protected by clear boundaries.”
— The Cheniah 22 Project LLC

“Love welcomes you into the Village. Respect keeps the Village strong.”

“Every promise deserves protection. Every family deserves respect. Every village deserves a foundation.” 🐾

“Boundaries protect the promise. Respect strengthens the Village.”

"Rooted in compassion. Guided by your choices. Held by your village.” 🌱

info@thecheniah22project.org / 848-297-4472

The Cheniah 22 Project