Ann Grauer AdvCD(DONA), AdvPCD/PDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, IBCLC

Ann Grauer, AdvCD/PCD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, IBCLC is celebrating 36 years of working with expectant, birthing and new families. She is the 2007 recipient of Lamaze International’s Elisabeth Bing Award for excellence in childbirth education on a national level and DONA International’s 2022 Phyllis Klaus Founders Award for outstanding, positive impact on parent infant bonding. A charter member of DONA International, she is also a past president of DONA International and has trained doulas since 1994.

Ann has taught childbirth and parenting classes, facilitated parenting, feeding and perinatal mood disorder support groups and provided lactation support in hospital settings and in private practice. She is a Motherhood Studies Certified Practitioner, is a Gottman Institute Bringing Baby Home Educator and was the first doula certified to perform the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment (NBAS).

A mom of two, mother in law of two and the Mamaw to a precocious 10 year old, Ann and her husband live in Milwaukee, WI with their long haired dachshund, Howie.

Session

PreCon Track B: Circling Support: How Doulas Can Help Families Create Community

Doulas provide exceptional one-on-one care for birthing and postpartum families, but many parents express a need for ongoing support and connection beyond individual doula care. Have you ever considered starting a support group in your community for expectant, birthing, or new parents?

In this interactive session, we will explore the vital role doulas can play in fostering peer support through group facilitation. You will learn how to leverage your doula skills—active listening, holding space, and providing evidence-based information—to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where parents can share experiences, build relationships, and gain confidence in their journey.

Together, we’ll break down the foundational steps of launching a support group, from identifying your community’s needs to choosing a format that fits your vision. We’ll also assess the unique strengths each participant brings to the role of facilitator and work on crafting a clear mission statement to guide your group’s purpose and impact.

Whether you’re looking to start a prenatal circle, postpartum gathering, or a specialized support group, this session will provide you with the tools and inspiration to bring parents together in a meaningful way.

This pre-con session is part of a 3-session bundle (Track B) and is available as an add-on option to the main conference.

Session

Training with Purpose: Penny's Lessons for DONA Trainers (Updated Title TBD)

Session description TBD