Sanctuary’s nonprofit arm expanding access to postpartum care for families across Colorado’s Front Range.
What We Do
Founded in 2024, Sanctuary CARES provides free and low-cost in-home postpartum doula care for low-income and historically marginalized families.
Through direct service, free support groups, research, and workforce development, we work to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and make postpartum support more accessible.
Our Growing Impact
33 families
received in-home postpartum doula care in 2025
40+ families
anticipated to receive in-home postpartum doula care in 2026
600+ individuals
anticipated to be reached across all CARES programs and events in 2026
Why This Work Matters
The postpartum period is one of the most critical—and most under-supported—phases of maternal and infant health.
Many families leave the hospital with significant physical, emotional, and practical needs, yet consistent support during the weeks and months following birth is often unavailable or unaffordable. Financial hardship, limited social support, language barriers, and other systemic obstacles can make that gap even greater.
Sanctuary CARES works to close these gaps by making trusted, relationship-based postpartum support more accessible.
80%
of maternal deaths are considered preventable
67%
of maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period
25%
of mothers experience postpartum depression and/or anxiety
40%
of mothers miss their six-week postpartum follow-up appointment
Our Research
Sanctuary CARES recently published findings from a longitudinal pilot study examining the impact of in-home postpartum doula care on symptoms of depression and anxiety among BIPOC and Latina birthing parents.
Participants who completed the study experienced significant reductions in both depression and anxiety symptoms, alongside high satisfaction with postpartum doula care.
These findings suggest postpartum doula care may be a promising strategy for supporting maternal mental health and advancing perinatal health equity.
In-Home Postpartum Doula Care
Our approach is grounded in continuity, personalization, and relationship-based support, complementing clinical care by helping families navigate postpartum recovery, newborn care, infant feeding, and the practical and emotional adjustments of life with a new baby.
Most CARES families receive 24 hours of in-home support, delivered through six four-hour visits.
What support do postpartum doulas provide?
Whole-family support: care for the birthing parent, newborn, siblings, and partner
Infant feeding support: guidance with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, and combination feeding
Light household assistance: laundry, dishes, and tidying
Meal and snack preparation: nourishing food for the entire family
Newborn care: evidence-based education and guidance
Postpartum recovery support: guidance for physical recovery and comfort
Emotional support: space to process the birth experience
Resource connection: referrals to healthcare, social, and community resources
Personalized support: compassionate, nonjudgmental guidance tailored to each family’s needs
What support do postpartum doulas not provide?
Medical care: diagnoses, treatments, or clinical services
Childcare: nanny or ongoing childcare services
Deep cleaning: household cleaning beyond light tidying
Housing support: accommodations or relocation assistance
Transportation: rides or transportation services
Employment support: job search or career counseling
For a more in-depth look at what you can expect from a postpartum doula, please visit our blog.
Programs & Events
Our free community programs and events create welcoming spaces for parents and caregivers to connect, ask questions, and learn from trusted professionals.
Current offerings include Milk Cafe, our weekly infant-feeding support group, and Mothers & Babies Circle, a weekly gathering for mothers and babies during the first six months postpartum.
Apply for Care
We’re currently enrolling participants in our General Fund program, which provides up to 24 hours of free or low-cost in-home postpartum doula care, typically delivered in four-hour visits. To be eligible, families must meet the following criteria:
Household income in the previous year was $90,000 or less
You’re pregnant, or your baby is currently less than 12 weeks old
Support Our Work
Our work is made possible through donations, grants, partnerships, and 1% for CARES, which lets Sanctuary clients contribute 1% of their service cost to support CARES.
You can also support CARES by making a direct contribution, helping make postpartum care, education, and community connection accessible to more families across the Front Range.
Make a one-time gift, become a monthly donor, or check whether your employer offers matching gifts to amplify your impact.
The People Behind CARES
Sanctuary CARES is led by experienced postpartum care professionals and governed by a Board of Directors with expertise spanning maternal health, healthcare, family support, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership.
With Gratitude
We gratefully acknowledge our founding supporters, whose generosity helped launch Sanctuary CARES in November 2024.
Claudia Lubin and Mark Creedon
Eric Newcomb & Lindsay Cox
John Troutman
Kerry and Mike Procopio
Lynn Schulte, PT. Institute/Center for Birth Healing
Michele R.
Sandy Huffman
The Wyman Family
Anonymous (4)
