FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2025
Contact:
Imani Lucas, MS – Executive Director
United And Guided
📧 ilucas@unitedandguided.org | ☎️ (916) 701-8849
🌐 www.unitedandguided.org
Contact: Imani Lucas, MS – Executive Director
United And Guided
📧 ilucas@unitedandguided.org | ☎️ (916) 701-8849
🌐 www.unitedandguided.org
United And Guided Selected to Present at 27th International Families & Fathers Conference
Sacramento, CA — United And Guided has been selected to present its groundbreaking workshop, “Redefining Birth Equity: The Co-Ed Doula & Fatherhood Support Model Toward a Dyadic Care Future,” at the 27th International Families & Fathers Conference (FFCA) taking place April 13–16, 2026, at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport.
The workshop, led by Imani Lucas, MS, Executive Director of United And Guided, and LaShanya Breazell, CD(DONA), Director of Birth Equity, will spotlight the organization’s nationally recognized Co-Ed Doula and Fatherhood Support Model—a first-of-its-kind approach integrating male and female doulas to support both parents throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
The Fathers and Families Coalition of America (FFCA), one of the nation’s leading organizations advancing father engagement and family policy innovation, selected United And Guided for its strong alignment with the 2026 conference theme, “Next Generation.”
“Our work shows that when fathers are included as partners in birth and family care, the entire family system becomes stronger,” said Imani Lucas, MS, Executive Director of United And Guided. “We are honored to share our Co-Ed Doula and Dyadic Care framework on this national stage and to stand alongside so many leaders redefining what birth equity truly means.”
The session will demonstrate how father-inclusive doula care bridges gender, culture, and healthcare to create a more emotionally connected birth experience. United And Guided’s model is rooted in trauma-informed, culturally responsive practice and is aligned with California’s Perinatal Equity Initiative and the Medi-Cal Birth Equity Benefit.
Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC, President and CEO of FFCA, described the workshop as “one of the most innovative models in this year’s program,” noting that it “balances cultural humility, systems transformation, and emotional healing in a way few models achieve.”
Founded in Sacramento, United And Guided is a community-based public health nonprofit advancing birth equity, fatherhood engagement, and whole-family wellness. Through partnerships with Medi-Cal managed care plans, schools, and local agencies, UAG provides Enhanced Care Management, Doula Services, and Family Resilience programs that serve hundreds of parents and children each year.
“This recognition is not just a milestone for our team,” said LaShanya Breazell, CD(DONA), Director of Birth Equity. “It’s a moment for our entire community to see that equitable, family-centered care is possible when we work together.”
About United And Guided
United And Guided is a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building economic security and emotional wellness through culturally rooted, trauma-informed family health programs. Its initiatives—including Black Fathers Inc., Co-Ed Doula Care, and the forthcoming Dyadic Care and Family Resilience Program—help families heal, connect, and thrive across generations.
Learn more at www.unitedandguided.org.
About the International Families & Fathers Conference
The Fathers and Families Coalition of America hosts the International Families & Fathers Conference annually, convening leaders, practitioners, and policymakers committed to strengthening families and advancing fatherhood inclusion in health and human services. The 2026 theme, “Next Generation,” focuses on innovation, equity, and the future of family wellbeing.
More at www.fathersandfamiliescoalition.org.
Media Inquiries
For interviews or speaking requests, please contact:
📧 media@unitedandguided.org or call (916) 701-8849.