This article describes the doula concept and role developed by the Ounce of Prevention Fund in Illinois, working with several community partners. Doulas: (1) seek to build sturdy parent-child relationships to promote the healthy intellectual, emotional, and physical growth of children; (2) use a relationship-based model of intervention; (3) are embedded in comprehensive, community-based early childhood programs; (4) are primarily paraprofessional women from the community; (5) participate in extensive training; and (6) possess unique qualities. The authors outline findings on the benefits of doula programs and the key considerations and questions an early childhood program should consider in adding doulas to their work.