Latest news with #doula
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Judge calls woman a 'danger,' sends her to prison after faking pregnancies, defrauding Ontario doulas
Social Sharing WARNING: This article references sexual assault, and may affect those who have experienced them or know someone affected by them. Kaitlyn Braun was sentenced to three years in prison in a Hamilton court room Monday after she faked being pregnant and conned two women into providing her with doula support while she was on house arrest for similar crimes. Braun will also serve the remainder of her house arrest sentence behind bars, bringing her total sentence to three years and eight months of incarceration. Dressed in a lime green sweater and dark green pants, Braun, 26, sat in the prisoner's box Monday, looking down for most of the hearing and did not address the court except to say "good morning" to Ontario Court Justice Joe Fiorucci. In January, she pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining by false pretence services under $5,000 and two harassment-related charges from April 2024. Both the defence and Crown requested she be imprisoned where she could undergo therapy. Fiorucci agreed, noting a psychiatric assessment found she had a high risk of reoffending and inflicting psychological harm on others if she doesn't undergo treatment and take medication. Even then, "she is very likely to offend and create victims," he said. "The offender's deception was fully conscious, purposeful and deliberate," Fiorucci said. Braun had previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced for 21 charges including fraud, indecent acts, false pretences and mischief, after pretending to have experienced pregnancies and stillbirths between June 2022 and February 2023. Dozens of doulas across Ontario were impacted. A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to clients before, during and shortly after childbirth. They also help with grief and trauma around pregnancy loss, but they do not deliver babies and they don't have access to medical records or equipment. 'I just broke down' While on house arrest for the first set of crimes, in Brantford, Braun participated in individual and group therapy, and was supported by a nurse practitioner and psychiatrist, Fiorucci noted. But a couple weeks in, Braun called an organization that supports parents in crisis and was connected with an employee, Tracy Robb. Braun gave a fake name and claimed to be 19 weeks pregnant. She said her baby wasn't going to make it to term and she needed support. Robb spoke on the phone with Braun for 18 hours over two days. Braun told Robb what she planned to name the baby and asked about Robb's own childbirth experiences. Braun appeared to be making noises "consistent with orgasm" on some of the calls, Crown attorney Simon McNaughton previously told the court. Braun has denied her crimes were sexual in nature and wasn't charged with sexual assault. But Fiorucci said on Monday the evidence "strongly suggests" there was a sexual element and Robb said she felt sexually violated. After hours of talking with Braun, Robb said she happened to check her work email and saw a warning to service providers of possible fraud. That email prompted her to call the hospital and she found out nobody by the name Braun had given had checked in. "I just broke down," Robb said. "It really rocked my world." In the year that followed, Robb left her job and struggled in her relationships with her husband and children. "I have always been very caring and compassionate," she said. "And now I'm kind of hesitant and wondering if someone is taking advantage of the situation. It's not a good place to live and I hope I can move past that because I don't want that to be who I am forever." Shows a lack of remorse Days after her phone calls with Robb, Braun contacted a doula through text. She again gave a false name and claimed she was 21 weeks pregnant, experiencing pregnancy loss and her partner had left her after finding out. The doula said in her victim impact statement that she initially wanted to do everything she could to support Braun. That feeling "changed to disgust" when she realized Braun had made it all up, Fiorucci told the court. WATCH | How Kaitlyn Braun fooled this Doula into believing she was pregnant: How Kaitlyn Braun fooled this Doula into believing she was pregnant 1 year ago Duration 5:10 He said allowing Braun to continue her sentence under house arrest "would be a danger to the safety of the community." Without therapy and prison's "structured environment, the offender poses a significant and ongoing threat," Fiorucci said. A psychiatric report diagnosed Braun with borderline personality disorder and anti-social personality disorder, anxiety and depression, and determined she was aware of what she was doing when she committed the crimes, said Fiorucci. She also showed a lack remorse for her behaviour. Braun has a history of lying to authorities. In the year leading up to her crimes against doulas, she visited hospitals 178 times, presenting issues that weren't real or self-inflicted to obtain medical attention, Fiorucci. She also reported being sexually assaulted 60 times at hospitals around the province, allegations police determined weren't true. She was cautioned by them to stop or face charges. Braun also falsely claimed several of her family members died and she'd been the victim of a home invasion. While working as a social worker, she lied to her boss that an 11-year-old client had sexually assaulted her. She was fired over the incident. Factitious disorder ruled out During Braun's psychiatric assessment, mental health professionals considered she may be experiencing factitious disorder, but concluded her behaviour doesn't reflect that diagnosis, Fiorucci said. Factitious disorder is when a person fabricates symptoms to gain attention from others. Braun posed as having a wide range of issues against many different people in her life — not typical of factitious disorder. And when confronted with the truth, she admitted to lying, apologized and sought forgiveness, also not typical. The motivations for her crimes likely included reducing her social isolation as she saw professionals "as substitute friends," experiencing enjoyment and pleasure by taking risks, and exploring aspects of her sexual identity, Fiorucci said. For Kitchener doula Amy Perry, the judge recognizing Braun was in control of her actions was a relief. Perry said she was among 50 doulas victimized by Braun. "When we talk about this, the biggest response I get is I hope [Braun] gets the help she needs," said Perry. "And that's really frustrating when there's so many victims who are not getting the help they need. She is calculated and smart. I think they made that more clear today."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Business news: Mobile library donation and doula workshop
Franciscan Health Crown Point is hosting a doula certification workshop over two weekends in July, according to a release. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth, the release said, but does not perform clinical tasks. The Franciscan Health Crown Point Family Birth Center offers free doula services to families through a volunteer doula program. The doula certification workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. July 19-20 and July 26-27 at Franciscan Health Crown Point, 12750 St. Francis Drive. Participants must be 18 years old or older and attend all four days of classes to receive a certificate of completion. Registration must be completed by July 8. For more information, call 219-746-9134. Valparaiso University recently announced that LeAnn Hughes will be senior vice president of enrollment and marketing, according to a release. Hughes comes into the position after a nine-year tenure as the vice president of enrollment management and marketing at Illinois Wesleyan University. She starts at VU July 1. In this role, Hughes will oversee Undergraduate and Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Strategic Enrollment and Marketing Initiatives. Hughes brings 20 years of experience to the position on campus, having taken her first VP role at Tusculum University in 2005. Prior to working in enrollment management and marketing, Hughes served as the director of communications at King University, and as the director of marketing and sports development for the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce. The Gary Community School Corp. will host the Power of Partnership Parent Conference, a free conference, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. May 31 at the West Side Leadership Academy, 900 Gerry St., Gary, a release said. The event will be packed with engaging sessions, exciting activities and opportunities to connect with community resources that support education and family well-being, the release said. Included in the day will be a resource fair, massages and self-care opportunities, food and a keynote address by Crystal Melton, First Lady of Gary. Childcare will be provided. Those interested in attending can secure their spot by visiting the GCSC website and completing the registration form. For information, visit or contact jadams@ Three innovators earned investment capital for their startup concept pitches presented on May 3 during the 14th annual The PNW Big Sell pitch competition, a release said. The PNW Big Sell is sponsored by Northern Indiana Public Service Company and PNW's College of Business and Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center. Nabeel Rabie earned first place and $10,000 in seed funding for their pitch, Scent Seal. Allyson Straka earned second place and $3,000 for Frozen Garden. Paul Walczak received third place and $1,000 for Yuda, an invoicing and billing app for small service providers. An on-demand recording of the 2025 PNW Big Sell can be viewed on For more information about The PNW Big Sell, visit Families with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Franciscan Health Crown Point now have a variety of children's books to read to their children thanks to a donation from the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council, according to a release. The new mobile lending library was donated recently by members of the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council. The mobile library was made possible in part through a $2,500 Transforming Lake County grant from the Legacy Foundation, funded by Legacy Foundation Grant Committee member Bob Spajer of Crown Point. More information about the Franciscan Health Family Birth Center Crown Point and the NICU are available online or by phone at 219-757-6330. Franciscan Health is hosting a free car seat safety event May 29, according to a release. The event — co-hosted by the Trauma Services Department and the Prenatal Assistance Program — is scheduled to take place from 3-6 p.m. at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way. A nationally certified child passenger safety technician will work with participants to teach them how to properly install a car seat. The child who uses the car seat must be present at the appointment in order for the technician to provide appropriate guidance. The car seat safety check is free, but reservations are required, the release said. Registration is available online or by calling 219-488-1380. The Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County is inviting qualified contractors to submit quotes for the grinding of organic brush and wood waste, along with the removal and hauling of materials from four locations within Porter County, according to a release. To provide interested parties with detailed information on the project requirements, a pre-bid meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at the Valparaiso Compost Site. This meeting will cover specific requirements for each location, followed by a guided site visit to Valparaiso Compost Site, Crocker/Chesterton Compost Site, Portage Compost Site and Boone Grove Compost Site. For further information, or to request additional details about the grinding/hauling process, contact the Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County via email at info@ The Porter County Sheriff's Office has created a new program for full-time college students looking for part-time employment, a press release said. C-StEP is an employment opportunity designed to give the full-time college student majoring in a law enforcement-related field, real-life experience by working inside the Porter County Jail. The student must be 18 years or older and will work 24 hours per week at a rate of $17 per hour and must remain a full-time student to participate, the release said. Interested students should visit to apply and any inquiries can be sent to rtaylor@ or 219-477-3065.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local doula highlights importance of maternal mental health
(WKBN) — Mother's Day serves as a reminder that maternal mental health is important, and one local doula has made it her goal to help as many families as she can find resources they may otherwise not know about. Jillian Barker is using her knowledge and years of experience in the maternal field for good. Not only does she provide care in her practice, but on her website Parenthood in Bloom, she shares complete lists of area resources for parents. The categories range from mental health to resources for partners. 'People feel like they have really limited options, but we do have really great organizations in the area to help families,' Barker said. She understands how mental health care is especially important for new moms and their partners. Barker explains how mental health can directly correlate with a baby's chance of thriving. 'It's actually the leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. So, if we're able to help reduce that in any capacity, I think that is super helpful,' Barker said. Barker says there are plenty of resources that are available for low-income families in need of assistance. She says moms can't do it all alone. 'It's really important to help families build a village to support them,' Barker said. 'You deserve to have your voice heard, knowing that you deserve to be supported and knowing that there are options for when it feels like maybe those things aren't super stable in your life.' The full list of resources can be found at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
