Janice Banther, CCCE, CLD, CHBE, CIMI

Janice Banther is a nationally recognized leader in childbirth education and labor doula programs including women in crises.  Besides providing education and doula support for people in the community, she established programs to provide services for homeless, addicted and incarcerated mothers.

Since 1981 she has been a birth doula at over 600 births and trained thousands of women and their partners in childbirth classes.  She has trained dozens of doulas and childbirth professionals across the United States on how to support female prisoners who are giving birth.  Janice is the founded and is Executive Director of two nonprofit agencies; For The Love Of Birth in 1991 and Birth Behind Bars in 2001. 

This body of work has earned her the highest professional accreditation.  She was one of the first certified labor doulas and doula trainers in Florida with DONA International.  She was elected to 3 three-year terms on the DONA International Board of Directors.  Since 2007,she has been a certified doula trainer with CAPPA. 

In 2012 Janice was named CAPPA Childbirth Educator of the year and in 2013 she was appointed by the CAPPA Board of Directors as one of 3 Senior Advisors to CAPPA international.  She holds numerous other certifications including; Happiest Baby on the Block, Hug Your Baby, Infant Massage, and an RTS Bereavement Counselor.

Janice’s decades of work on behalf of expectant mothers in need or crisis has been widely recognized.  One of her most challenging inmate births was featured in the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul – Answered Prayer series.  The Salvation Army bestowed their highest award for community service to Janice – The coveted “Others” award for the Southeastern United States.  And Trinity College of Florida recognized her with the Prokope’ award for service beyond self. 

National TV, press and independent documentaries have all featured stories of Janice’s work including the nationally recognized magazine; CHILD.  Her You Tube channel features continuous and contemporary training for Doulas and Childbirth educators, and has over 500 subscribers and over 32,000 views.

After a lifetime in childbirth and doula work, Janice still treasures most the time she spends with her sons and daughters in law, and her two precious granddaughters.  She and her husband Barry divide their time between Tarpon Springs, Florida on the Gulf coast and Banner Elk, North Carolina in the mountains.