Social Worker Resigns Over Doula Deception Scandal

Disciplinary Proceedings and Permanent Registration Surrender

According to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers hearing documents, Braun obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020 before registering with the regulatory body. Her employment history included a stint as a residential counsellor at Haldimand & Norfolk Women’s Services between October 2021 and July 2022. The college received a termination report on Aug. 17, 2022, detailing concerns that Braun fabricated information, including telling colleagues her mother was in a coma and later died.

Following reports in October 2022 that Braun was faking pregnancies to obtain doula services, the Brantford Police Service notified the college of criminal charges on March 15, 2023. At the recent disciplinary hearing, Braun admitted that her actions were disgraceful, dishonourable, and unprofessional. The panel concluded that her crimes struck at the core values of the profession, stating in the decision that she exploited victims’ trust and empathy. Braun has resigned from the college, agreed never to reapply or practice social work in any jurisdiction, and was ordered to pay $5,000 to the college in $200 instalments over five years.

Criminal Convictions and Sentencing Details

Braun’s criminal case spanned multiple jurisdictions and included charges involving 13 doulas across Ontario, Alberta, and the United States. Court documents show she fabricated stories of sexual assault, miscarriages, and stillbirths—even sending a photo of a stillborn baby to a provider—while failing to pay for services. In one instance, a victim accumulated close to $6,000 in uncompensated time and expenses. The disciplinary documents also noted instances where Braun coerced a doula into massaging her while partially unclothed and used a breast pump in front of a provider.

On Dec. 7, 2023, Braun pleaded guilty to one count of public mischief for submitting a false sexual assault report after confessing to a detective via email on the same day she filed a Brantford General Hospital evidence kit. She also pleaded guilty to four counts of committing an indecent act, 11 counts of obtaining services by false pretense, and five counts of fraud. On Feb. 14, 2024, she received a sentence of two years less a day of house arrest, three years of probation, and mandatory therapy. After violating terms by targeting a charitable organization and a Hamilton doula under aliases, Hamilton Police arrested her on April 30, 2024, leading to a five-year prison sentence.

Impact on the Doula Community

The deception had lasting professional and psychological repercussions for the victims involved. During Braun’s criminal trial, an unnamed victim testified that the relationship profoundly impacted her career and personal life. The victim stated in court records that she is afraid of trusting social workers, gaining new clients, and being triggered at a birth. Hearing documents confirmed that several doulas deceived by Braun subsequently left the profession entirely due to the trauma of the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific charges did Kaitlyn Braun plead guilty to?

Braun pleaded guilty to one count of public mischief, four counts of committing an indecent act, 11 counts of obtaining services by false pretense, and five counts of fraud involving doulas, alongside subsequent charges following her April 2024 arrest.

What penalties did the Ontario College of Social Workers impose?

Braun permanently resigned her certificate of registration, agreed never to practice social work again, and was ordered to pay $5,000 to the college in $200 instalments over a five-year period.

How long is Braun’s prison sentence?

A judge sentenced Braun to a five-year prison term after she was arrested by Hamilton Police in April 2024 for targeting a crisis support charity and a local doula under false identities shortly after her initial house arrest sentence.