Kaitlyn Braun, a former residential counsellor from Brantford, Ontario, has permanently surrendered her social worker registration following a disciplinary hearing on August 10. Braun was previously convicted of criminal charges for faking pregnancies, fabricating sexual assault reports, and defrauding 13 doulas across multiple jurisdictions.
The Bottom Line
- The Core Action: Braun permanently relinquished her registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers following an August 10 disciplinary hearing.
- The Criminal Record: In December 2023, Braun pleaded guilty to public mischief, indecent acts, obtaining services by false pretense, and fraud involving 13 doulas in Ontario, Alberta, and the United States.
- The Professional Fallout: Documents revealed a history of workplace deception, including fabricated family tragedies and threats, leading to her termination from Haldimand & Norfolk Women’s Services in August 2022.
Anatomy of a Multi-Jurisdictional Deception
Between June 2022 and March 2023, the professional and personal boundaries surrounding vulnerable birth support workers were systematically exploited. Braun obtained doula services under false pretenses by claiming she had been sexually assaulted, was experiencing a miscarriage, or had suffered a stillbirth. In one instance, she sent a photograph of a stillborn baby to a doula.
The financial and emotional toll on the victims was severe. According to disciplinary documents from the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, one doula accumulated close to $6,000 in uncompensated time and expenses while attempting to support Braun over multiple days. The psychological impact proved equally damaging. During Braun’s criminal trial, an unnamed victim testified, “I am afraid of trusting social workers. I am afraid of gaining new clients. I am afraid of being triggered at a birth.”
Beyond financial fraud, the misconduct included physical boundary violations. Hearing documents stated that Braun coerced a doula into performing a massage on her back and buttocks while naked or partially naked, and used a breast pump shirtless in front of a provider.
Workplace Fabrication and False Police Reports
Before targeting doulas, Braun established a pattern of deception within her formal employment. Having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020, she secured a position as a residential counsellor at Haldimand & Norfolk Women’s Services (HNWS) in October 2021.
That employment unraveled in August 2022 when HNWS submitted a termination report to the social work college. The report outlined multiple concerns, including an inappropriate and threatening comment directed at a colleague, alongside fabrications regarding her personal life, such as falsely claiming her mother was in a coma and subsequently died. By October 2022, the college began receiving initial reports regarding Braun faking pregnancies to secure doula services.
The deception extended to law enforcement. In February 2023, Braun visited Brantford General Hospital to complete a sexual assault evidence kit, providing a sworn videotaped statement to the Brantford Police Service. Later that same day, she emailed a detective to confess that the entire report was fabricated. This admission led to a criminal charge of public mischief.
Conviction, Sentencing, and Continued Deception
On December 7, 2023, Braun entered guilty pleas for 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. On February 14, 2024, a court handed down a sentence of two years less a day of house arrest, followed by three years of probation and mandated therapy.
Despite ongoing legal repercussions, investigative timelines show the behavior persisted. Just two months after her sentencing, Braun contacted a charitable organization supporting parents in crisis using the alias Kate Baker, falsely claiming she was 19 weeks pregnant with a non-viable pregnancy. She spent approximately 19 hours on the phone with a volunteer. Ten days later, using the name Jessica Baker, she exchanged roughly 600 text messages over three days with a Hamilton-based doula.
Case Summary and Disciplinary Outcome
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Action | Permanent surrender of social worker registration (Aug. 10) |
| Regulatory Body | Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers |
| Criminal Convictions | 1 public mischief, 4 indecent acts, 11 false pretense, 5 fraud (Dec. 7, 2023) |
| Victim Count | 13 doulas across Ontario, Alberta, and the United States |
| Sentencing | 2 years less a day house arrest, 3 years probation, mandatory therapy (Feb. 14, 2024) |
The formal surrender of her registration permanently closes Braun’s professional access to social work, ensuring she can no longer hold credentials within the sector she exploited. The fallout leaves a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in caregiving professions where trust forms the core of the service provided.
