Bilingual (Spanish/English) WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Washington County, Oregon • Hillsboro, OR

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

Washington County Public Health Division is seeking a Bilingual (Spanish/English) Breastfeeding Peer Counselor to join our Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program. In this role, you will provide parent-to-parent support to prenatal and postpartum WIC parents by providing basic breastfeeding information and encouragement. You will counsel prenatal and postpartum participants both virtually and face-to-face and refer participants to the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Coordinator/International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or other designated staff, or other appropriate health or social service agency, including outside community breastfeeding resources, for situations outside the peer counselor’s scope of practice. You will also support participants outside of usual clinic hours and the WIC clinic environment. Designated bilingual positions require that the incumbent have knowledge of another language (primarily Spanish) besides English. It is required to possess precise writing skills (including spelling, grammar, and punctuation), fluent speaking skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Upon successfully passing the applicable proficiency assessments in a selected language, positions that are eligible for the bilingual differential pay will offer in an amount of 5% of the base pay rate , or a flat rate of seventy-five ($75) per pay period, whichever is greater. Pay periods are every two weeks.

Requirements

• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent AND meets WIC Policy 716 and USDA program requirements.
• Must be able to pass both written and oral Spanish fluency assessments.
• Must successfully pass a background check post offer.
• Be a paraprofessional, not licensed or credentialed as healthcare, nutrition, or lactation consultant professionals, such as IBCLCs, registered dietitians, nurses, and other licensed and credentialed health professionals.
• Have experience with breastfeeding at least one (1) baby for six (6) months of duration or longer.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to advocate for various communities in Washington County, Clackamas County, Tillamook County, Columbia County and Polk County
• Familiarity of WIC services or, preferably, current/previous WIC participants
• Skills to communicate and share information using digital platforms and in-person
• Knowledge of or ability to navigate community systems of support, such as healthcare, community referrals, language/community-based resources, social media groups, etc.
• Skills to provide emotional support during challenging or difficult times
• Time management and organizational skills

Responsibilities

• Provide parent-to-parent support to prenatal and postpartum WIC parents by providing basic breastfeeding information and encouragement.
• Counsel prenatal and postpartum participants both virtually and face-to-face.
• Refer participants to the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Coordinator/International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or other designated staff, or other appropriate health or social service agency, including outside community breastfeeding resources, for situations outside the peer counselor’s scope of practice.
• Support participants outside of usual clinic hours and the WIC clinic environment.
• Document meeting notes, manage workload and deadline, and prioritize tasks.

Benefits

• Bilingual differential pay (5% of base pay rate, or a flat rate of $75 per pay period, whichever is greater)
• Award-winning benefits and wellness program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED