Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

HAMILTON HEALTH CENTER INC•Harrisburg, PA

About The Position

The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is responsible for providing breastfeeding education and support to WIC eligible participants. The Peer Counselor performs and documents breastfeeding detailed assessments and provides education to participants within federal and state guidelines. Hamilton Health Center (Hamilton), established in 1969, is the only Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) within a 30-mile radius of Harrisburg, PA and continues to grow using a holistic and comprehensive approach to being patient centered. The mission of Hamilton is to improve the health of Central Pennsylvania’s residents by delivering high quality, respectful and patient-centered health and related social services that promote access, treatment, education, and prevention regardless of health, economic, or insurance status. Our vision is that every member of our community, regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance status, receives holistic, quality health care needed to create a healthy community. For over 50 years we have been true to these words. As part of our team, you will work alongside a dedicated team that cares and values those we serve.

Requirements

Minimum of one year of WIC experience in a similar position.
Basic computer skills and in-depth knowledge of the PENN Data System required.
Strong documentation skills required.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy while working with a diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic population.
Reliable transportation required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of educational and nutrition counseling methods, breastfeeding promotion and support methods, and community referral systems preferred.
Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.

Responsibilities

Attends breastfeeding training to become a peer counselor and ongoing training as directed.
Receives a caseload of WIC mothers and makes routine periodic contacts with all assigned mothers.
Provides basic breastfeeding education and support to new mothers and assists with common breastfeeding concerns.
Counsels WIC mothers at clinic sites, by phone, virtually, at home, or during hospital visits as scheduled.
Attends peer counselor meetings and in-services as directed.
Maintains strict confidentiality of participant information.
Maintains accurate documentation of all contacts made with WIC mothers.
Refers mothers, according to clinic-established protocols, to the WIC Nutritionist and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Supervisor when outside scope of practice.
Assists with in-person and virtual prenatal classes and breastfeeding support groups.
Makes referrals to health, social service, and community resources both within and outside of Hamilton Health Center services.
Incorporates Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA) skills, participant-centered counseling, and guided goal-setting techniques.
Performs anthropometric measurements following regulations and state policy.
Participates in meetings, in-services, trainings, and conferences as assigned by management.
Complies with nutrition education, breastfeeding, and outreach objectives and assists coordinators in development and implementation of plans.
Attends WIC Satellite clinics as assigned and performs duties necessary to ensure smooth clinic flow and delivery of benefits.
Maintains security of equipment, supplies, and eWIC cards at clinic sites.
Meets weekly with the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Supervisor.
Communicates needs and issues to the WIC Director, the State WIC Agency, or Hamilton Health Center as appropriate.
Performs other assigned job-related duties as required.