Part-Time Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Georgia Department of Public Health•McDonough (Henry County), GA

About The Position

The Part-Time Breastfeeding Peer Counselor works under general supervision to provide limited paraprofessional social services to WIC clients and their families. The counselor facilitates prenatal breastfeeding classes alongside a CPA and provides individual breastfeeding education in WIC clinics as needed. The role provides ongoing education and counseling to pregnant and breastfeeding WIC participants by telephone and, as scheduled by the local WIC program, through home or hospital visits. The position covers multiple locations in Butts and Henry Counties, including District 4 Public Health and the Henry County WIC & Nutrition Center. The counselor supports mothers with basic breastfeeding information, helps them address common concerns, and works with them to develop plans suited to their circumstances. The role requires accurate, consistent documentation of contacts in the peer counselor database, appropriate follow-up, and referrals to other providers and community programs when indicated. The counselor may be available to mothers outside usual business hours and may be required to assist during public health emergencies, including outside regular work hours. District 4 Public Health County Board of Health employees are considered essential employees during emergencies.

Requirements

Breastfed one or more children for six months or longer.
Be a current or former WIC participant and provide a current or former WIC ID number.
Have reliable transportation.
Be able to assist mothers with breastfeeding in the assigned WIC clinic.
Have basic computer skills.
Demonstrate excellent customer service and oral communication skills to interact effectively with departmental personnel and outside customers.
Be able to manage multiple duties simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish/English; the posting states this qualifies for $1 added to the minimum hire-in salary.
Public health experience.
Computer experience, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or data entry.

Responsibilities

Receive a caseload of WIC mothers and make routine, periodic contact with them.
Provide basic breastfeeding information and support, including education about benefits, common barriers, and getting started successfully.
Help mothers prevent and manage common breastfeeding concerns by developing plans suited to their situations.
Counsel pregnant and breastfeeding WIC mothers in clinics or by telephone at intervals set by the local WIC program.
Help mothers set goals in the context of their socioeconomic situations.
Develop breastfeeding plans with mothers and their significant others, based on history and observation.
Be available to new mothers with breastfeeding problems during or outside usual working hours.
Keep mothers’ information confidential in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
Provide consistent and appropriate follow-up.
Refer mothers, according to clinic protocols, to WIC nutritionists or breastfeeding coordinators, lactation consultants, physicians or nurses, and community public health programs.
Facilitate prenatal breastfeeding classes alongside a CPA and provide individual breastfeeding education in the WIC clinic as needed.
Document peer counselor contacts consistently and appropriately in the peer counselor database system.
Attend monthly staff meetings and breastfeeding conferences or workshops as appropriate.
Assist WIC staff with breastfeeding promotion projects and other assigned duties.
Use the work-issued phone to make and receive calls or texts.
Participate in emergency response assignments when called, including staffing shelters or specimen collection or distribution sites.