Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Virginia Information Technologies Agency • Accomack, Virginia, VA

7d • $15 - $21 • Onsite

About The Position

The Eastern Shore Health District proudly serves Northampton and Accomack counties. Our mission is to prevent illness and disease, protect the environment, and promote optimal health and emergency preparedness for everyone on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We are people of the community, for the community. Our vision is to drive Virginia's Eastern Shore to the peak of personal, environmental, and community health, setting an example for others to follow. We are seeking a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor to promote breastfeeding among WIC participants, health care workers and the community.

Requirements

• Demonstrated working knowledge of basic human lactation
• Demonstrated working knowledge of breastfeeding practices
• Demonstrated working knowledge of various breastfeeding positioning techniques
• Demonstrated working knowledge of manual expression of breast milk
• Demonstrated working knowledge of collection and storage of human milk
• Demonstrated working knowledge of basic breastfeeding management
• Demonstrated skill in effective communication
• Demonstrated ability to instruct in a group and individual setting
• Required to have breastfed at least one baby for at least 6 months
• Driver's license

Nice To Haves

• Current or former WIC participants preferred
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

• Provided breastfeeding encouragement, information, and counsel to prenatal and breastfeeding participants.
• Provided anticipatory education about the normal course of breastfeeding.
• Conduct support group meeting and assists the nutritionist with individual and other group sessions.
• Contact participants at predetermined intervals per WIC policy to provide counsel, encouragement, and information to maintain lactation. Is available to participants outside of usual clinic hours and the WIC clinic environment. Identifies problems or potential problems necessitating referral to the nutritionist, or WIC Designated Breastfeeding Expert (DBE).
• Recruit participants to attend nutrition education classes by making clinic, telephone, and/or mail contacts.
• Maintain logs of patient contacts, completes monthly activity reports and other health department forms as required. Utilizes the Crossroads system.
• May plan and participate in community outreach events for WIC participants, particularly during Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Plans local agency breastfeeding promotion events. Creates and maintain a breastfeeding-friendly environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Benefits

• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.
• Wage employees are eligible to apply for all classified positions for which recruitment has been initiated, including those limited to State Employees Only.
• If a wage employee becomes employed in a classified position, he/she will be eligible to purchase retirement credit for the time worked as a wage employee.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed