Nutrition Educator 2(Nutrition Educator)

State of Louisiana•Lake Charles, LA

About The Position

The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health is hiring a Nutrition Educator 2 to support Parish Health Unit and Mobile WIC operations. The role provides nutrition education and promotes healthy lifestyles for women, infants, and children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The position includes routine statewide duties, such as fieldwork, inspections, investigations, or direct services beyond the employee’s domicile parish, and may require frequent travel. The position is located in the Office of Public Health, Center for Community and Preventative Health, Calcasieu Parish. It is a Job appointment, described as a temporary appointment that may last up to 48 months. During a disaster, the employee must report as assigned to a Medical Needs Shelter or Health Unit and perform duties assigned by Incident Command Staff.

Requirements

One year of experience in nutritional education or counseling, food service, or administrative services; or six semester hours in food and/or nutrition services; or one year of vocational or technical school training in a dietetic assistant curriculum.
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university may be credited as one year of experience.
Routine statewide duties beyond the employee’s domicile parish are required and may involve frequent travel.

Responsibilities

Provide individual and group nutrition education and outreach to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children in the WIC program, as referred during certification or recertification.
Educate WIC participants and caregivers about age-appropriate nutrition, feeding practices, breastfeeding benefits, healthy lifestyles, formula preparation, food safety, sanitation, and food storage.
Plan and conduct nutrition education lessons, demonstrations, taste testings, and cooking classes focused on WIC-approved foods and nutrients, and document services in the LAWIN Management Information System.
Educate participants about WIC policies, participant rights and responsibilities, approved foods, and proper use of WIC benefits while shopping.
Assist with medical data collection and maintain participant and nutrition education records.
Support outreach and community engagement by maintaining education materials, distributing promotional resources, preparing activity reports, and referring participants to community health and social service programs as needed.
Perform anthropometric measurements of WIC participants in accordance with applicable policies and protocols.
Collect blood samples from WIC participants to test hemoglobin values in accordance with WIC policies and procedures.
Schedule participant appointments, follow up on missed appointments, and help maintain continuity of WIC services through client transfer coordination.
Conduct WIC income screenings, update participant information in LAWIN, assess voter registration status, and assist with voter registration activities as needed.
Assist with general WIC administration and support Competent Professional Authorities and other clinic staff with daily program activities and participant services.
Assist with participant education and program support activities, including educational shopping trips, meetings, special projects, and training new employees and dietetic students.
During disaster situations, report as assigned to a Medical Needs Shelter or Health Unit and perform duties assigned by Incident Command Staff.