WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (part-time)

Oklahoma City-County Health Department•Oklahoma City, OK

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This evolving part-time position is located in the Operations Division with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD). The employee is a paraprofessional support person who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. These various job duties and responsibilities may be performed for the main and satellite clinics. This position functions at the entry level (Tier 1) as defined by the Council on Linkages Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals with a primary focus on the following domains: Communication Skills Community Partnership Skills.

Requirements

Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are a special group of women who can model good parenting skills, as well as breastfeeding skills.
Are receiving or have received WIC services
Have successfully breastfed at least one baby (do not currently have to be breastfeeding, however at least six months of breastfeeding experience is preferred).
Have access to a telephone and reliable transportation
Are enthusiastic about breastfeeding and have a desire to help other mothers enjoy a positive experience
Valid Oklahoma driver license required
Must be certified in CPR within 90 days of employment
Skill in communicating with persons both orally and in writing using tact and diplomacy
Skill in developing and presenting nutrition education materials
Knowledge of providing nutrition education, counseling and consultation
Ability and willingness to maintain confidentiality
Ability and willingness to operate a personal computer
Ability and willingness to follow established policies and procedures
Ability and willingness to develop and maintain effective working relationships
Ability and willingness to follow safe working practices and procedures
Ability and willingness to assume responsibility for work product
Arm/hand steadiness and digital dexterity enough to use equipment such as computer keyboard, ten-key, lancet, etc.
Vision enough to read and draft written communications such as computer printouts, instructions, hand- or machine-generated documents, etc., as well as print on a computer monitor
Flexibility and coordination enough to operate a motor vehicle as needed
Speech and hearing enough to communicate with others, both via telephone, in a public presentation and face-to-face
Flexibility and strength enough to lift objects weighing up to 35 pounds, and move and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 35 pounds
Flexibility enough to bend over exam table, stoop to pick up objects from floor etc.
Constant contact with other employees and with the public to give and receive information and/or to provide technical assistance.
May be required to occasionally deal with temperamental people.
Must have an operating vehicle available for use when field duties are required
Will be compliant on recommended immunizations required by the CDC as a healthcare worker and as defined within the scope of Emergency Response within 30 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

At least six months of breastfeeding experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Support WIC mothers during a normal breastfeeding experience.
Counsel new WIC mothers at certification.
Promote breastfeeding to WIC participants.
Address specific concerns of WIC expectant/breastfeeding mothers and correct misinformation.
Share WIC-approved breastfeeding educational materials with participants.
Counsel WIC pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers over the telephone and in person (one-on-one) at scheduled intervals.
Follow up on WIC participants according to protocol (refer to the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Training Manual for recommended contact frequency).
Be available to WIC participants outside usual clinic hours and outside the WIC clinic environment.
Provide participants the telephone number to the Oklahoma Breastfeeding hotline for additional breastfeeding support from International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants 24 hours a day/7 day a week.
Provide support and information to WIC breastfeeding mothers who may need help and/or advice to continue breastfeeding while working or going to school.
Assist with issuance of breast pumps and maintain breast pump inventory (must complete formal breast pump training prior to issuing breast pumps).
Document appropriate counseling information, such as participant name, date and time spent with participants in clinic records within 24 hours of contact.
Complete and turn in Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Monthly Activity Report to the local Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Coordinator according to WIC policy.
Keep participant files in a secure environment, that is, a locked drawer, etc.
Attending all Breastfeeding Peer Counselor meetings and in-services.
Abide by clinic policy concerning participant confidentiality and dress code.
Provide appropriate referrals when needed.
Driving to off-site locations to perform job duties as needed.
Completes required training in support of duties and responsibilities of this position.
At the direction of OCCHD Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health Officer or designee, the employee will be assigned a variety of specific job duties and responsibilities as a member of the OCCHD Emergency Preparedness and Response Program Team (i.e., Bioterrorism Response Program).
As a member of the OCCHD Emergency Preparedness and Response Team, the employee is required to complete all necessary responder training and may be designated as a member of the first-responder team.
Employees will receive Quality Improvement (QI) training deemed necessary by their supervisor.