WIC Nutrition Assistant Certifier I

Sea Mar Community Health Centers•Lakewood, CO

2d•$22•Hybrid

About The Position

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is seeking a WIC Nutrition Assistant Certifier I to be responsible for WIC participant enrollment, termination, orientation, benefit delivery, and maintaining client files. This role involves performing preliminary participant risk assessments, basic nutrition education, and identifying/making referrals to nutrition and other health or community services. The position also provides clerical support for the Nutrition Program, including completing participant reports, maintaining records, and monthly statistics. The organization is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, committed to providing comprehensive health and human services to diverse communities, with a specialization in serving Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar serves all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, or ability to pay. The network includes over 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics, along with various nutritional, social, and educational services. This is a full-time position with a wage of $22.28 per hour and requires bilingual Spanish/English proficiency.

Requirements

High School or GED diploma.
Possess writing skills sufficient to be understood by a dietitian, receptionist, WIC coordinator, and the WIC participant.
Bilingual, bicultural - English/Spanish preferred.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to understand a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Abilities and aptitudes for developing effective community and personnel relationships.
Ability to work comfortably and effectively with individuals and groups from diverse cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Able to deal patiently and empathetically with multicultural clientele, even under stressful conditions.
Able to work cooperatively as a member of the health care team.
Works efficiently with self-direction.
Must have and maintain a TB test annually.
Must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire date and maintain current BLS CPR throughout employment.
Pre-hire and annual employee health screening required.
Annual influenza vaccine required (unless an approved medical or religious exemption is granted).
Regularly required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
Frequently required to stand and sit.
Occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Must be able to lift 35 pounds above 4 feet without assistance.
Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Able to sit at computer terminal or desk for extended periods of time.

Nice To Haves

One year previous experience as WIC Clerk and/or in WIC program desired.
Interest and experience in basic nutrition and childhood development desirable.
Completion of the Minimum Paraprofessional Competencies (a set of standards defined by Washington State WIC Program) within guidelines set in WIC/Nutrition Policies and Procedures.

Responsibilities

Maintain complete and up-to-date WIC charts, including documenting counseling sessions, statistical program records, documentation flow sheets, WIC diet records, certification sheets, weight/height grids, child evaluation sheets, infant birth outcomes, and appointment scheduling.
Establish and maintain professional working relationships with WIC team members and other Sea Mar staff.
Serve as a liaison between Nutrition/WIC and other clinic and community services, making referrals as appropriate.
Assist with clerical and statistical program work as needed.
Attend selected clinic, MSS, Preventative Health Services division, and WIC meetings and participate in continuing education.
Assist with breastfeeding promotion and community nutrition education, including travel as needed.
Work efficiently with self-direction.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served, including understanding of growth and development over the life span and identifying age-specific grouping needs.
Interview clients from diverse populations, review and document client history, anthropometric and laboratory data, and review current eating habits.
Use standard assessment tools and follow department policies to perform screening procedures such as weighing and measuring, taking hematocrits/hemoglobin, plotting growth grids, and reviewing dietary evaluations.
Compare collected information to program criteria to accurately determine WIC eligibility and nutrition risk factors.
Refer clients to appropriate health or community service resources.
Identify when high-risk clients need immediate attention from a Dietitian, make appropriate referrals, and facilitate appointments.
Provide individual and group nutrition education according to program guidelines, using client-appropriate methods and materials.
Provide program orientation, explain nutrition requirements, and assist in scheduling client appointments, considering programmatic and client needs.
Determine appropriate food packages, explain nutrient content of WIC foods, identify contracted food vendors, issue manual or computerized food benefits, and document benefits issued.
Maintain patient rights and confidentiality; document vendor and participant complaints and infractions.