WIC Peer Breastfeeding Counselor

Ramsey County•Plato Building, MN

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The WIC Program is hiring intermittent Breastfeeding/Chest feeding Peer Counselors for a hybrid position that combines primarily work-from-home duties with some in-person responsibilities. Peer Counselors provide one-on-one support to clients throughout the normal course of human lactation during the first year of life. Through phone calls and text communication, counselors reinforce evidence-based lactation recommendations. Peer Counselors share build trust and meaningful connections within the community. This intermittent opportunity offers up to 30 hours per pay period, with varying schedules that may include evenings and weekends based on client needs. A WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is a paraprofessional person who gives basic lactation information, encouragement, and support to pregnant and chest/breastfeeding WIC program participants. Peer counselors are mothers who have personal experience with breastfeeding and are trained to provide basic lactation information and support others with whom they share or have shared socioeconomic status, language, and/or race or ethnicity. Peer counselors reinforce chest/breastfeeding recommendations in a socially and culturally appropriate context and promote breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the child; and perform related duties as assigned.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent.
Six months of customer service experience.
Must have a minimum of 6 months of experience breastfeeding at least one baby exclusively.
Must have been or currently be a client of the WIC program.
Fluent in Karen, Somali, Spanish and/or Hmong (depending on assignment).

Nice To Haves

Equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Responsibilities

Provide lactation support through one-to-one counseling via telephone calls, text messaging, and/or face-to-face meetings at a Ramsey County WIC clinic.
One-to-one counseling includes; basic lactation information and support to new mothers including explaining the benefits of breastfeeding, how to overcome barriers, and how to get a good start with breastfeeding.
Help clients prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns. (Examples: sore nipples, poor latch, inadequate infant weight gain, milk supply concerns, etc.)
Communicate with WIC clients outside usual clinic hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as necessary.
Manage a caseload of WIC participants and make routine periodic contact with all assigned clients as necessary.
Maintain accurate records of all contacts made with WIC clients.
Make and receive telephone calls/text messages, and e-mails from home as needed from a WIC assigned cell phone.
Submit invoices, activity logs and close files in a timely manner.
Maintain regular contact with WIC Lactation Specialist and Nutrition Specialist– WIC.
May assist with promotion of the peer grant or breastfeeding classes through special activities led by the WIC Lactation Specialist or Nutrition Specialist - WIC.
Read assigned study materials provided by WIC Lactation Specialist or Nutrition Specialist - WIC.
Attend all required training and monthly Peer Breastfeeding Counselor staff meetings.