Women Infant & Children (WIC) - Lactation Peer Counselor - Temporary

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Under direction of the Lactation Coordinator (IBCLC) and the Manager – Nutrition Program – WIC, the Lactation Peer Counselor - Temporary position empowers and supports WIC mothers in their breastfeeding journey, from preparation to providing ongoing assistance. This position provides essential breastfeeding education, addresses common challenges, and identifies high-risk situations that require referral to specialized healthcare providers such as lactation consultants or physicians. Additionally, this position promotes breastfeeding within the community.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position exercises no direct supervision.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Provide individual counseling with pregnant and breastfeeding women in the clinic, on the phone, in the hospital or at the client’s home. Support mothers during a normal breastfeeding experience.

Accurately and clearly document all services provided in the computer system.

Issue breast pumps and teach proper procedures for use and care. Clean and sterilize breast pumps. Provide breastfeeding information and promote breastfeeding among peers.

Enter client data into the WIC computer system and issue food benefits.

Make follow-up phone calls to mothers who have been issued breast pumps, pregnant women within one month of expected delivery and retrieve overdue pumps. 

Provide support and current information to breastfeeding moms who will be returning to work or school.

Teach breastfeeding classes, attend meetings, conferences, and training sessions as required.

Identify breastfeeding complications beyond scope of practice and make appropriate referrals based on state and local policy and procedures. Issue and fit nursing bras and other supplemental breastfeeding aids.

Facilitate breastfeeding support groups.

Plan and participate in the annual World Breastfeeding Day event.

Operate a city vehicle as needed for travelling to participants home and/or hospital to deliver breast pumps or provide breast feeding support.

OTHER JOB-RELATED DUTIES

Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Breastfeeding basics to address specific concerns of pregnant women and correct misinformation that may prevent a woman from breastfeeding.

Skill to:

Proficiently operate audiovisual equipment to deliver instructional content during classes.

Use Microsoft Office programs and operate a computer.

Utilize the State WIC training curriculum to counsel participants.

Ability to:

Organize thoughts and present accurate information in stressful situations.

Maintain precise documentation of all peer counseling interactions.

Take part in PC cell phone duty to handle hotline calls.

Represent WIC in a professional manner at outreach functions such as hospital visits, community health fairs, and other events.

Clearly communicate with women about the advantages of breastfeeding and the proper procedures to increase duration.

Dispense and maintain inventory of electric and manual breast pumps according to policy.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.

Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

For positions with more than one level, all listed requirements at the lower levels are required at the higher levels. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying.  Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through:

Experience:

Experience in successfully breastfeeding or expressing breast milk for at least one child, or currently breastfeeding, to offer firsthand knowledge and support to other mothers is required.

Experience participating in the WIC program, or having participated in the past, to effectively relate to the WIC population as a peer is required.

Education/Training:

Completion of the USDA 20-hour training course "Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work," or a guided study with the WIC Lactation Consultant (will be provided by either the State WIC Agency or Local WIC Agency), is required within sixty (60) days of employment. Completion of the USDA 20-hour training course will certify the employee as a paraprofessional. Continued employment will be contingent upon successful completion of the training, as determined by the Manager – Nutrition Program – WIC.

This position is intended for individuals who are not licensed or credentialed health professionals such as International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), Registered Dieticians (RDs), or nurses as a requirement to be trained as a paraprofessional.

License or Certificate:     

A valid Texas driver’s license, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment or a military waiver is required.

Special Requirements:

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

Bloodborne Pathogens training and HIPAA Compliance training are required within sixty (60) days of employment.

The Lactation Peer Counselor -TE position is also referred to as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BF PC), according to the Texas WIC Health and Human Services Commission Policy. The Texas WIC Health and Human Services Commission Policy states that the BF PC are candidates from the target population and can be trained as paraprofessionals. Paraprofessionals provide specific tasks within a defined scope of practice. They assist professionals, but are not licensed or credentialed as healthcare, nutrition, or lactation consultant professionals.

Work beyond standard clinic hours and outside the WIC clinic environment.

With or without accommodation, the “X” indicates the overall strength demand of the position during a typical workday:

___     Sedentary – lifting of no more than 10 pounds

___     Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds

_X_     Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds

___     Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds

___     Very Heavy – team lifting over 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds

Physical Demand Codes:  The following describes whether or not the position is expected to exert the physical demands listed during a typical workday as well as the overall frequency of the task:

Codes for how often:

N         =          No

E         =          Extensive (100 – 70% of the time)

M         =          Moderate (60 – 30% of the time)

I           =          Infrequent (20 – 10% of the time)

A         =          Almost Never (<10% of the time)

Code / Task

_I__    Standing

_E_     Sitting

_M_    Walking

_M_    Lifting

_M_    Carrying

_M_    Pushing/Pulling

_I_       Overhead Work

_E_     Fine Dexterity

_I__    Kneeling

_I__    Crouching

_I__    Crawling

_M_    Bending

_I_       Twisting

_I_       Climbing

_E_     Balancing

_E_     Vision

_E_     Hearing

_M_    Talking

___     Other:  _____________________