Breast Feeding Peer Counselor(Bilingual Spanish)
Job Code: 10282026
Location: Aurora, Illinois
FT/PT Status: Regular Full Time
Description:
Paraprofessional support person who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to WIC pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women.
Primary Functions:
- Maintain an effective working relationship with clinic staff and establishes a positive rapport with WIC participants.
- Attend breastfeeding training classes to become a peer counselor.
- Promote breastfeeding and act as an advocate in the clinic and in the community.
- Receive a caseload of WIC mothers and make routine contacts with prenatal and breastfeeding mothers assigned.
- Answer basic questions about breastfeeding and provide advanced counseling as trained on the job.
- Conduct individual and group breastfeeding promotion and support.
- Support and encourage women who have chosen to breastfeed.
- Document clinical concerns and refer to appropriate staff.
- Document group sessions or individual interactions in WIC EMR. Make referrals of participants wanting peer counselor follow-up to program staff.
- Need to be available during and outside the scheduled WIC clinic hours for mothers who are having breastfeeding challenges.
- Participate in appropriate continuing education.
- Ability to work all clinical hours as assigned.
- Familiarizes and complies with all VNA policies and procedures.
- Meets standards of behavior expectations.
- Follows established guidelines for use and/or disclosure of protected health information. Employees should report any breaches of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules to the Privacy Officer immediately. Failure to comply with HIPAA policies and procedures will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
- Other duties as assigned.
Compensation:
Hourly Range $18.00 to $21.00,depending on experience.
Incentives:
Earn up to $500.00 quarterlybased upon meeting productivity goals.
Available Employee Benefits:
Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, Critical Illness and Personal Accident Insurance, 403b, PTO, Tuition Reimbursement.
Qualifications
- High School diploma or GED required.
- Must attend breastfeeding counselor training within 6 months of hire.
- Must be enthusiastic, optimistic and not easily discouraged.
- Have a telephone and be willing to make calls from home.
- Must have breastfed one baby (within the last 5 years) for a minimum of 4 months with little to no formula, but does not need to be currently breastfeeding.
- Bi-lingual in Spanish/English as follows: Reading - Required. Written – Preferred. Speaking – Required. This position requires phone calls to Spanish speaking participants, distribution of Spanish language materials to participants, etc.
Essential Functions/Physical Requirements:
1. Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.2. Tactile, visual, and olfactory senses intact.3. Manual dexterity efficient to perform procedures and operate a computer.4. Ability to deal with high levels of stress.5. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, 25 on a frequent basis.VNA complies with all laws enforced by EEOC and ADA.Revised: 9/14, 10/15, 6/23, 7/24, 6/25Last Review Date: 9/14, 10/15, 8/16, 11/20, 6/23, 7/24, 12/24, 6/25