BREASTFEEDING PEER COUNSELOR

Marion County Public Health Department; Dawnbury (IN); On-site; USD 42,981,000 - 63,039,000; Full time

Job summary

Marion County Public Health Department in Indiana seeks a WIC breastfeeding peer counselor to provide information, encouragement and support to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

You will attend training, counsel participants by phone, text, home or clinic visits, teach classes, maintain records, and participate in outreach and HIPAA-compliant activities, with occasional evenings and travel.

Qualifications

• Current lactation knowledge or willingness to learn.
• Strong time management and ability to handle caseload.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.
• Clear oral and written communication with diverse audiences.
• Bilingual ability is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Counsel WIC participants by phone, text, email, home or clinic visits at scheduled intervals.
• Attend breastfeeding training classes to become a peer counselor and continue knowledge development.
• Teach breastfeeding classes in WIC clinics and offsite when necessary.
• Maintain accurate records of contacts with WIC participants in the required systems.
• Participate in community outreach and HIPAA-compliant activities; support HOPE events and emergency responses.

Skills

Lactation knowledge

Time management

Independent work

Communication skills

Bilingual preferred

Travel readiness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

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Sub-Division:MCPHD

FLS Status: [[JOB_REQUISITION_CUSTOM27]]

Marion County Public Health Department is an organization that celebrates diversity, and seeks to employ a diverse workforce. We actively encourage all individuals to apply for employment and to seek advancement opportunities. Marion County Public Health Department also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as required by law. For additional questions please contact us at: [e-mail] .

Job Role Summary

Gives basic breastfeeding information, encouragement, and support to Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC) pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

• Attends breastfeeding training classes to become a peer counselor. Continues advancing breastfeeding knowledge through participation in available conferences, workshops, shadowing more experienced breastfeeding consultants, and participating in team meetings.
• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone, text messaging, email, home visits, shelter visits, prison visits, and/or hospital visits at scheduled intervals.
• Counsels pre-natal and breastfeeding women in the WIC clinics.
• Teaches breastfeeding classes in WIC clinics and offsite when necessary.
• Provides leadership with support groups and centering groups when available.
• Receives an assigned caseload of WIC participants and makes routine contacts providing basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers. This includes but is not limited to educating on the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, establishing milk supply dialogues, and addressing myths.
• Refers situations that are beyond the provided training or comfort level. This includes common problems that do not begin improving within 24 hours of the intervention, or when there are medical situations for the mother or infant.Yields such situations first to an IBCLC within WIC or the medical provider.
• Offers support to WIC participants outside of usual clinic hours.
• Participates in outreach activities in the community.
• Keeps accurate records of all contacts made with WIC participants within the automated system and the S-drive.
• May assist WIC staff in promoting breastfeeding peer counseling through special projects and duties as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality of all client records and information as specified by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
• Participate in public health preparedness exercise and in response to public health emergencies, as directed.
• Participate in a minimum of two H.O.P.E events totaling of minimum of eight (8) hours annually.
• Other duties as assigned.

Associated Job Duties

• Transport, on occasion, client information and or supplies between MCHD health offices following HIPAA guidelines.

Qualifications

• Completion of high school or GED.
• Having breastfed at least one baby (does not have to be currently breastfeeding).
• Previous or current participation in the WIC Program.
• Access to personal transportation.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Current lactation practices and terminology or the willingness to learn.
• Use effective and efficient time management skills under pressure of patient volume.
• Work independently.
• Pleasantly communicate verbally and in writing with the public, assigned hospital staff and WIC staff.
• Be flexible to changing work duties.
• Operate office equipment especially computers.
• Bilingual is preferred.
• Primarily works out of WIC office located in WIC clinics or in area hospitals where WIC provides services.
• May require periodic evening phone contact with established clients.
• Some travel required between program locations and within community.
• Exposure to communicable illnesses and diseases due to direct client contact.
• Considerable walking and standing.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.