BREASTFEEDING PEER COUNSELOR

Marion County Public Health Department; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Marion County Public Health Department seeks a Lactation Peer Counselor to provide basic breastfeeding information, encouragement, and support to WIC mothers. You will attend training, counsel clients by phone, text, email, home or hospital visits, and teach classes when needed.

Responsibilities include maintaining case-load records, collaborating with WIC staff, and participating in outreach and public health preparedness activities.

Qualifications

• Current lactation knowledge and terminology, or willingness to learn.
• Good time management under patient volume.
• Ability to work independently and flexibly.
• Clear communication with the public and staff in writing and speaking.

Responsibilities

• Attends breastfeeding training to become a peer counselor and continues knowledge through conferences and team meetings.
• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by phone, text, email, home or hospital visits at scheduled intervals.
• Counsels prenatal and breastfeeding women in WIC clinics and offers breastfeeding class instruction.
• Leads support groups and centers, if available, and maintains case load records in the system.
• Refers complex cases to IBCLC or medical providers when beyond training or comfort level.
• Provides after-hours support to WIC participants and participates in community outreach.
• Maintains HIPAA-compliant confidentiality and participates in public health preparedness exercises.
• Completes other duties as assigned and supports WIC program operations.

Skills

Lactation knowledge

Time management

Independent working

Verbal communication

Written communication

Bilingual (preferred)

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.