Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Florida; Naples (FL); On-site; USD 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Naples, Florida is seeking a Family Support Worker to provide mom-to-mom breastfeeding education, support, and counseling to WIC participants, managing a caseload and coordinating referrals as needed.

The role requires travel between clinic, hospital, and community sites, with after-hours availability and documentation in FL-WiSE and HMS. It emphasizes confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and program compliance.

Qualifications

• Must have breastfed at least one baby.
• Knowledge of basic breastfeeding practices, common breastfeeding concerns, normal lactation, and the boundaries of the breastfeeding peer counselor role.
• Ability to provide respectful mom-to-mom support, use client-centered communication, protect confidentiality, and work effectively with participants from varied backgrounds.
• Ability to recognize concerns outside the peer counselor scope of practice and promptly use the local yield, referral, and follow-back process.
• Ability to learn and accurately use FL-WiSE, EARS or HMS, Microsoft Office applications, telephone systems, and other approved program technology.
• Ability to organize a caseload, prioritize follow-up, maintain accurate records, meet deadlines, travel between assigned locations, and work independently within established procedures.
• Ability to communicate clearly in person, by telephone, and in writing; language skills and cultural familiarity aligned with the participants served by the local agency.

Responsibilities

• Counsels assigned WIC pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants on normal breastfeeding matters in the clinic, by telephone or approved virtual methods, and through hospital or community visits when assigned.
• Manages an assigned caseload and completes initial and follow-up contacts at intervals established by the local agency, including approved availability outside normal clinic hours up to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends.
• Provides basic, client-centered breastfeeding information and encouragement to help participants establish breastfeeding, address common barriers, and prevent or manage common concerns within the peer counselor scope of practice.
• Uses approved educational materials and counseling techniques to help participants prepare for breastfeeding, build confidence, recognize normal infant-feeding patterns, continue breastfeeding during common life transitions, and work toward their individual feeding goals.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and provides respectful, culturally responsive support in accordance with Department of Health, WIC, HIPAA, and data-security requirements.
• Peer counseling documentation and service reporting. Documents individual and group breastfeeding contacts in the appropriate FL-WiSE breastfeeding screens and completes approved prenatal or postpartum contact forms when system access is unavailable. Keeps accurate records of participant contacts, attempts, follow-up plans, referrals, and outcomes; scans completed contact forms into FL-WiSE as required. Accurately records time and services in EARS or HMS and completes required reports, logs, and paperwork within established timeframes.
• Facilitates or assists with approved prenatal breastfeeding classes, breastfeeding support groups, peer-led education, outreach events, and special breastfeeding promotion projects.
• Referral coordination and continuity of breastfeeding support.
• Recognizes paraprofessional limitations and promptly yields and refers medical, medication, nutrition, high-risk, or complex breastfeeding concerns to the Designated Breastfeeding Expert, CPA, health care provider, or other appropriate professional.
• Training meetings and quality improvement.
• Peer counseling program support, travel and other duties.
• Assists with monitoring, issuing, organizing, and restocking approved breastfeeding supplies and educational materials; completes a monthly inventory of supplies and promptly reports inventory needs to the Breastfeeding Coordinator.
• Checks participant messages and assigned communications; maintains peer counseling forms and educational materials; and travels between approved clinic, hospital, community, or outreach locations as scheduled.

Skills

Breastfed baby

Breastfeeding knowledge

Mom-to-mom support

Client-centered communication

Confidentiality

Diversity awareness

Caseload management

Clear communication

Tools

FL-WiSE

EARS

HMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Naples, Florida is seeking a Family Support Worker to provide mom-to-mom breastfeeding education, support, and counseling to WIC participants, managing a caseload and coordinating referrals as needed.

The role requires travel between clinic, hospital, and community sites, with after-hours availability and documentation in FL-WiSE and HMS. It emphasizes confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and program compliance.