Health Educator (Evangeline and St. Landry)

LDH-Office of Public Health; Louisiana; On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

LDH-Office of Public Health in Region 4 seeks a Health Educator to support the WIC program. The role focuses on empowering participants with nutrition knowledge and skills to build healthy eating habits within Evangeline and St. Landry Parishes.

The position emphasizes education, prevention, and helping families thrive, with duties including nutrition assessments, counseling, breastfeeding support, and coordination with physicians and community programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nutrition or related field required or equivalent experience.
• Associate's degree with two years of WIC/Nutrition experience also eligible.
• Twelve college semester hours in food and nutrition or dietetics with three years of WIC/patient care experience accepted.
• Four years of experience in WIC clinic nutrition education or patient care qualifies candidates.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply WIC state policies and procedures; stay updated on nutrition standards and breastfeeding education.
• Conduct WIC certification and re-certification, perform nutrition assessments, determine food packages, and take anthropometric measurements and related lab tests.
• Provide individualized nutrition education and counseling to WIC participants and families, including breastfeeding support and referrals as needed.
• Deliver walk-in WIC services, support WIChealth.org usage, and document services per program requirements.
• Support clinic operations by scheduling, registering clients, answering inquiries, and assisting staff with data entry and clerical duties.

Education

Bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, human ecology, family and consumer science, health promotion, pre-medicine, or nursing

Associate's degree in nutrition, dietetics, human ecology, family and consumer science, health promotion, pre-medicine, or nursing

Twelve semester hours in food and nutrition or dietetics

Four years of experience as a WIC Clinic Nutrition Educator or in patient care

Job description

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

Learn more about Louisiana Department of Health

This position may be filled in the following parishes: Evangeline or St. Landry

Make a meaningful difference in family and community health asa Health Educator with the Office of Public Health in Region 4. Based in a Parish Health Unit, this role supports the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program by empowering participants with the nutrition knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to build healthy eating habits. If you’re passionate about education, prevention, and helping families thrive, this position offers the opportunity to positively impact lives every day.

• Four years of experience working as a WIC Clinic Nutrition Educator or in patient care; OR
• Twelve semester hours in food and nutrition or dietetics plus three years of experience working as a WIC Clinic Nutrition Educator or in patient care; OR
• An associate's degree in nutrition, dietetics, human ecology, family and consumer science, health promotion, pre-medicine, or nursing plus two years of experience working as a WIC Clinic Nutrition Educator; OR
• A bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, human ecology, family and consumer science, health promotion, pre-medicine, or nursing.

Job Duties

• Interpret and apply WIC state policies and procedures; maintain current knowledge of program updates, nutrition standards, and breastfeeding education to ensure compliant and effective service delivery.
• Conduct WIC certification and re-certification services, including completing VENA-based nutrition assessments, identifying nutrition risk codes, determining appropriate food packages, and performing required anthropometric measurements and laboratory testing.
• Provide individualized nutrition education and counseling to WIC participants and families, including breastfeeding promotion and support, and refer clients to physicians, food assistance programs, peer counselors, and high-risk nutrition services as needed.
• Deliver walk-in WIC services such as formula changes and breastfeeding assistance; promote and assist participants with WIChealth.org; and document services accurately in accordance with program requirements.
• Support clinic operations by scheduling appointments, registering clients, answering WIC-related inquiries, providing technical assistance and in-service training to staff, performing data entry, and assisting with clerical duties as needed to maintain clinic flow.
• Participate in required trainings, travel to assigned WIC locations, and support disaster preparedness and response efforts by providing nutrition services during emergencies and ensuring continuity of WIC services post-disaster.

Position Specific Details

Location: Office of Public Health / Region 4-BRCO/ Evangeline & St. Landry Parishes

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as aProbationary appointment

Cost Center:3262109004

Position Number(s):50417112

This organization participates in E-Verify, and for more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218.

LDH supports Louisiana’s commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available here.

LDH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit a highly productive and diverse workforce, and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.