Nutrition Educator 2

Grambling State University; Shreveport (LA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Louisiana Department of Health is seeking a Nutrition Educator to support WIC operations across parishes, promoting healthy lifestyles for women, infants, and children.

The role involves statewide fieldwork, direct nutrition education, data collection, and coordination with public health staff to help families access services.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in nutritional education or counseling, food service, or administrative services.
• Six semester hours in food and/or nutrition services.
• One year of vocational or technical school training in a dietetic assistant curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct general nutrition education and outreach for pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children in the WIC program.
• Plans and conducts nutrition education lessons, demonstrations, and cooking classes focused on WIC-approved foods and nutrients.
• Educates participants on WIC program policies, participant rights and responsibilities, approved foods, and the proper use of WIC benefits during shopping.
• Assists with medical data collection and maintains accurate participant and nutrition education records for WIC operations.
• Performs anthropometric measurements and assists with WIC program administration as needed.
• Collects blood samples from WIC participants to test hemoglobin values in compliance with WIC policies.
• Schedules participant appointments and maintains continuity of WIC services.

Skills

Nutrition education

WIC programs

Community outreach

Data collection

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 the Louisiana Department of Health

Join the Office of Public Health team as a Nutrition Educator and make a meaningful impact on families and communities across Louisiana! In this rewarding role, you will support Parish Health Unit and Mobile WIC operations by providing nutrition education and promoting healthy lifestyles for women, infants, and children throughout the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program. If you are passionate about public health, community outreach, and helping others thrive,

This position requires routine statewide duties, including fieldwork, inspections, investigations, or direct services that extend beyond the employee’s domicile parish. These statewide responsibilities are an inherent and ongoing part of the job and may require frequent travel.

One year of experience in nutritional education or counseling, food service, or administrative services; OR

Six semester hours in food and/or nutrition services; OR

One year of vocational or technical school training in a dietetic assistant curriculum.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

During a disaster situation, must report, as assigned to a Medical Needs Shelter (MNS) or to the Health Unit. When assigned to the MNS, the incumbent is to report to the designated shelter. Performs duties assigned by the appropriate Incident Command Staff (ICS).

• Provides direct general nutrition education and outreach for pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children in the WIC program either on an individual basis or in a group. Education is provided as referred by Public Health Nutritionists, Health Educators or Public Health Nurses during the certification/recertification process.
• Provides nutrition education to WIC participants and caregivers on age-appropriate nutrition, feeding practices, breastfeeding benefits, healthy lifestyles, and proper formula preparation, food safety, sanitation, and food storage.
• Plans and conducts nutrition education lessons, demonstrations, taste testings, and cooking classes focused on WIC-approved foods and nutrients while documenting services in the LAWIN Management Information System.
• Educates participants on WIC program policies, participant rights and responsibilities, approved foods, and the proper use of WIC benefits during shopping.
• Assists with medical data collection and maintains accurate participant and nutrition education records to support WIC program operations.
• Supports outreach and community engagement efforts by maintaining nutrition education materials, distributing promotional resources, preparing activity reports, and referring participants to community health and social service programs as needed.
• Performs anthropometric measurements of WIC participants accurately and in compliance with all applicable policies and protocols. Assists with general WIC program administration as needed.
• Collects blood samples from WIC participants to test hemoglobin values in compliance with WIC policies and procedures.
• Schedules participant appointments, follows up on missed appointments, and assists with maintaining continuity of WIC services through client transfer coordination.

Position-Specific Details:

Location: Office of Public Health / Center for Community and Preventative Health/ Caddo Parish

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as aJob appointment (temporary appointment that may last up to 48 months)

Cost Center: 3262107600

Position Number(s): 50695154

Contact Information:

Paul Tran

[e-mail]

LA Department of Health (LDH)

Division of Human Resources

PO Box 4818

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

225-342-6477

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.