WIC Breast Feeding Peer Counselor

Comcap; Cranston (RI); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision and dental insurance

Life insurance

Tuition reimbursement up to $1,000

Paid holidays

Job summary

Comcap is seeking a part-time WIC Peer Counselor to empower breastfeeding mothers in Rhode Island. The role centers on coaching referred prenatal women, promoting exclusive breastfeeding, and serving as a positive community representative of the WIC program.

Responsibilities include initial outreach, assessing knowledge and barriers, ensuring timely follow-up, documenting interactions, and coordinating with WIC staff. Strong Spanish skills and excellent communication are preferred.

Qualifications

• Must have previously been on the WIC program.
• Breastfed at least one child for 6+ months.
• Spanish-speaking strongly preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with patients.

Responsibilities

• Initiate contact with referred prenatal women within 2 weeks of referral.
• Assess knowledge of breastfeeding and address barriers.
• Help women make informed infant feeding choices without judgment.
• Make a minimum of 2 contacts with referred prenatal participants.
• Contact new mothers postpartum to provide encouragement and support.
• Follow up referrals within 48 hours or 2 weeks as appropriate.
• Document counseling/education in the participant's chart within 2 weeks.
• Identify common breastfeeding problems and provide solutions or referrals.
• Maintain contact with breastfeeding women throughout feeding period.
• Document contact attempts when unable to reach participant within set windows.
• Attend meetings/trainings as requested by WIC coordinators.
• Ensure compliance with state/federal, OSHA, infection control standards.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

WIC experience

Breastfeeding support

Spanish language

Verbal & written comms

Job description

Description

WE ARE HIRING….

CCAP Mission Statement - To empower all people and communities, challenged by poverty as well as social and cultural barriers, through advocacy, education, and access to high quality health and human services.

JOB SUMMARY

The Peer Counselor is designed to have specially trained WIC breastfeeding mothers, who either currently or previously have been on the WIC program, help other WIC women initiate and succeed in breastfeeding. The ability to help and influence other WIC mother that is unique and different from other health professionals. The responsibilities will include being positive role models and positive representatives of WIC and the

WIC Peer Counselor Program.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Have been on the WIC Program
• Breastfed at least one child for at least 6 months
• An interest in promoting breastfeeding and in working for the WIC Program
• Extensive verbal and written communication with patients so they understand information provided.
• Spanish speaking, highly preferred

PHYSICAL EFFORT/ENVIRONMENT

Generally sedentary office work, some manual dexterity. Moderate physical activity: walking, standing, stooping, occasional lifting up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. Significant exposure to blood borne pathogens, respiratory diseases, and other infectious diseases and other biohazardous material requiring universal standard precautions.

WORK SCHEDULE DEMANDS

This is a part time position.

Expected to provide services in both Family Health Services / WIC locations.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION

Maintains confidentiality of all materials in accordance with State and Federal laws and CCAP policies and procedures

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Initiate contact with referred prenatal women within 2 weeks of receiving referral. Contacts can be made either by phone, mail or in person.
• Assess woman’s knowledge of breastfeeding and interest in choosing breastfeeding as infant feeding method. Address concerns or barriers to breastfeeding and provide information on benefits of breastfeeding.
• Peer Counselors are to help women make an informed choice about their infant feeding choice without being critical or making women feel defensive or inadequate.
• A minimum of 2 contacts should be made with all referred prenatal participants who intend to breastfeed. These contacts can be made wither by phone one on one counseling or in a group class
• Contact breastfeeding participants as soon after delivery as possible to assess how breastfeeding is going in the early post-partum period as well as provide encouragement and support.
• Referrals by WIC staff fro a participant with a breastfeeding problem should be followed up within 48 hours of receiving referral. Routine referrals of prenatal participants should be followed up within 2 weeks.
• Complete documentation requirements after each counseling/education contact with participants. Documentation should be in participant’s chart within 2 weeks from date of contact.
• Identify common breastfeeding problems and provide problem solving information and help. Make referrals to other health care professionals for complicated or unresolved breastfeeding problems.
• Maintain contact with breastfeeding women for the duration of their breastfeeding experience.
• Document inability to contact participant if unsuccessful after 3 weeks for routine contacts or 3 days for “problem” referrals. Inform the WIC staff person who made the referral as to the status of the client. All documentation should be in the chart within 2 weeks.
• Attend meetings and trainings as requested by State WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator or local agency WIC Coordinator/
• Ensures compliance with State / Federal, JCAHO standards OSHA and Infection control standards
• Other duties assigned as needed.

CCAP is dedicated to the goal of building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce committed to caring for patients in a manner that is respectful of cultural difference. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Our Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 403(b), health insurance, vision and dental insurance, life insurance, long term disability, flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement accounts, tuition reimbursement up to $1,000 annually, Employee Assistance Program, generous vacation, sick and personal days, and up to 12 available paid holidays for full-time employees and some benefits are included for part-time employees.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.