WIC Peer Counselor - Nacogdoches WIC

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Worked with the WIC program for 18 months.

• Senior WIC Peer Counselor is from the target population and can be trained to be a paraprofessional - Former/current WIC participant who successfully breastfed at least 6 months.

• Must successfully complete a 20-hour training provided by the WIC breastfeeding coordinator within 1 year of hire as a Senior WIC Peer Counselor.

• Ability to work outside of regular clinic hours and outside of the WIC clinic
   

Job Summary:

Responsible for breastfeeding promotion within the community and clinic in conjunction with outreach activities. Organizes activities related to breastfeeding promotion and participates in conferences and department training.

Job Duties:

• Promotes breastfeeding within the community and the clinic in conjunction with outreach activities. 

• Provides advanced breastfeeding counseling to breastfeeding patients who encounter minor breastfeeding problems and provides follow-up. 

• Performs hospital visits according to the standards dictated by the local hospital. 

• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers individually about normal breastfeeding methods and how to avoid common breastfeeding problems. Records counseling encounters accurately. 

• Counsels WIC pregnant or nursing mothers as requested or assigned and follows up with new mothers as needed. 

• Teaches nutrition education classes for pregnant and breastfeeding women enrolled on the WIC program. 

• Distributes breastfeeding information in prenatal/breastfeeding classes. 

• Provides accurate information and promotion of the benefits of breastfeeding. Addresses specific concerns of expectant mothers and corrects misinformation which may prevent a pregnant woman from breastfeeding. 

• Oversees the issuance of breast pumps to eligible breastfeeding women according to the WICestablished procedures. 

• Explains proper pump use before distribution and follows up with those issued breast pumps to assure success of use. 

• Attends WIC staff meetings monthly. 

• Maintains WIC program job responsibilities and can function as support to other clerical team members if needed.

Salary Range:

Actual salary commensurate with experience.

Work Schedule:

On-site, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and as needed on occasion.