Nutritionist/Competent Professional Authority (CPA)

II. Nutrition Services

4. Nutrition

2.4.050 Local Agency Nutrition Personnel: Competent Professional Authority

Authority 2022 7 CFR 246.2; 246.6 (b)(2); and 246.4(a)(25)

Issued 04/1995

Revised 03/2023

Effective 07/2023

POLICY: The competent professional authority (CPA) is responsible for obtaining

participant data needed for the certification process according to state policies and

procedures. The CPA prescribes supplemental foods and formulas and provides

nutrition and breastfeeding education. The CPA may assist with the day-to-day

supervision of the WIC certifier and WIC health professional assistant (HPA)

regarding program standard eligibility duties and activities. Successful completion

of state agency (SA) approved training must occur within the time designated by

the SA. Refer to policy 2.4.010.

PROCEDURES:

A. The CPA is allowed to perform the following duties (any one position may not include all

of the duties listed):

1. Obtains and documents demographic information, height/length, weight,

hemoglobin and hematocrit, oral assessment, nutrition assessment and other

necessary medical and/or health information to certify WIC participants. Local

agency (LA) staff shall document all data obtained in the Missouri WIC

Information Network System (MOWINS). (Refer to the Health and Nutrition

Assessment Handbook).

2. Completes a nutrition assessment within 60 days of certification for all non-highrisk participants.

3. Identifies high-risk participants and schedules them to see the nutritionist within

30 days to complete a nutrition assessment. The CPA shall assign the participant a

monthly issuance cycle and document pertinent risk factor information for the

nutritionist’s review in a general note.

4. Assists in the promotion and support of breastfeeding as the preferred method of

feeding.

a. Completes a breastfeeding assessment. When a mother requests formula

supplementation, provide proper counseling and if formula must be given,

provide the minimum amount needed while offering counseling and

support in order to help the mother establish a successful milk supply.

b. May issue manual or electric breast pumps to breastfeeding participants

per policy 2.1.030.

c. May act as the breastfeeding coordinator (2.1.010) if assigned by the LA.

5. Determines eligibility and assigns risk factors.

6. Provides nutrition education and counseling to non-high-risk participants.

7. Prescribes appropriate food packages, exempt formulas and WIC-eligible

nutritionals in accordance with policies and procedures.

8. Coordinates nutrition services with medical providers as appropriate.

9. Provides relevant health/nutrition information and referral services to participants.

10. Participates in staff in-services and/or training sessions related to WIC

policies/procedural changes.

11. May conduct training as assigned by supervising staff.

B. The WIC staff shall adhere to policy 8.1.030 to ensure program integrity.

C. Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Skill in accurately obtaining and analyzing anthropometric measurements and

nutrition assessment of participants.

2. Skill in planning and organizing work assignments.

3. Demonstration of rapport-building skills by establishing and maintaining effective

working relations with WIC participants, WIC team members and other health

and social services personnel.

4. Some knowledge of the principles and practices of nutrition and food, particularly

in relation to health and disease.

5. Knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding and understanding of how to support

the breastfeeding mother.

6. Some knowledge of adult learning principles, stages of change and basic

counseling methods.

7. Some knowledge of social, cultural and economic problems and their impact on

public health concerns.

8. Some knowledge of the general organization and function of public health

agencies.

9. Effective use of educational materials when providing nutrition education and

counseling.

10. Skill in basic computer fundamentals and literacy.

D. Minimum Qualifications:

1. Education: registered nurse (RN), physician or a dietetic technician, registered

(DTR) with an associate’s degree.

2. Experience: community health experience is desirable.

E. Continuing Nutrition Education Requirements:

1. The CPA must maintain an active Missouri license when required by state law.

2. The CPA must complete a total of six nutrition or breastfeeding-related CEUs per

federal fiscal year (FFY). One CEU must be breastfeeding-related. Retain a copy

of documentation of completion of these hours on file at the LA for monitoring

purposes. Resources for acceptable/approved CEUs are:

a. Training approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the

credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for RDs.

b. Nutrition and breastfeeding training that provides Lactation Continuing

Education Recognition Points (LCERP) by the International Board of

Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) for lactation consultants.

c. Trainings provided by other sources that are approved by the LA’s

assigned state agency technical assistance (TA) nutritionist prior to

attending the session.

3. It is highly recommended that varieties of education topics are

completed/attended per FFY.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Caregiving: 1 year (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Poplar Bluff, MO 63901: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person