Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, WIC

Summary: A paraprofessional support person who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and helps them prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns. 

Why Work for SMOC? 

• Paid Time Off: All full-time employees can accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D and Long-Term Disability for full-time employees.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program, Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage, and EyeMed Vision Insurance available to full-time employees.
• 403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one for all full-time and part-time employees.
• Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Attends breastfeeding training classes to become a Peer Counselor.
• Receives a caseload of WIC mothers and makes routine, periodic contact with them.
• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers about breastfeeding by telephone or in person at the WIC offices.
• Is available to make calls/texts from home beyond normal WIC office hours to new mothers who are having breastfeeding problems.
• Keeps accurate records and enters all contacts made with WIC mothers, according to State Contact Frequency Protocols, in the WIC computer system.
• Refers mothers to the WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, WIC Nutritionists, the mother’s physician, or community partners as appropriate.
• Teaches breastfeeding classes, virtually and/or in person at the WIC offices, for pregnant and postpartum mothers and leads breastfeeding support groups.
• Attends monthly staff meetings, periodic state meetings and breastfeeding conferences/workshops as appropriate.
• Reads assigned books and materials on breastfeeding that are provided by the Breastfeeding Coordinator.
• Attends and participates in team meetings as requested and communicates effectively with clients and staff in other departments.
• Maintains confidentiality of client, employee and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and funder requirements.
• Ensures compliance with program/department, agency and/or funder requirements as well as SMOC policies and procedures.  
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements: 

• Fluent in English, Spanish AND Portuguese
• Has breastfed at least one baby within the last 5 years (does not have to be currently breastfeeding)
• Current or past WIC Participant
• Has a reliable, daily means of transportation to travel to multiple WIC sites
• Enthusiastic about breastfeeding and wants to help other mothers enjoy a positive experience
• Willing to make phone calls/text from home beyond the WIC office hours
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Able to remain calm and use good judgment in unusual or stressful situations
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with diverse cultural groups and socio-economic backgrounds
• Good computer skills

Organizational Relationship: Directly reports to the WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator and the WIC Director. This position has no Direct Reports. 

Physical Requirement: Ability to drive. Ability to see and read a computer screen and paper documents. Sitting for sustained periods of time. 

Working Conditions: This position will travel to multiple locations within the state. The WIC Program environment is a noisy office setting with daily, heavy Participant flow including many infants and toddlers. As part of the responsibilities of this position, the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor will have direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in various programs funded or administered through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. A successful background check is required. 

Remote Work Option: Remote work is permissible in some positions at SMOC depending on the key functions and responsibilities. The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor position is eligible to work from home 0-20% of the week in scheduling coordination with the department manager.