A WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is a paraprofessional support person who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Counsel WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone or in the WIC clinic

2. Receive a caseload of WIC clients and makes routine periodic contacts with all clients assigned throughout their breastfeeding experience

3. Provide close contact and follow up to mothers during the early postnatal period

4. Provides information and promotes breastfeeding to WIC clients

5. Provides the mother with advice on aspects of normal breastfeeding

6. Provides anticipatory guidance to reduce the occurrence of problems

7. Assists in teaching breastfeeding class or support groups

8. Teaches use, cleaning and assembly of breast pumps and expression and storage of human milk

9. Identifies the needs for referrals to the breastfeeding coordinator or breastfeeding specialist

10. Keeps accurate documentation of contacts with mothers

11. Respects each client by keeping her information strictly confidential

12. Attends staff meetings and breastfeeding conference/workshops as appropriate

Other Functions:

13. Recognizes that positive employee relations are a necessary precedent for positive client relations. Provides assistance when seeing another in need. Contributes to the team effort of providing superior customer service to enhance the image of the Health Department. Refrains from holding negative conversations about duties, assignments, co-workers and clients. Adheres to Health Department telephone courtesy standards for answering, placing and transferring calls, as well as general telephone use. Does not allow personal telephone calls or visitors to interfere with telephone responsibilities, public encounters or customer courtesy to others. Demonstrates an effort to assure that customers/clients wait in definite expectations of when and how they will be served. Professionally addresses others (smile, handshake, eye contact, voice, posture, grammar, grooming and dress). Responsible for promoting and securing potential clients and referrals.

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the above tasks. (These examples do not include all of the tasks which the employees may be expected to perform.)

Employment Qualifications

Education: There are no special educational requirements.

Experience: Has breastfeed at least one baby;

Other Requirements: Enthusiastic about breastfeeding and wants to help other mothers; is familiar with WIC, current or previous WIC client preferred; has good communication and organizational skills; must be able to work Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. 8am-4:30pm and Friday 11:30-4:30pm. Must be able to attend conferences, trainings – some which may require out-of-town travel.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Physical Requirements [This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements]:

• Ability to enter and access information using a computer.
• Prolonged sitting at a computer.
• Ability to carry and use equipment such as computers weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to access meeting sites.

Working Conditions

• Works in office conditions
• Exposure to communicable diseases and blood and other bodily fluids

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $13.71 - $16.20 per hour

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Sault Ste. Marie, MI: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person