WIC Buddy Specialist; SSTW

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We protect lives. The Georgia Department of Public Health is the lead agency entrusted by the people of Georgia to proudly protect lives and promote healthy lifestyles in diverse communities statewide. We are committed to preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing the State of Georgia for responding to disasters.

As a member of the Georgia Department of Public Health team, you will join a passionate group of individuals who are dedicated to making an impact. No matter your role, you will individually contribute to protecting the lives of all Georgians while receiving a wide range of benefits, so you can:

• Make a Professional Impact – Build your career where it matters and protect lives in the community where you live, work, and play
• Enjoy Workplace Flexibility – Experience flexibility in how you work so you can be your best self for you and Georgia Residents
• Work with a Dynamic and Diverse Team – Collaborative and inclusive way of working where employees share ideas and leverage collective strengths
• Achieve Career Longevity – Countless opportunities for continuous learning/development that support a long‑term career
• Take Part in a Hands‑on Working Culture – Unique culture of active engagement and problem‑solving, no matter your role
• Feel Pride in Where you Work – Be part of making an impact in public health alongside dedicated people just like you

As an Hourly WIC Buddy Specialist within the North Georgia Health District at the Georgia Department of Public Health, you will join a dedicated group of public health professionals that help support the overall mission and vision of protecting lives of Georgian residents in a variety of ways.

Location:

North Georgia Health District (WIC Department) – Dalton, GA

This is an hourly position that works a maximum of 29 hours per week.

This position reports to the designated Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) local agency staff.

• Monitor and coordinate the local agency activities of the WIC Buddy Program
• Market and promote the WIC Buddy Program
• Recruit WIC participants to the Buddy Program
• Actively monitor the clinic's on‑site list/daily schedule to recruit participants
• Inform WIC staff and participants about overall program expectations and promotional activities
• Coordinate and schedule paired WIC Buddy connections
• Distribute and collect WIC Buddy consent forms
• Promote the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program and refer participants
• Utilize reports to promote, recruit, and maintain Buddy Program activities
• Assess WIC Buddy matching criteria to identify potential WIC Buddy pairs
• Maintain regular contact with each WIC Buddy pair according to their preference
• Manage and monitor the local agency's Georgia WIC Buddy Tracker for updating
• Complete quarterly WIC Buddy program reports
• Participate in WIC Buddy Program meetings/calls
• Assist local and state agency with identifying barriers and finding effective solutions to enhance engagement in all components of the WIC Buddy Program project
• Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor

• High School Diploma or GED
• One (1) year competency as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
• Completion of the WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum Level I and II

• caseload management
• counseling skills
• supporting mother‑baby dyad
• breastfeeding promotion
• developing, implementing and facilitating training
• organizational skills
• proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.)
• knowledge of GA WIC policies and procedures

• Two years at an accredited college or university with at least (15) credit hours in a social service related field
• Expertise with social marketing campaigns, management of professional social media platforms and social media analytics
• Experience with data collection and management
• Experience with the Peer Counselor Database System (PCDB)
• Excellent judgement and creative problem solving skills
• Ability to coach others to set priorities
• Strong planning and facilitation skills
• Analytical skills and ability to create reports for stakeholders
• Ability to work effectively in…