Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Requisition No:868035

Agency:
Department of Health

Working Title:

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Pay Plan:
Temp

Position Number:

Salary: $16.71 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 01/21/2026

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* This is a part-time Other Personnel Service (OPS) Family Support Worker position working with the Department of Health in Lee County.*

The person in this position will have authorized "need to know" access to confidential WIC client records and the WIC database. This position may serve clients that speak only Spanish, Creole, or other languages. It may require performance of interpreter duties, if bi-lingual, or implementation of the Department’s Limited English Proficiency Plan.

This position with the Department of Health in Lee County’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides basic breastfeeding education to WIC participants in various locations throughout Lee County.

Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are paraprofessionals, who are recruited and hired from WIC’s target population, are available to WIC clients outside usual clinic hours and outside of the WIC clinic environment, and have had previous experience with breastfeeding, having successfully breastfed at least one baby.

Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers on normal breastfeeding related issues in the clinic or by telephone visits at scheduled intervals determined by the local WIC agency.

Breastfeeding Peer Counselors work approximately 20 hours a week. Peer counselors work in an assigned clinic and are available to WIC clients by phone, through use of a state issued cell phone, outside of normal work hours, i.e. evenings up till 9:00 pm week days and on week-ends. Time spent by Peer Counselors, contacting and assisting clients outside of regular work hours will be considered work time.

Must get approval for any work time above 20 hours a week and cannot exceed 29 hours a week.

Receives a caseload of WIC clients to manage and routinely makes contacts with all clients assigned by the local agency breastfeeding coordinator or local agency breastfeeding peer counseling coordinator.

Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to WIC mothers to help them to successfully establish breastfeeding, overcome common barriers to breastfeeding, and prevent and handle common breastfeeding problems or concerns.

Respects each client by keeping her information strictly confidential.

Assists with the facilitation of breastfeeding classes and support groups.

Keeps accurate records of all contacts made with WIC clients.

Recognizes paraprofessional limitations and makes appropriate referrals to other breastfeeding, nutrition, nursing, or medical staff.

Works closely with local WIC agency, and Healthy Start, as well as with local breastfeeding coalitions.

Attends staff meetings, in-services, and workshops as appropriate and assigned.

Assists the local WIC agency in promoting breastfeeding through special projects and duties as assigned.

Completes required paper work as designated by the local WIC agency.

Calls supervisor if sick or absent from work. Follows the chain of command when supervisor not available.

Follows departmental and local WIC agency policies and procedures pertaining to breastfeeding, client confidentiality, data security, travel reimbursement and time reporting.

Understands WIC eligibility criteria and programmatic requirements in order to answer basic questions about WIC and make appropriate referrals.

Performs other related duties as required.

• Dispense or instruct in the use of loaner or single-user electric breast pumps except under unusual, extraordinary circumstances.
• Be responsible for the cleaning of loaner electric breast pumps.
• Be responsible for the inventory of breastfeeding equipment/supplies.
• Give medical advice or dispense information on breastfeeding and medications. All such questions are to be referred to the health care provider and the WIC agency breastfeeding specialist.

• Has breastfed at least one…