WIC Peer Counselor - Nacogdoches WIC

Senior WIC Peer Counselor

Minimum Qualifications:

• Worked with the WIC program for 18 months.
• Senior WIC Peer Counselor is from the target population and can be trained to be a paraprofessional - Former/current WIC participant who successfully breastfed at least 6 months.
• Must successfully complete a 20-hour training provided by the WIC breastfeeding coordinator within 1 year of hire as a Senior WIC Peer Counselor.
• Ability to work outside of regular clinic hours and outside of the WIC clinic

Job Summary:

Responsible for breastfeeding promotion within the community and clinic in conjunction with outreach activities. Organizes activities related to breastfeeding promotion and participates in conferences and department training.

Job Duties:

• Promotes breastfeeding within the community and the clinic in conjunction with outreach activities.
• Provides advanced breastfeeding counseling to breastfeeding patients who encounter minor breastfeeding problems and provides follow-up.
• Performs hospital visits according to the standards dictated by the local hospital.
• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers individually about normal breastfeeding methods and how to avoid common breastfeeding problems. Records counseling encounters accurately.
• Counsels WIC pregnant or nursing mothers as requested or assigned and follows up with new mothers as needed.
• Teaches nutrition education classes for pregnant and breastfeeding women enrolled on the WIC program.
• Distributes breastfeeding information in prenatal/breastfeeding classes.
• Provides accurate information and promotion of the benefits of breastfeeding. Addresses specific concerns of expectant mothers and corrects misinformation which may prevent a pregnant woman from breastfeeding.
• Oversees the issuance of breast pumps to eligible breastfeeding women according to the WIC-established procedures.
• Explains proper pump use before distribution and follows up with those issued breast pumps to assure success of use.
• Attends WIC staff meetings monthly.
• Maintains WIC program job responsibilities and can function as support to other clerical team members if needed.

Salary Range:

Actual salary commensurate with experience.

Work Schedule:

On-site, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and as needed on occasion.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.