Health Support Specialist

Requisition No:870204

Agency:
Department of Health

Working Title:

HEALTH SUPPORT SPECIALIST -

Pay Plan:
Career Service

Position Number:

Salary: $36,000.00 TO $38,000.00

Posting Closing Date: 02/17/2026

Open Competitive

The Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County (FDOH-SJC) is part of a statewide public health system.

Our Mission – To protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

Our Vision – To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Our Values – Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness, Excellence (ICARE).

This is an independent position that works in the FDOH-SJC Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) department and is designated as the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.

Responsible for promoting and supporting breastfeeding and providing basic education to WIC participants to include but not limited to:

• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone at scheduled intervals determined by the local WIC program.
• Receives a caseload of WIC clients and makes routine periodic contacts with all clients assigned.
• Makes appropriate contacts with clients and documents accordingly.
• Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including telling them about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and getting off to a good start with breastfeeding. Helps mothers prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns.
• Refers mothers, according to clinic-established protocols, to the WIC Nutritionist or Breastfeeding Coordinator, Lactation Consultant, Certified Lactation Counselor and/or Designated Breastfeeding Expert.
• Connects clients to programs in the community and/or social service agencies.
• Cannot give medical advice.
• Keeps accurate records of all contacts made with WIC clients and documents encounters the same day.
• Attends, assists, and/or facilitates prenatal classes and breastfeeding support groups and documents the same day.
• Attends scheduled staff meetings and breastfeeding conferences/workshops as assigned.
• Reads assigned books and materials on breastfeeding that are provided by the supervisor.
• Acts as the backup clerk in determining eligibility or coordinating the eligibility for the WIC program in both the main office and offsite locations as needed.
• Assists WIC staff in promoting breastfeeding peer counseling through special projects, health fairs or outreach events.

Completes anthropometric and hematological processes:

• Obtains anthropometric data for clients utilizing the correct equipment and procedures.
• Obtains hematological data for clients utilizing the correct equipment and procedures.
• Documents results per procedures.
• Calibrates equipment and documents monthly.
• Cleans and sterilizes equipment in between clients following established protocols.

Completes the processes related to WIC following the WIC Procedure Manual. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Determining eligibility or coordinating the eligibility for the WIC program.
• Coordinating issuance or completing the issuance process for WIC benefits.
• Providing explanation of benefits to new WIC clients as well as reviewing contents of the New People Packet.
• Issuing Farmers Market Vouchers and updating logs per protocol.
• Interviewing clients to obtain nutrition history and entering into appropriate system.
• Scheduling appointments and making appointment reminder calls.
• Mailing postcards to unreachable clients.

Prepares and reviews reports.

• Reviews breastfeeding client call back list report for participants who require monthly contacts.
• Reviews Peer Counselor client contact report for participants who require daily, weekly, and monthly contacts.
• Reviews pregnant women expected delivery date report for participant contacts by delivery month.

Participates in outreach activities for the FDOH-SJC.

• Coordinates the Head Start Round Up events.
• Completes referrals to community programs and/or resources.
• Creates client friendly and informative bulletin boards in waiting areas.
• Maintains program required posters in waiting areas.
• Refers to SJC Designated Breastfeeding Expert as needed for breastfeeding issues.

Performs…