Part-time Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Part-Time Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Women, Infants & Children Program (WIC)

District 4 Public Health

301 Main Street

Lagrange, GA 30240

Upson County WIC & Nutrition Center

314 East Lee Street, Thomaston, GA 30286

Lamar County WIC & Nutrition Center

100 Academy Drive, Barnesville, GA 30204

Please Note:
This position will cover multiple locations.

Region C covers:
Lamar, Pike, Spalding, Upson

Time Requirement:
Up to 29 Hours per week (Minimum of 24 hours per week)

Under general supervision, provides limited para-professional social services to clients and their families. Facilitates prenatal breastfeeding classes alongside CPA for WIC participants and provides individual breastfeeding education in the WIC clinic as needed. Provides on-going breastfeeding education and/or counseling to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone, home visits, and/or hospital visits at scheduled intervals as determined by the local WIC program.

Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including education on the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers to breastfeeding, and how to start breastfeeding successfully. Use proper and consistent documentation for peer counselor contacts in peer counselor database system. Attends and participates in monthly staff meetings and breastfeeding conferences/ workshops as appropriate. Completes other duties as assigned. This position works to promote and protect the health and safety of the residents of Lamar, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties.

All District 4 Public Health, County BOH employees are deemed essential employees in the event of an emergency. As such, you may be called on to participate in an event not limited to but including, staffing a shelter, a Specimen Point of Collection Site (SPOC) and/or Point of Distribution site (POD). When you are called on to participate, you are expected and it will be a part of your job requirement to participate, whether the emergency occurs during or outside regular work hours.

• Receives a caseload of WIC mothers and makes routine periodic contact with all mothers
• Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including telling them about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and getting a good start with breastfeeding
• Helps mothers prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns by developing a breastfeeding plan that will fit their situation
• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in WIC Clinic or by telephone visits at scheduled intervals determined by the local WIC program
• Assists the mother in setting goals within the context of her socioeconomic situation
• Develops with the mother and her significant other a breastfeeding plan that will fit their situation, based on history and observation
• Is available during/outside the usual 8 to 5 working schedules to new mothers who are having breastfeeding problems
• Respects each mother by keeping her information strictly confidential abiding by HIPAA guidelines
• Provides consistent and appropriate follow-up
• Refers mothers, per clinic-established protocols, to:
  • WIC Nutritionist or breastfeeding coordinator
  • Lactation Consultant
  • Mother's physician or nurse
  • Public health programs in the community
• Attends monthly staff meetings and breastfeeding conferences/workshops as appropriate
• Assists WIC staff in promoting breastfeeding through special projects and duties as assigned
• Is enthusiastic about breastfeeding and has a strong desire to help other mothers enjoy a positive breastfeeding experience
• Must utilize work-issued phone to make/receive phone calls or text
• Must have reliable transportation
• Must be able to assist moms with breastfeeding in assigned WIC Clinic
• Basic computer skills needed

Breastfeed one or more of your…