Breast Feeding Peer Counselor Full Time

Essential Functions

• Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills to carry out breastfeeding support and services in the clinic in an efficient manner.
• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding, proper positioning and other basic breastfeeding information either by telephone, in-person at clinical appointments, during group classes and/or support groups at scheduled intervals as per WIC policy and as determined.
• Provides basic breastfeeding information and support to pregnant and breastfeeding women utilizing approved WIC materials.
• Provides assistance in facilitating successful breastfeeding and help in handling and preventing common breastfeeding problems.
• Follows-up with both pregnant and breastfeeding women at scheduled intervals as per WIC policy and as determined.
• Keeps accurate records of all contacts made to WIC participants using the MD WOW computer system.
• Offers breast pumps to breastfeeding participants who are returning to work or school and discusses collection and storage.
• Accurately and appropriately, documents breast pumps and other breastfeeding aids upon issuance.
• Follows-up with WIC participants to retrieve loaner breast pumps and accurately and appropriately document information in the MD WOW computer system.
• Makes the clinic breastfeeding friendly by creating bulletin boards with breastfeeding information/pictures and having breastfeeding materials available for the participants.
• When outside of scope of practice or when guidance is needed, WIC BFPC will provide referral for infant problems that may include but are not limited to - breastfeeding or medical issues that deal with a sick, premature, failure to gain weight, nutrition, social, medical, failure to thrive, or neurology impairments infant or child.
• Provides referrals for conditions affecting the mother, such an alcohol or drugs, nutritional, domestic violence, emotional, physical, and social, medication use or illness.
• Assists in the promotion of breastfeeding through special projects and duties as assigned.
• Participates in continuing education related to lactation.
• Adheres to the State of Maryland WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program policies and procedures.
• Participates in outreach activities as assigned.
• Participates in team/staff meetings; attends in-service meetings and applicable workshops.
• Willing to work closely with Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Coordinator with duties assigned by the WIC Director.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Minimum of one-year experience counseling breastfeeding women.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Attend State of Maryland Breastfeeding Peer Counselor training or orientation programs.
• Must have personally breastfed for 6 months or more.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Bilingual (Spanish speaking) preferred but not required.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Windows Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged sitting, primarily at a computer terminal.
• Occasional bending, stooping and stretching.
• Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer, telephone, calculator, and other office equipment.
• Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare, and communicate in writing, in person and by phone.
• Require occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.