Nutrition Assistant (Bilingual)

Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.

This position is open to candidates who have a bilingual fluency in both English AND Spanish. Language fluency means being capable of using a language easily and accurately. Being “bilingual" means using or able to use two languages with equal fluency. Candidates who apply and are not bilingual will be inactivated.

About the role

Clackamas County's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is seeking a bilingual Spanish Nutrition Assistant to join our team. WIC focuses on nutrition education, breastfeeding support, health and diet screening, growth monitoring, and program referrals for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to 5 years of age. WIC serves families from many different cultural and ethnic traditions, languages, backgrounds and abilities. It is designed to promote positive health outcomes, strengthen life course nutrition and health, and reduce health disparities in the populations served.

The Nutrition Assistant will provide participant-centered nutrition and breastfeeding information, education, and counseling to WIC participants. In addition, this position assesses participant nutrition status and eligibility for the WIC Supplemental Food Program.

Clackamas County is committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve. In that spirit, we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and experience, including those in recovery, or who identify as having lived experience.

Responsibilities

• Conducts nutrition assessments and provides nutrition counseling to clients; screens for health and nutritional risk factors and special nutritional needs of women, infants and children; develops individual nutrition plans determined by client's abilities, lifestyle, budget and culture; advocates breastfeeding and provides breastfeeding related assessment, education and referrals; provides information and referral to community resources, healthcare services, and other service providers.
• Determines and certifies client eligibility for the WIC federal supplemental food program; screens clients for income and residency eligibility; counsels eligible clients on program compliance, procedures and services; determines, issues and explain food benefits.
• Provides nutrition and breastfeeding education to WIC clients; plans and develops nutrition education experiences and activities; teaches groups on nutrition-related health issues, feeding guidelines, shopping, food preparation and storage; plans, prepares, and conducts WIC breastfeeding classes; produces nutrition educational materials, handouts and newsletters for clients.
• Performs diagnostic procedures to screen for nutritional health problems; administers blood hemoglobin tests; weighs, measures, and interprets growth charts for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children; updates and maintains records on participants and enters data into state data system.
• Documents individual client nutrition plans according to federal, state and local requirements; monitors progress of participants and schedules follow-up appointments; refers high-risk clients to Nutritionist.
• Coordinates outreach activities; develops methods and materials to break down barriers and make services more accessible; as assigned, serves on committees and task forces.

Requirements

• A minimum of one (1) year experience working in a healthcare, public health, or a community-based setting (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position.
• Bilingual fluency in both English AND Spanish. (Language fluency means being capable of using a language easily and accurately. Being “bilingual" means using or able to use two languages with equal fluency.)
• Ability and demonstrated experience establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with co-workers, clients and/or the public.
• Customer service experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills.
• High School Diploma or GED equivalency.
• Must possess within six (6) months of hire Basic Life Support certification and Authorized Competent Professional Authority (CPA) at Paraprofessional level as certified by State of Oregon WIC Program. On the job training is provided to meet this qualification.
• Must pass post-offer, pre-employment drug test.
• Must pass a criminal history check which may include national or state fingerprint records check.
• Driving may be necessary for County business. For position(s) with occasional/incidental driving, incumbents must possess a valid driver's license. Accommodation requests for an acceptable alternative method of transportation will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation. For position(s) with regular driving, incumbent(s) must also possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment.

Qualifications

Working knowledge of:

• Recommended food requirements for children, infants and pregnant/lactating women; techniques for storing and preparing food; comparative costs and nutritional values of various foods.
• Interviewing and record keeping techniques; rules and eligibility guidelines for WIC program; professional medical charting techniques; basic math and English grammar; medical records documentation procedures; office procedures, practices and equipment, including computer operation.

Some knowledge of:

• Principles, techniques and practices of nutrition; methods to identify nutritional problems; community resources; principles and techniques of motivational interviewing and public speaking.

Skill to:

• Identify nutritional needs associated with low income, cultural influences, life stages, and medical status; use effective client centered counseling and interview techniques.
• Screen clients for income and residency eligibility; interpret policies, practices and requirements applicable to WIC program, including rules and regulations of eligibility based on health and nutrition criteria, and life stage category; determine client eligibility for WIC program; counsel eligible clients on program compliance, procedures and services; provide health and nutrition information based on best practice; enter concise chart notes.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; deliver effective oral presentations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, providers, agencies and other social services professionals, and the public.
• Enter, retrieve and maintain accurate and systematic records and data; use electronic record and food instrument production software to deliver program benefits; conduct basic nutritional assessments; use scales, measuring devices and simple laboratory equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience screening, counseling and providing information or education for WIC participants.
• Personal experience accessing WIC services.
• Personal experience with breastfeeding, breastfeeding training, or other exposure/interest in providing breastfeeding support.
• College-level education in any of the following: nutrition, public health, healthcare and/or racial health equity.
• Knowledge and familiarity with resources in Clackamas County, such as Head Start programs, food banks, parenting classes.
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills, including the ability to assess participant needs, analyze information, and make sound decisions aligned with WIC policies.
• Strong multi-tasking and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced clinic environment while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Pay

Annual Pay Range: $54,726.52 - $69,125.30

Hourly Pay Range: $26.310825 - $33.233318

Bilingual skills are compensated at an additional 5%. Salary offers will be made within the posted pay range and will be based on candidate's experience (paid or unpaid) that is directly relevant to the position.

Schedule

This position works 40 hours during a standard workweek of Monday through Friday. It is possible that this position may move to a 37.5 hours per standard workweek, but this is still considered full time with full time benefits. Specific hours of work will be discussed with the candidate selected for this position at the time an offer of employment is extended.

This position is eligible for hybrid on-site/telework and based on the Department’s business needs. The exact amount of on-site/telework and schedule will be discussed with the hiring manager during time of offer. Telework locations cannot be located outside of Oregon or Washington. Washington residents must perform 50% of their time on-site at Clackamas County.

Working Conditions

Duties involve exposure to bodily fluids and routine contact with individuals who may have communicable diseases.

Benefits

Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees. We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering health and wellness classes and events, and alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle. Employee benefits become effective the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.

• Generous Paid Time Off Package, including:
  • 12 hours of vacation accrued per month. Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals! This means you have access to vacation time at time of hire.
  • 8 hours of sick accrued per month.
  • 10 paid holidays and 1 personal day per year.
• Other Benefits:
  • Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP): Employer paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee’s share of the retirement contribution.) OPSRP members get vested after five years of contributions or when they reach age 65.
  • A choice of medical plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
  • A choice of dental plans.