Public Health Assistant

About the role

Implement program policies and protocols and set the tone for excellent customer service to participants in the WIC offices.

Responsibilities

• Complete certifications for low-risk participants, determining income, identity, and residency eligibility, completing nutrition assessments, providing basic nutrition education and completing food package assignments and referring participants to other social services and community resources, documenting accordingly
• Participate in breastfeeding promotion and support
• Issue food benefits and serve as the liaison to WIC food vendors
• In consultation and collaboration with health professionals, interview participants for basic medical/social/nutritional history, obtain anthropometric and biochemical measurements, and assess immunization status of participants

Qualifications

• Provides nutrition and health assessments, education, and support
• Promotes normal growth and maintenance of health
• Promotes breastfeeding education and support
• Consultation with WIC dietitians to ensure special dietary needs of participants are met
• Works as a team in collaboration with other staff within the clinic to assure exceptional service provision
• Helps identify resource needs and prepare/submit purchasing requests that may include, but is not limited to, eWIC cards, breast pumps and formula
• Maintains inventory including computers and other equipment, eWIC cards, breast pumps and formula
• Develops Strategic Community Outreach & Outcomes Plan (SCOOP) focusing on nutrition, outreach, and breastfeeding goals for the population served
• Promote immunizations, oral health, and other public health services
• Collaborates with community partners and providers to build effective working relationships, enhance referral pathways, and explore opportunities to partner in new and innovative ways
• Explain the purpose of WIC to participants (what to expect at appointment)
• Document all interaction with applicants/participants
• Accurately obtain, determine and document proof of residence, proof of identity and proof of income
• Determine and document adjunct eligibility for WIC services and refer potentially eligible participants to such services
• Use proper procedures to collect accurate biochemical and anthropometric measurements and medical and dietary assessment data
• Provide basic nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support, which is responsive to the identified needs/interests of the participant
• Assist with benefit issuance that may include direct issuance of formula
• Print and review Clients Eligible for Benefits reports monthly
• Issue benefits as needed and attempt to contact client to schedule next appointment
• Print, provide and handle reports and statistical information as requested (dual participation, high-risk, show rates, etc.)
• Print reports and contact participants to schedule appointments (follow-up contact, short certification report, clients scheduled outside 10/20 day limit)
• Coordinate with the Team to review and respond to over issuance reports
• Act as a Vendor Liaison; provide general, local oversight and serve as point of contact for WIC retailers, investigate to resolve participants/vendor complaints or shopping issues, documenting outcome, and report ongoing/serious retailer issues to Central Office Vendor Team for follow-up
• Meet requirements for pregnant women who have missed appointments to identify barriers and help overcome for access to WIC Program
• Breastfeeding complications refer to DBE, CLC or IBCLC
• Maintain the caseload that is assigned
• Notify the Registered Dietitian when a high-risk participant appointment (certification, recertification, or PCERT) was completed
• Aid the Central Office Program Integrity Specialist with program integrity as requested
• May provide WIC services utilizing the Wellness on Wheels (WOW) van
• Participate in conferences, WIC meetings, and in-services
• May participate in outreach activities and participant special events
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Possession of a valid driver’s license
• Reliable transportation (travel is required)
• High school diploma
• Literacy and language skills appropriate to address the needs of diverse populations
• Post-secondary education in a health-related field is desirable
• Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus

Work Location

Huron Local Agency