WIC Eligibility Interviewer (DOH/PHD/FOOD and Nutrition Bureau #11565)

Salary: $18.69 - $28.04 hourly / $38,885 - $58,327 annually. This position is a Pay Band C3.

About the role

The New Mexico WIC Program, Department of Health Food and Nutrition Bureau, safeguards the health of nutritionally at-risk low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, children, and seniors by providing:

• Nutritious foods to supplement diets
• Nutrition information for healthy eating
• Health counseling and breastfeeding support
• Nutrition and cooking classes
• Referrals to health care providers and social services

The role exists to screen applicants for eligibility by assessing income, residency, and nutritional risk, prescribe food packages, and provide group and one-on-one nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support.

Responsibilities

• Assess and document participants' nutrition risk
• Prescribe food packages for each participant certified
• Determine eligibility and provide one-on-one and/or group nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support
• Assess participants' needs for breast pumps and breastfeeding education
• Obtain and assess hemoglobin and anthropometric measurements for each participant
• Provide quality client services using Participant Centered Education (PCE) as required by the USDA
• Assist families in developing healthy eating habits
• Identify the need for individual care plans and implement them for low-risk participants
• Refer participants to other health and social services and provide appropriate follow-up
• Document nutrition services provided, including referrals and follow-up
• Maintain effective and efficient WIC Program operations in the region
• Collaborate and coordinate with community organizations

Customers

Qualified pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to the age of five (5) years.

Ideal Candidate

• Fluent in both English and Spanish
• Experience entering and retrieving data from multiple information systems, including the New Mexico WIC Program Automated Data System
• Experience providing or coordinating direct nutrition services to low-risk children and postpartum individuals, including nutritional screening, assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation based on program guidelines
• Experience counseling individuals and groups on basic nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent
• One (1) year of experience in WIC, customer service, office administration, or government assistance programs (e.g., welfare, unemployment benefits, social security benefits, public housing)
• Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience totaling one (1) year may substitute for the required experience
• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License
• Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or obtain certification within six (6) months of hire

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT)
• Extensive phone and personal computer usage
• Direct client interaction and some travel may be required

Pay

$18.69 - $28.04 hourly / $38,885 - $58,327 annually.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.