Current vacancies are for Amharic and English language. This posting will be used to fill vacancies for intermittent (on call) positions. There is no regular assigned schedule or guarantee of hours. Must be available to be on call to counsel WIC clients by telephone outside of the usual clinic hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as needed.

A WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is a paraprofessional person who gives basic lactation information, encouragement, and support to pregnant and chest/breastfeeding WIC program participants. Peer counselors are mothers who have personal experience with breastfeeding and are trained to provide basic lactation information and support others with whom they share or have shared socioeconomic status, language, and/or race or ethnicity. Peer counselors reinforce chest/breastfeeding recommendations in a socially and culturally appropriate context and promote breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the child; and perform related duties as assigned.

1. Provide lactation support through one-to-one counseling via telephone calls, text messaging, and/or face-to-face meetings at a Ramsey County WIC clinic. One-to-one counseling includes; basic lactation information and support to new mothers including explaining the benefits of breastfeeding, how to overcome barriers, and how to get a good start with breastfeeding.

2. Help clients prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns. (Examples: sore nipples, poor latch, inadequate infant weight gain, milk supply concerns, etc.)

3. Communicate with WIC clients outside usual clinic hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as necessary.

4. Manage a caseload of WIC participants and make routine periodic contact with all assigned clients as necessary.

5. Maintain accurate records of all contacts made with WIC clients.

6. Make and receive telephone calls/text messages, and e-mails from home as needed from a WIC assigned cell phone.

7. Submit invoices, activity logs and close files in a timely manner.

8. Maintain regular contact with WIC Lactation Specialist and Nutrition Specialist– WIC.

9. May assist with promotion of the peer grant or breastfeeding classes through special activities led by the WIC Lactation Specialist or Nutrition Specialist - WIC.

10. Read assigned study materials provided by WIC Lactation Specialist or Nutrition Specialist - WIC.

11. Attend all required training and monthly Peer Breastfeeding Counselor staff meetings.

    (The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position’s management approved work schedule is required.)

    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11.

Education: High school graduation or equivalent.

Experience: Six months of customer service experience.

Substitution: None.

Certifications/Licensure: None.

Other: Must have a minimum of 6 months of experience breastfeeding at least one baby exclusively. The applicant does not have to be currently breastfeeding. Must have been or currently be a client of the WIC program.

EXAMINATION: The examination/screening process will consist of the following sections with each section weighted as indicated:

1. Training & Experience Rating = 100%