Breastfeeding Peer Counselor - Somersworth, United States - GREATER SEACOAST COMMUNITY HEALTH

Description

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC) - Part Time (12 Hours per Week)

The WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC) is a paraprofessional support person who provides basic breastfeeding information, peer support, and encouragement to WIC clients, including pregnant and breastfeeding clients.

Come to work every day knowing your efforts make other people's lives better. You will be part of a supportive, dynamic, multidisciplinary team – including medical, dental, and behavioral health care providers, social workers, family workers, and others – working together to meet the needs of the whole person. Your days will be busy, varied and interesting, and you will have opportunities for career growth; many employees take on new challenges and increasingly responsible positions during their years with us.

Salary Range: $16.00 and upward

Job Duties

• Attends breastfeeding training and classes to become a BFPC.
• Runs BFPC caseload of pregnant and breastfeeding clients, making routine, periodic contacts with all clients assigned.
• Provides basic breastfeeding information and support to pregnant clients and new mothers; including counseling about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and getting a good start with breastfeeding.
• Supports initiation of breastfeeding, duration of breastfeeding, and encouraging exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and paced bottle-feeding (PBF) participants goals.
• Provides peer support for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum clients in clinics.
• Is available outside clinic hours on nights and weekends to answer breastfeeding concerns to clients experiencing complications and/or questions.
• Keeps information confidential and private.
• Refers clients to other professionals and agencies for questions and/or concerns outside of BFPC scope of practice.
• Encourages community agencies and referrals to support breastfeeding clients.
• Attends monthly staff meetings and BFPC meetings
• Furthers breastfeeding education with up to date materials, and stays educated in breastfeeding knowledge as provided by supervisor.
• Assists WIC staff in promoting breastfeeding peer counseling through special projects and duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Enthusiasm about breastfeeding and passion for helping clients have a successful breastfeeding experience
• Ability to work variable hours and days during the week
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to all WIC sites
• Willingness to make and answer phone calls from home
• Experience with successfully breastfeeding at least one child
• Involvement and/or participation in the WIC program preferred but not required

The ideal candidate will also have:

• Ability to work harmoniously with coworkers and patients
• Experience working with diverse and vulnerable populations
• Excellent communication and listening skills
• Organizational skills
• Strong clinical and assessment skills
• Compassionate and nonjudgmental attitude

Work Location(s): WIC Nutrition Program, Somersworth, NH

Hours Per Week: Twelve (12)

Days: Flexible

Job Status: Part-Time, Hourly (Non-Exempt)

Eligible for Benefits:No

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical and dental insurance with an agency subsidy. One of the GSCH health insurance plans has a no-premium option for employee-only coverage. GSCH offers a 401(k) plan with an employer match, employer-paid group term life insurance, and short-term disability coverage. Voluntary benefits include vision, long-term disability coverage, Flexible Spending Account, and access to local discounts. GSCH offers earned time accrual (15 days in your first year [pro-rated by FTE]), plus seven (7) paid holidays. Eligibility starts at 24 hours/week, with full benefits offered at 32 hours/week and above.

About Us

Greater Seacoast Community Health's mission is to deliver innovative, compassionate, integrated health services and support that are accessible to all in our community, regardless of ability to pay.

The Greater Seacoast Community Health network includes Families First Health & Support Center in Portsmouth, Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth, and Lilac City Pediatrics at both locations. Strafford County Public Health Network and WIC Nutrition Program are also affiliated with Greater Seacoast.

Greater Seacoast Community Health is a network of community health centers providing primary care, pediatrics, dental care, prenatal care, behavioral health counseling, substance use disorder treatment, mobile health services, WIC, social work services, a pharmacy, parenting classes, playgroups, and home visiting.

We believe everyone should be empowered to maximize health and well-being and strive to make our array of programs and health services integrated, high quality, affordable, recovery friendly, trauma informed, inclusive, and easy to access.

As not-for-profit community health centers and family resource centers serving the Greater Seacoast region of New Hampshire and southern Maine, our services are for everyone — infants to seniors, single people and families, insured or uninsured, all income levels. Learn more at

Greater Seacoast Community Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, color, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by state, federal, or local law. Qualified Veterans are encouraged to apply.