This position serves as a Nutrition Educator 2 in an Office of Public Health (OPH) Parish Health Unit (PHU) or clinic providing services primarily for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and to other public health programs as needed.
Major functions of work:
40% Provides direct general nutrition education and outreach for pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children in the WIC program either on an individual basis or in a group. Education is provided as referred by Public Health Nutritionists, Health Educators or Public Health Nurses or during the certification/recertification process.
- Plans lessons around themes related to foods and nutrients provided by the WIC program and documents nutrition education provided in LAWIN Management Information System.
- Assists with medical data collection for WIC participants as assigned.
- Educates WIC program participants and/or caregivers regarding the purpose of the WIC program, patient rights and responsibilities, WIC approved foods, and shopping using WIC benefits.
- Introduces new foods and ways of preparing foods to WIC participants by conducting sessions and demonstrations (including but not limited to taste testings, cooking classes, etc.).
- Maintains familiarity and stays abreast of other social and health programs in the community (Head Start, Genetics, Family Health, Food Banks, SNAP, Medicaid, etc.) in order to refer patients to these programs as needed.
- Maintains an adequate supply of nutrition education materials for staff through periodic and as-needed ordering.
- Distributes posters, flyers and pamphlets to encourage participation in the WIC program and raise awareness of WIC eligibility requirements; documents these activities for outreach reports.
- Prepares monthly nutrition education activity reports and conducts nutrition education evaluation for the WIC program as needed.
- Provides education on age-appropriate nutrition and feeding.
- Provides education on the advantages of breastfeeding.
- Provides instructions on formula preparation, safety, sanitation, and proper food storage.
50% Performs anthropometric measurements of WIC participants accurately and in compliance with all applicable policies and protocols. Assists with general WIC program administration as needed.
- Collects blood samples from WIC participants to test hemoglobin values in compliance with WIC policy.
- Makes appointments for WIC participants and follows up on missed appointments as needed.
- Performs WIC income screening, updates participant information in LAWIN, and assesses voter registration status; assists with voter registration as needed.
- Assists clinic staff with the process of WIC client transfers into and out of the PHU/clinic to assure continuous WIC services whenever possible.
- Assists Competent Professional Authority (CPA) and other clinic staff as needed.
- May schedule and conduct educational shopping trips to local vendors (WIC authorized grocery stores) as needed to assist participants.
10% Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to:
- Participates in special projects as assigned.
- Travels to assigned locations for OPH-assigned duties or trainings.
- Completes all required trainings, including annual emergency operations training, and is available during times of crisis in accordance with LDH all-hazards response policy (LDH Policy 65.2).
- Serves on local/area coalitions, task/project forces, etc. as appropriate to support community population health and nutrition best practices.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.05 - $17.73 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
