Job Title: Community Health Assistant-WIC-Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
Department: Health and Human Services Agency
Pay Grade: 59
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
AGENCY MISSION, YOUR MISSION
Haywood County Health and Human Services’ mission is to enhance the health, safety, and full potential of our community. In the Public Health Services Division, you would serve as an advocate for the public’s health and help shape positive health outcomes for all Haywood County residents. All members of our team must uphold the confidentiality of Haywood County's citizens, safeguarding their privacy and dignity at all times.
JOB SUMMARY
The purpose of this position is to serve as a liaison between public health and the community to improve health access and outcomes through education, advocacy, social support, and connecting individuals to resources. The position provides services to Health and Human Services Agency patients and clients in our Public Health Services Division within the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. This position performs all administrative tasks associated with the support of the WIC program including providing information and directions to clients, explaining the WIC Program guidelines and regulations, and data entry. This position will also provide education and emotional support to a caseload of prenatal and breastfeeding women and their families.
Employee will independently perform a variety of office tasks such as providing assistance to staff, service recipients, other organizational units and the public. Work requires significant knowledge of the agency policies and procedures. Increased independence and knowledge applied to resolve problems and successfully manage inquires is an intricate part of daily work.
Work Schedule:
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with 1 hour for lunch, however an alternate work schedule (40 hours per week) may be considered upon request . Other hours may be set or required per the County policy. Perform duties in times of emergency, including but not limited to, those that may be related to a Public Health Emergency or mass sheltering, as the agency is a mandated shelter for the county, and performs such duties as assigned, and the hours worked in emergency response could vary from hours worked in the office.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Administrative
- Using computer applications and electronic medical records systems.
- Answering telephones, scheduling appointments, and sending appointment reminders.
- Secure patient/client information and maintain patient confidence by completing and safeguarding patient/client records.
- Interview clients to establish residency and complete financial eligibility following the proper procedures and policies and to verify Medicaid status of client. All information gathered from client interview and eligibility requirements are deemed confidential.
- Explain clinic procedures and inform client of appropriate materials to bring with them for scheduled visits.
- Print and mail missed appointment letters.
- WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC)
- Serve as a paraprofessional support person who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
- Receives a caseload of WIC mothers and makes routine periodic contacts with all mothers assigned.
- Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including telling them about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and getting a good start with breastfeeding.
- Helps mothers prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns. Assisting mothers in addressing their barriers to breastfeeding and mentoring women to support the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding.
- Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone and/or text messaging.
- Build and maintain relationships with pregnant and breastfeeding women enrolled in the BFPC program, keeping in regular contact in line with the local agency's service delivery model.
- Issues breastfeeding supplies to enrolled BFPC participants in conjunction with the delivery of BFPC services (breastfeeding peer counselors must be trained in the assembly, use, and cleaning of breastfeeding supplies and issue only in consultation with the designated lactation professional).
- Completes required documentation in Crossroads of services provided.
- Community Outreach: Engaging in efforts to promote breastfeeding and educating the public about its benefits.
- Helps establish, attends, and assists with prenatal classes and breastfeeding support groups.
- Attends staff meetings and breastfeeding conferences/workshops as appropriate.
- Community Health Assistant (Dental Clinic)
- Maintain client flow in the clinic.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient care by following infection control procedures.
- Sterilize and maintain dental instruments and equipment and disposing contaminated supplies.
- Restocking examination rooms,
- Employees are required to maintain compliance with all State and Federal laws and program requirements including but not limited to confidentiality laws (HIPAA, Juvenile Code, PII, etc.). Employees are expected to adhere to Agency, Countywide and Departmental policies and procedures regarding information security and confidentiality, and to report any suspected unauthorized disclosure or loss of information immediately. Employees must ensure security of all County data, equipment, and information in both electronic and paper form that is accessed as part of job duties to minimize risk of improper disclosure or data breach.
- Emergency Response, including but not limited to support of the Federally mandated and State statutory responsibilities including, but not limited to Public Health and Mass Care duties.
Performs other assigned duties.
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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:
- Graduated from high school and demonstrated possession of knowledge, skills, and abilities as stated above through at least one year of experience performing similar tasks in a health care or human services setting; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Must be at least twenty-one years of age to drive a County vehicle.
- Valid state driver’s license. Must have no more than three (3) points showing on current DMV records in order to operate County vehicles.
- Must participate in Respiratory Protection Plan and be Fit Tested Annually.
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Qualifications
o Personal experience with breastfeeding: The individual must have successfully breastfed at least one child for a minimum duration of 6 weeks.
o Positive attitude toward breastfeeding: The individual is expected to positively represent and advocate for breastfeeding.
o Cultural and community connection: Ideally, the individual comes from the target population, often sharing the cultural background and language(s) of most participants. This might include past or current participation in, or eligibility for, the WIC Program, enhancing relatability and trust.
Additional Training/Experience :
- Before beginning their duties as a Peer Counselor, individuals must complete WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum: Level 2 for Peer Counselors Only training.
- The Peer Counselor must maintain an up-to-date record of certificates for the completion of each required Peer Counselor Quarterly Continuing Education
- Infection Control Regulatory Practices /OSHA Infection Training required by state
ICS training based on statutory requirements and duties of the job.
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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of county ordinances, policies, and procedures;
- Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing;
- Skill in the use of computers and applicable software programs; and
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively with other employees and the general public.
- Ability to establish rapport and relate to population served and a variety of service disciplines (nurses, providers, social workers)
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
- Ability to record basic data
- Ability to perform required physical tasks.
Ability to learn basic lab techniques such as urinalysis, hemoglobin, hematocrit
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PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing and speaking abilities, depth and texture perception, and color perception. Stamina to be on feet during working day. Must possess ability to ambulate without assistance as getting in and out of car and walk in rough terrain at times will be necessary. Position may involve a moderate to heavy amount of lifting and carrying items from location to location. Considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving repetitive motions and the use of standard office equipment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Office work is performed in clinic setting. Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The community is not generally considered hazardous. The potential for exposure to HIV, Hepatitis B, other sexually transmitted diseases and/or communicable disease is a reality when coming in contact with body fluids and secretions of clients. Universal blood and body fluid precautions are observed. Routine instruments to measure vital signs of clients – i.e. stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, thermometer.
EMPLOYER BENEFITS PACKAGE:
- Employer paid Health & Dental Coverage
- Participation in the NC Retirement System
- 401(k) and 457(b) plans available
- Employer paid Life Insurance
- Competitive Vision Insurance
- Annual Performance Pay Increases
- Vacation, Personal, and Sick Leave
- Free Employee Assistance Network
- Free Employee Wellness Clinic
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Paid Holidays
Longevity Pay
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To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Haywood County has the right to revise this position description at any time and does not represent in any way a contract of employment.
Haywood County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
