This position serves as a Public Health Nutritionist 3/Registered Dietitian (RD) within a clinic providing services primarily for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and to other public health programs as needed. Maintenance of the RD credential and Louisiana licensure is required to perform functions of work, per USDA federal program regulations.
Major functions of work:
50% Conducts the nutritional assessments of WIC participants, determines nutritional risk, counsels according to nutritional risk and prescribes food packages according to individual need(s) and program allowances. Serves as a High Risk Nutritionist for the WIC program. Interprets state and federal policy and procedures regarding the federally funded WIC program and other program areas. Implements said policies and procedures in providing certification and recertification services to eligible participants.
· As a Registered Dietitian, independently performs high-risk nutrition counseling services as appropriate.
· Performs wrap-around, holistic case management activities for clients as appropriate, including proactively linking program participants to other services both within and outside of the public health unit (PHU)/contract WIC clinic site scope:
· Refers participants to other Office of Public Health (OPH) and community resources, including dentist, immunization, physician, Early Steps, and other referrals as appropriate.
· Stays abreast of local community assistance programs/offerings in order to make recommendations for preventative care for family units participating in the WIC program and other OPH services.
· Performs anthropometric measurements and laboratory testing independently.
· Performs professional administrative duties independently to document wrap-around case management activities.
· Completes detailed LAWIN (WIC management information system) notes according to current WIC policy.
· Performs walk-in and scheduled infant and pediatric formula changes as needed, including assessing need and anticipated benefits for recipient, and documents accordingly.
· Approves exempt formula prescriptions/medical documentation forms and assures formula requisition is timely.
· Orders exempt formula for WIC participants and maintains exempt formula logs.
· Establishes and maintains required formula inventory system for assigned location(s) and adjusts methodologies as needed, including adjusting to meet staff and participant needs.
· Makes projections to predict future formulary needs for various physical clinic sites.
· Serves as a subject matter expert in maternal and child nutrition and breastfeeding and fields nutrition questions from the community in person or via telephone/email.
40% Assumes a lead role in compiling community data, the completion of federally required clinic management evaluations and annual self-management evaluations, the training of new staff, and the completion of required reports.
· Reports vendor (grocery store) and other participant complaints by program participants to the appropriate personnel within the Region and, as required, to the WIC State Agency.
· Actively participates in complaint follow up with the WIC State Agency and provides necessary details as requested.
· Leads efforts in the completion and analysis of end results of management evaluations (MEs) for assigned clinic locations (including analysis of self-assessments by PHU locations and contract WIC clinic sites) for report up to the Regional Nutritionist (Public Health Nutritionist Manager), Public Health Nutrition Supervisor, and the State Agency ME Program Manager.
· Oversees completion of all assigned ME documentation and paperwork, including chart audits, to ensure compliance with WIC policies and procedures.
· Leads new employee training program(s) in assigned clinical areas for contract and OPH staff on WIC policies, procedures, and regulations, as well as computer applications and hands-on clinical training for appropriate personnel.
· Establishes and maintains appropriate job-shadowing relationships for clinical staff. Creates and maintains Standard Operating Procedures {SOPs) for clinic(s) assigned.
· Serves as a preceptor for eligible dietetic interns working towards RD credentials and licensure and provides a thorough and engaging dietetics rotation on community nutrition, breastfeeding and maternal child health.
· As assigned, monitors and approves assessments and clinic notes of Public Health Nutritionist 1, who is operating under a provisional license.
· Oversees efforts to improve quality of services and overall quality improvement (QI) within assigned location(s) by working with various programmatic staff to assess, analyze, improve, and monitor clinical workflow(s) to promote efficiency and maximum return on efforts to clients and program participants.
· Provides in-service training classes to clients to demonstrate breast pump use.
· Serves as main point of contact and coordinates staff performing all outreach activities in community area(s) assigned to increase awareness of nutrition services provided by PHUs and contract WIC clinic sites.
· Coordinates staff performing all outreach activities in community area(s) assigned to increase awareness of the importance of breastfeeding.
· Maintains knowledge and provides guidance on best practices and methodologies in providing outreach services to increase return on outreach and recruitment efforts.
· Fields calls and emails from local hospital staff regarding patients who require breast pumps. Conducts outreach to community partners, such as pediatricians, regarding specific patient care needs and follows up on recommendations.
· Maintains effective working relationships with area hospitals, neonatal intensive care units, and lactation staff.
· Reports community needs or concerns back to PHUs and contract WIC clinic sites and coordinates/provides in-services and trainings as needed to address and correct service gaps. Leads the participation in community health fairs and other events to increase community awareness of public health topics, such as breastfeeding and physical activity, and to promote services provided by clinic locations.
· Coordinates efforts of Nutrition Educators by providing programmatic and functional oversight.
· Provides oversight of breastfeeding activities for all prenatal and breastfeeding WIC participants in assigned area(s).
· Serves as coordinator and liaison between families of program participants and the dedicated team of breastfeeding staff for assigned area.
· Refers prenatal and breastfeeding clients to breastfeeding peer counselors and monitors to prevent issues and ensure client needs are being met.
· Monitors nutrition education classes for quality and offers feedback to ensure accurate and adequate nutrition education.
· Develops nutrition education plans as assigned.
· Leads the development of educational materials and training programs.
10% Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to:
· Participates in special projects as assigned.
· Performs the duties of administrative/clerical staff as needed to ensure continuity of WIC services.
· Provides nutrition support and expertise to other public health programs, such as Reproductive Health, Genetics, etc. as needed.
· Travels to assigned locations for OPH-assigned duties or trainings.
· Assists the Regional Nutritionist (Public Health Nutritionist Manager) in coordination of all aspects of food service and nutrition departments in area Special Needs Shelters and General Population Shelters during times of emergency.
· Participates in professional continuing education through independent study and attendance at in-services, workshops, and conferences at the local, state, and national levels to maintain competency and registration status with the Commission of Dietetic Registration and licensure with the State of Louisiana.
· 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: $60,356.00 - $61,564.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
