Be a part of the mission at Whitney Young Health (WYH) to provide high quality healthcare that is affordable and accessible to our diverse community.
WYH has a robust benefits package including generous time off, affordable health, dental and vision insurance, 401k with safe harbor employer match, tuition reimbursement, term life insurance, commuter benefits and more!
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor represents Whitney M Young Jr Health Center (WYH) Women Infants and Children (WIC) program and supports pregnant and breastfeeding women to achieve their breastfeeding goals. Provides face-to-face counseling and support in accordance with NYS WIC Peer Counselor roles and responsibilities. This position can be part-time (20 hours) or full-time (40 hours).
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Must be knowledgeable of the following: various positioning techniques for mother and baby; increasing or decreasing the breast milk supply, including proportion of hind milk/foremilk; manual expression of breast milk; and safe and effective collection and storage of breastfeeding.
- Maintain contact with the provided list of WIC pregnant and breastfeeding women by phone on a routine basis.
- Meet with prenatal and breastfeeding women via telephone, email, text or in the clinic.
- Provide individual and group breastfeeding classes.
- Provide education, support and referrals to moms throughout their pregnancy and while breastfeeding utilizing counseling skills acquired during training.
- Be a resource for mothers to make connections to other community programs and services.
- Prepare mothers for what to expect in the first few hours and days of breastfeeding. Inform participants you can be contacted 24/7 through the breastfeeding hotline for assistance and support.
- Document all contacts and education in NYWIC breastfeeding notes within two hours of contact.
- Participate in and initiate outreach activities. Provide support to WIC staff for special breastfeeding projects, such as breastfeeding classes, support groups, community events or local agency projects.
- Submits PC productivity report weekly to the Breastfeeding Coordinator.
- Maintains a time record that shows a breakdown of their activities every day.
- Maintain compliance with local agency policies and procedures for breast pump issuance.
- Be available by WIC issued cell phone outside of normal WIC clinic hours for mothers who require breastfeeding support.
- Update WIC Breastfeeding Support Facebook page weekly with educational breastfeeding information.
- Design and implement an educational program that is culturally sensitive and cognizant of the clients' unique needs. Demonstrates excellence in both internal and external customer service.
- Understands and effectively communicates HIPAA compliance, corporate compliance and client confidentiality.
- Ensures and/or remains in compliance with local, state, and federal regulation, i.e. JCAHO, OASAS, and NYSHD.
- Adheres to the National Patient Safety Goals as defined by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Services.
- Completes other duties as assigned.
LIMITATIONS OF THE PEER COUNSELOR:
- The Peer counselor will NOT provide specific medical or nutritional advice.
- The Peer Counselor will NOT work unsupervised or without the collaboration of health care professionals.
- Contact with prenatal or postpartum mothers is best accomplished at clinic or through phone contacts.
- The Peer Counselor must inform the local agency of all activities for which she represents WIC.
