WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

At Health & Human Services, we serve our community through the values of support, unity, trust and excellence with one common goal: to promote and protect the health, well-being, safety and self-sufficiency of all in Marin. Join our team of bright, committed, and energetic people who also want to make an impact through public service.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is a member of the WIC team within the Division of Public Health, Health and Human Services Department, County of Marin. Under direct supervision and in accordance with established program guidelines, the Peer Counselor provides basic breastfeeding education, encouragement, and peer support to pregnant and breastfeeding participants enrolled in the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program.

Services are delivered through scheduled phone contacts, WIC clinic visits, hospital visits, and other approved participant interactions. The Peer Counselor maintains an assigned caseload and provides culturally responsive, non-judgmental support to help participants meet their infant feeding goals while recognizing situations that require referral to an IBCLC, healthcare provider, or other community resources.

All participant contacts and required documentation are completed in accordance with program standards using California’s WIC WISE system and the Peer Counselor Database (PCDB). The Peer Counselor also participates in breastfeeding promotion activities, community outreach efforts, and team meetings as part of the local WIC program.

As part of onboarding, the Peer Counselor completes required program training designed to provide the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of the position.

BILINGUAL TESTING / CERTIFICATION

The successful candidate must possess bilingual skills and must demonstrate proficiency in both Spanish and English prior to appointment. A bilingual proficiency exam will be administered to ensure the candidates possess the appropriate skill level to meet the requirements.

ABOUT YOU

OUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE

Our highly qualified candidate is dependable, organized, and able to manage responsibilities independently while maintaining accurate and timely records. They demonstrate basic computer proficiency and strong attention to detail in documentation and participant follow-up.

The ideal candidate communicates clearly and respectfully and is comfortable working with families from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. They approach participants, colleagues, and community partners with professionalism, compassion, cultural humility, and a non-judgmental attitude.

This individual is enthusiastic about providing peer support and encouragement to pregnant and breastfeeding participants and is motivated to help families meet their infant feeding goals. They have strong interpersonal skills, effective time management, and the ability to build trust and rapport with participants.

Consistent with program requirements, the ideal candidate is a current or former WIC participant with personal breastfeeding experience and a genuine commitment to supporting other families through shared lived experience.

Bilingual skills in Spanish / English are required for this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Breastfeeding promotion and support strategies.
• Normal breastfeeding physiology.
• Nutritional needs of infants and breastfeeding women.
• Infant behaviors.

Ability to:

• Motivate clients to breastfeed their infants.

• Participates and assists with breastfeeding classes and support groups.

• Keep accurate records and create clear, concise reports.

• Communicate with individuals in a culturally diverse, low-income population.

• Establish and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work demonstrating tact, diplomacy, patience, and compassion.

• SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• In accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements, all persons appointed to this class are required to attend and pass a 25-hour course titled Loving Support through Peer Counseling provided by the Department of Agriculture within 60 days of appointment to this class. Failure to successfully complete the training may be cause for termination.

• May be required to work outside of normal working hours.

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of six months of experience breastfeeding a child and current or past participation in a WIC Program.

• Certificates and Licenses

• This job class requires travel between various County and business-related locations. Employees who drive on County business to carry out job-related duties must possess a valid California driver's license for the class of vehicle driven and meet automobile insurability requirements of the County, including review of a recent DMV history. If a driver's license is required, at the time of the selection interview by the appointing authority, applicants will have to furnish a recent DMV driving record.

• Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

• Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Director.

• COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL

• Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the Marin County's website.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.

• Health Plan: Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.

• Retirement: Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at mcera.org.

• IRS 457 Plan: Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

• Retiree Medical: The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.

• For questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at 415-473-6104. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the

Benefits

• Division at 415-473-2197.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.