Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Job at Mecklenburg County

Mecklenburg County Charlotte, NC 28216

Job Information

Date Posted
2025-08-18
Location
Charlotte, NC 28216
Job Title
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
Gender
Both

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

WIC Department

Please apply by: 10/18/22

Salary Range: $23.61-$29.52

This is a non-exempt (hourly) position

Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

Follow your calling, Find your career

Job Code
GG0020

FLSA Status
Nonexempt

Job Family
Health

Position Summary

Provide consultation and emotional support for pregnant women and new mothers who are currently breastfeeding or plan to do so. This position, under general supervision, is responsible for providing lactation counseling services through various channels associated with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Essential Functions

· Provide lactation education, counseling, support and consistent follow-up contacts with clients during pregnancy, pre and post birth, and throughout the lactation process

· Schedule client appointments; coordinate intakes and transfers; assess income and residence for WIC certification; and maintain proper chart documentation

· Obtain and document client anthropometric measures, including hemoglobin / hematocrit, and health history accurately

· Counsel program approved clients who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding

· Evaluate, log and maintain appropriate documentation of breastfeeding equipment and supply issuance

· Provide general lactation information and support to new mothers

· Educate mothers on how to prevent and handle common concerns

· Make referrals to other agencies as needed and keep accurate records of all contacts with mothers and their families

· Be available outside of normal clinic hours

· Respond in cases of urgent and/or emergent events that require public health interventions. Employees may be trained for and assigned duties unrelated to their regular work; work outside normal business hours and workdays and/or in a different work location may be required. Emergency events include, but are not limited to, communicable disease outbreaks, severe weather situations (e.g. snow or ice storms, tornados, hurricanes), natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes), fire, or power outages, and acts of terrorism.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

Minimum of two years of directly related experience

Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent

Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted?: N/A

Licenses and Certifications

· Satisfactory completion of state approved Lactation Peer Counseling Training Course

· May require a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License

· May require the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Mecklenburg County Operator's Permit

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of

· Breastfeeding principles and practices

· Breastfeeding safety principles and practices

· Quality control principles and practices

Skills

· Delivering breastfeeding programs

· Implementing breastfeeding procedures

· Monitoring quality control issues

Abilities

· Applied Learning: Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner

· Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that instills confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization

· Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information pro

· Patient Education/Health Promotion: Supporting, explaining, and instructing patient and patient’s family (significant other, care giver, etc.) in understanding the clinical procedures and equipment used to facilitate optimum health status; promoting the lifestyle changes required of the patient and the patient’s family to achieve optimum health status

· Patient Relations: Meeting patient and patient family needs; taking responsibility for a patient’s safety, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes; using appropriate interpersonal techniques to resolve difficult patient situations and regain patient confidence

· Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently

Computer Skills

· Proficient in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Physical Demands

Frequency

Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.

Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

The person in this position needs to move about from point X to point Y.

Occasionally (up to 10 hrs/week)

Operates a computer or other office equipment.

Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

Ascends/Descends a ladder to perform duties or operate equipment.

Not Applicable

The person in this role is required to position themselves to maintain equipment such as computers, servers, machinery, etc.

Not Applicable

The person in this role frequently communicates and must be able to exchange and convey information.

Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

Must be able to review information on paper or computer.

Constantly (26 or more hrs/week)

Must be able to discern information from long distances.

Not Applicable

Must be able to detect or distinguish flavor or smells.

Not Applicable

Demand

Weight

Frequency