About Job

Title: Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

State Role Title: Direct Service Associate II

Hiring Range: $16.23-$18.43

Pay Band: 2

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: CRATER HQ

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Breastfeeding Peer Counselors (BFPCs) promote breastfeeding among WIC participants, health care workers, and the community. They attend breastfeeding trainings to grow their knowledge and skills. They operate within the BFPC scope of practice as defined in the WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum. The BFPC participants on a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement WIC participant service plans. The BFPC may represent WIC on interdisciplinary workgroups, taskforces, or coalitions, as needed. Please note: this is a part time (wage) position.

Typical Duties:

Promote breastfeeding among WIC participants, healthcare workers, and the community
Attend local, regional, or state breastfeeding promotions and support training
Participate in multidisciplinary team case conferencing to develop and implement WIC participant service plans
Provide breastfeeding encouragement, information, and counsel to prenatal and breastfeeding participants
Conduct support group meetings and assist the nutritionist with individual and group sessions
Contact participants at predetermined intervals to provide counsel, encouragement, and information to maintain lactation
Identify problems or potential problems necessitating referral to the nutritionist or WIC Designated Breastfeeding Expert (DBE)
Recruit participants to attend nutrition education classes through various contact methods
Maintain logs of patient contacts and complete monthly activity reports and other health department forms as required
Plan and participate in community outreach events for WIC participants, particularly during Breastfeeding Awareness Month
Create and maintain a breastfeeding-friendly environment
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Wage employees are subject to the following conditions of employment:

Wage employees serve at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority.
Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.
Wage employees are not covered by the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act. Therefore, they are not eligible for benefits which are provided to salaried employees, such as leave credits, holiday pay, insurance, access to the grievance procedure, etc.
Wage employees are paid only for the hours they actually work.
Virginia state law currently requires that agencies not permit wage employees to work in excess of 29 hours per week on average over the course of a year. Wage employees may not work for VDH beyond 1,500 hours during the period of May 1 – April 30 of the following year (the Standard Measurement Period).
Once a wage employee works the maximum of 1,500 hours during the Standard Measurement Period, the employee may be rehired as a wage employee of VDH only after the next Standard Measurement Period has begun.
Wage employees are eligible to apply for all classified positions for which recruitment has been initiated, including those limited to State Employees Only.
If a wage employee becomes employed in a classified position, he/she will be eligible to purchase retirement credit for the time worked as a wage employee.
Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.

Minimum Qualifications

Demonstrated working knowledge of basic breastfeeding management, manual expression of breast milk, and collection and storage of human milk
Demonstrated skill in effective communication
Demonstrated working knowledge of basic human lactation and breastfeeding practices
Demonstrated ability to instruct in a group and individual setting
Breastfed at least one baby for at least 6 months
Must have a valid driver's license

Additional Considerations

Current or former WIC participants preferred
Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Crater HR

Phone: -

Email: craterHR@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer