Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

The Virginia Department of Health is seeking a part-time Breastfeeding Peer Counselor to work with clients at the Accomack County and Northampton County WIC Offices. As a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, you will promote breastfeeding among WIC participants, health care workers, and the community.

• Attend local, regional, or state breastfeeding promotions and support trainings
• Operate within the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor scope of practice as defined in the WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum
• Work within a multidisciplinary team to help with the development and implementation of the WIC participant's service plans
• Represent the local agency and WIC on interdisciplinary workgroups, taskforces, or coalitions

• Personal breastfeeding experience required
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of basic human lactation, breastfeeding practices, various positioning techniques, basic breastfeeding management, manual expression of breast milk, collection and storage of human milk, and good communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to instruct in a group and individual setting, recognize problems related to breastfeeding and make appropriate referrals/interventions

• Experience with WIC as a current or previous participant

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the federal WIC grant for a one year period ending September 30. The availability of funding is scheduled for review annually and periodically thereafter. Continuing employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

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)