Breastfeeding Coordinator, Wellness and Preventive Health

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a full-time employee to coordinate Breastfeeding Activities across all programs in Wellness and Preventive Health.
Wellness and Preventive Health is comprised of several programs including SNAP-Ed, WIC, Maternal Health, Child and Adolescent Health and Oral Health all of which work with women across Iowa. The person to serve in this position would coordinate all breastfeeding work and activities across WPH, with particular focus on the oversight and collaboration between SNAP-Ed, WIC and Title V programs.
Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Wellness and Preventive Health (WPH) Breastfeeding Coordinator. Coordinate all breastfeeding work and activities across WPH, with particular focus on the oversight and collaboration between WIC, SNAP-Ed and Title V programming.
• Lead the Iowa HHS breastfeeding work group including holding quarterly meetings to ensure all of Iowa HHS is connecting with the Iowa Breastfeeding Strategic Plan and implementing steps to ensure success.
• Identify, coordinate and work with Early Care and Education (ECE) programs to implement policy, system and environmental change breastfeeding strategies with SNAP eligible families.
• Coordinate the implementation of the Iowa Breastfeeding Strategic Plan.
• Co-coordinate the Iowa Breastfeeding Coalition with the Iowa WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator.
• Provide technical assistance to WPH Program staff, WPH contracted providers and Iowa HHS staff to assure coordination of breastfeeding work and implementation of evidence base and/or best practices to improve breastfeeding in Iowa. Technical assistance may include interpreting policies, laws, program requirements and providing recommendations for coordination of services.
• Develop and grow relationships with Iowa Medicaid to improve lactation-related services and breast pump issuance to eligible families.
• Develop community partnerships to improve breastfeeding rates.
• Develop a strategy to complete new breastfeeding work and activities. Implement the activities which include but are not limited to the following: creating an interim designation pathway for Iowa hospitals based on the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding Practices, recruit hospitals to implement the pathway, work to assist hospitals obtain the Baby Friendly Hospital designation and create an Iowa public health lactation center model.
• Lead for annual breastfeeding week planning and activities.
• Assist the WPH programs with identification of and implementation of breastfeeding trainings for relevant Iowa HHS staff, contractors and external stakeholders and partners.

Benefits:
We have a great total compensation package for all of our full-time employees, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• For additional information on benefits click here

ESTS: This location offers free on campus gym for the staff, during off student hours. This includes 3 full size basketball courts, a weight room with machine and free weights, cardio equipment, showers, and lockers.
The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer:
IHHS values those with "lived experience" and encourages foster youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS (HHS) system to apply.
Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are also encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired - Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).
Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with major coursework in nursing, a human services or health-oriented field, or education, or nutrition and three years of professional experience in these areas;Masters degree in nursing, public health or science, a human services or health-oriented field, or education, may be substituted for one year of the required experience;certification as a paramedic and the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a paramedic;an equivalent or combination of the required education and experience, totaling seven years, will be qualifying.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.Employment Type: Full-time