Breastfeeding Peer Counselor-Obgyn

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system at UChicago Medicine as a Community Health Worker I - Breastfeeding Peer Counselor with our OBGYN Department at our main Hyde Park location. A Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is a paraprofessional support person who provides basic breastfeeding information, encouragement, and support to pregnant and lactating parents who are patients of the OB clinics at the University of Chicago Medical Center on Chicago’s South Side. The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor works with patients while they are in outpatient clinic for prenatal appointments as well as inpatient during postpartum recovery. The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age and background of the patients served.

Our Community Health Workers (CHW) work across neighborhoods in Chicago’s South Side to address social determinants of health (conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, etc. that affect a wide range of health outcomes and risks), and assist community members with self-managing health conditions and adopting improved health behaviors.

Essential Job Functions:

• Outreach and education: To proactively engage targeted patient/community member populations around health issue areas. This may take place in a hospital, clinic, homes, or various community setting and requires the individual to understand the health issue areas and be an effective communicator to reach the underserved population.
  • Informs patients of the benefits of breastfeeding and helps them to overcome common barriers. Topics for education include the following:
    • Reasons to breastfeed
    • Overcoming barriers to breastfeeding
    • Colostrum quantity and benefits
    • Normal course of breastfeeding
    • Positioning and latch
    • Skin-to-skin and its benefits
    • Maintaining adequate milk production
    • Preventing common problems
    • Anticipatory guidance for the early days home from the hospital
    • Resources for breastfeeding support
      
  • Evaluates all breastfeeding educational materials for appropriateness and maintains supplies available for patients.
• Observes a feeding in accordance with hospital policy to check positioning and latch.
• Coordinates and conducts a weekly breastfeeding support group.
• Conducts hospital visits to provide breastfeeding support and encouragement to clinic patients after delivery.
• Case management and follow up: To follow up (via phone or in person) with patients and community populations on their needed care, referrals and services to appropriately manage their specific chronic conditions and promote self-management practices.
• Tracking and reporting: To track patients/community members and report progress on activities and services provided on an aggregate level. Also includes CHW tracking their day-to-day activities and reporting them to the Manager of Community Benefit.
• Build community relationships: Promote community partnerships and support of resources from local organizations to implement and provide services and activities to the patients/community members you serve.
• Planning: Proactively participate in UCM program design and planning around the community health worker program to most effectively execute the program.

Required Qualifications:

• Must have High School diploma or GED
• Familiarity with and experience working in Chicago’s West and/or Southside communities
• Passion for and dedication to working with community members
• Punctual, reliable and willing to learn
• Strong organizational skills
• Basic skills in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Proactive learner that feels comfortable in different environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification from a recognized Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program, i.e. HealthConnect One or Loving Support (WIC)
• Has expertise in breastfeeding counseling and management through previous experience as a Breastfeeding Peer counselor, or through additional lactation training and experience
• Past work experience in a hospital or clinic setting
• Is enthusiastic about breastfeeding, optimistic, and not easily discouraged

Position Details:

• Job Type/FTE: Full-Time (1.0 FTE)
• Shift: Days
• Unit/Department: OBGYN
• CBA Code: Non-Union

Must comply with UCMC’s COVID-19 Vaccination requirement as a condition of employment. If you have already received the vaccination, you must provide proof as part of the pre-employment process. This is in addition to your compliance with the Flu Vaccination requirement as well. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered consistent with applicable law. Lastly, a pre-employment physical, drug screening, and background check are also required for all employees prior to hire.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics. 

We’ve been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment… with patients and with each other. We’re in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you’d like to add enriching human life to your profile, The University of Chicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we’re doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

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Bring your career to the next level at a hospital that is thriving; from patient satisfaction to employee engagement, we are at the Forefront of Medicine. Take advantage of all we have to offer and #BringYourPassiontotheForefront.

University of Chicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: www.uchospitals.edu/jobs 

The University of Chicago Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.