Health Educator

PURPOSE:

To plan, promote, and implement health education programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Serves as Competent Professional Authority (CPA) for the WIC Program, including determining eligibility for WIC, evaluating lab values, nutritional requirements, and prescribing a food package.

· Performs nutritional assessments for individuals or families by evaluating anthropometric measurements, urinary and serum lab values, nutritional (rather than 24 hr recalls or diet histories), medical and social histories.

· Develops care plans, prescribes food packages, counsels and monitors the progress of intervention in a parish health unit or satellite clinic of a parish health unit.

· Networks with other health professionals, such as private physicians/nurses, in the development and implementation of interagency information/referral systems to identify patients with nutritional problems and needs.

· Conducts monthly mandatory outreach (health and medical organizations, religious/community agencies, social service agencies) to improve access to the Louisiana WIC Program.

· Conducts federally mandated vendor monitoring of Louisiana WIC approved vendors by: Visiting the stores to document the inventory of compliance with minimum stock levels of approved WIC foods; Assuring adherence to WIC Food Instrument redemption procedures; Providing training to management and cashier staff regarding food packaging changes or any policy changes relative to WIC Food redemption; Securing a vendor or designated staff signature; Gathering information regarding grocer/patient complaints or allegations of fraud; Forwarding information to the Vendor Manager in the Nutrition Services central office in the Office of Public Health when applicable.

· Provides breastfeeding support to WIC participants and women in the parish community and facilitates links to medical support in the area of breastfeeding concerns as needed by WIC and non-WIC parish residents.

· Serves on the parish health unit personal health management team responsible for the activities related to the federally required annual management evaluation process.

· Collects and evaluates health data to develop health promotion programs.

· Consults with Regional Administrators and Nutritionists in planning and developing health promotion programs.

· Conducts health promotional activities, provides health information and training to agency staff and other agencies, and develops health promotion materials for staff, other agencies and residents in the region.

· Any other duties assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

· A baccalaureate degree in nutrition, dietetics, human ecology, home economics, family and consumer sciences, health promotion, pre-medicine or nursing.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

· An associate degree in nutrition, dietetics, human ecology, home economics, family and consumer sciences, health promotion, pre-medicine or nursing plus two years of experience working as a WIC Clinic Nutrition Educator in the State of Louisiana will substitute for the baccalaureate degree.

· Twelve semester hours in food nutrition or dietetics plus three years of experience working as a WIC Clinic Nutrition Educator in the State of Louisiana will substitute for the baccalaureate degree.

· Twelve semester hours in food nutrition or dietetics plus three years of experience working in patient care will substitute for the baccalaureate degree.

NOTE: Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,734.00 - $64,313.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person