WIC Peer Breastfeeding Counselor

Salary: $16.24 - $22.67 Hourly
Location : ALL-Multiple Ramsey County Locations, MN
Job Type: Intermittent (On Call)
Job Number: 0849-23/12-001
Department: 58J01-PubHlth/WIC
Opening Date: 12/14/2023
Closing Date: 12/29/2023 11:59 PM Central
Basic Function
Current vacancies are for Amharic and English language. This posting will be used to fill vacancies for intermittent (on call) positions. There is no regular assigned schedule or guarantee of hours. Must be available to be on call to counsel WIC clients by telephone outside of the usual clinic hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as needed.
A WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is a paraprofessional person who gives basic lactation information, encouragement, and support to pregnant and chest/breastfeeding WIC program participants. Peer counselors are mothers who have personal experience with breastfeeding and are trained to provide basic lactation information and support others with whom they share or have shared socioeconomic status, language, and/or race or ethnicity. Peer counselors reinforce chest/breastfeeding recommendations in a socially and culturally appropriate context and promote breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the child; and perform related duties as assigned.
If an internal candidate is selected, salary will be set in accordance with the personnel rules (i.e., promotion, transfer, or voluntary reduction).
To view or print a copy of the complete Ramsey County job (class) description for this position, go to: Once at this page, you can browse the alphabetical list or search for a job description.
Examples of Work Performed

1. Provide lactation support through one-to-one counseling via telephone calls, text messaging, and/or face-to-face meetings at a Ramsey County WIC clinic. One-to-one counseling includes; basic lactation information and support to new mothers including explaining the benefits of breastfeeding, how to overcome barriers, and how to get a good start with breastfeeding.
   
2. Help clients prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns. (Examples: sore nipples, poor latch, inadequate infant weight gain, milk supply concerns, etc.)
   
3. Communicate with WIC clients outside usual clinic hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as necessary.
   
4. Manage a caseload of WIC participants and make routine periodic contact with all assigned clients as necessary.
   
5. Maintain accurate records of all contacts made with WIC clients.
   
6. Make and receive telephone calls/text messages, and e-mails from home as needed from a WIC assigned cell phone.
   
7. Submit invoices, activity logs and close files in a timely manner.
   
8. Maintain regular contact with WIC Lactation Specialist and Nutrition Specialist- WIC.
   
9. May assist with promotion of the peer grant or breastfeeding classes through special activities led by the WIC Lactation Specialist or Nutrition Specialist - WIC.
   
10. Read assigned study materials provided by WIC Lactation Specialist or Nutrition Specialist - WIC.
    
11. Attend all required training and monthly Peer Breastfeeding Counselor staff meetings.
    (The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.)
    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11.

Minimum Qualifications
Education: High school graduation or equivalent.
Experience: Six months of customer service experience.
Substitution: None.
Certifications/Licensure: None.
Other: Must have a minimum of 6 months of experience breastfeeding at least one baby exclusively. The applicant does not have to be currently breastfeeding. Must have been or currently be a client of the WIC program.
Preferred: Amharic language preferred.
Exam/Screening Process Information
EXAMINATION: The examination/screening process will consist of the following sections with each section weighted as indicated:

1. Training & Experience Rating = 100%

The Training & Experience Rating will be based on the supplemental questionnaire that you need to complete as part of your application. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training & experience rating. Please be sure to be complete in your answers and do not mark "see resume" or "see work history". Failure to clearly and completely outline your training & experience could adversely affect your examination score and rank on the eligible list for this classification.
Eligible List: The names of all applicants who pass the examination/screening process and file a properly completed application shall be placed on the eligible list for employment as a WIC Peer Breastfeeding Counselor. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to fill a vacancy. Candidates will remain on the list for three months or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted, informing them that the list has been posted and their rank on the list.
Veterans' Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process. Veterans' Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.
Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.
E-Verify Participation Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.
Equal Opportunity Employer. Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance or national origin.
To print a paper application for this posting click Paper Application. You will need to print off this posting and also answer the supplemental questions associated with this exam and submit them if you complete a paper application.
For further information regarding this posting, please contact Nirvana Wallace at Nirvana.Wallace
Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well-being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
  • Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee + legally married spouse, Employee + Child(ren), Family
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance - three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
  • MetLife Dental Insurance - two plan options offered
  • VSP Vision Insurance - Advantage Plan offered

• Pre-tax Benefit Program
  • Pre-tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
  • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan

• Paid time off
  • Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro-rated for part-time employees)
  • 11 scheduled holidays and one floating holiday
  • Up to three weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
  • Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
  • Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay

• Retirement benefits
  • Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
  • New employees become vested after five years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
  • Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
  • Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits-eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation

• Transit and parking
  • Fully funded Metropass.
  • Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account

• Employee well-being
  • Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
  • Wellness programming
  • Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions

• Life Insurance and Disability leave
  • County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
  • Long-term Disability - County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee's lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
  • Short-term Disability - option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period

• Career development
  • Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
  • Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
  • County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Employee resource groups - help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues

For information about Ramsey County's 2024 benefits, visit:
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening process. The supplemental questionnaire will be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Provide complete information for each question. Do not write "see resume" as it is not an acceptable answer. The experiences you indicate in your responses will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Please select "yes" if you have read and understand.

• Yes
• No

02
What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High School
• Post-secondary
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• None of the above

03
Select below each area(s) in which you have completed breastfeeding training.
SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.

• WIC Peer training
• Certified Lactation Specialist/Counselor (CLS)
• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
• Other
• None of the above

04
Describe the education and/or training you indicated in questions #2 and #3 that you have completed. List any post high school education, formal training, certifications, or degrees you have completed related to this position. Include the field or area of study; the type of degree or certification received; the name of the academic institution you attended; dates of attendance (mo/yr to mo/yr); and the total number of credits earned or hours completed.
If you do not have any related post high school education, training or certifications enter "N/A" in the space below.
05
Do you have at least six months of full-time equivalent experience working in a customer service position?
Note: If you have worked part-time you should adjust the experience you are reporting accordingly.

• Yes
• No

06
If you indicated in question #5 that you have at least six months of full-time equivalent experience in a customer service position please provide the following information:
The name of the employer you worked for; your job title; a brief description of your duties; your dates of employment (mo/yr to mo/yr); and whether it was full-time or part-time. If it was part-time include the number of hours you worked per week.
Do not write "see resume" or "see application". If you do not have experience in this area enter "N/A" in the space below.
07
Indicate you...