Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Position Title: Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
Department: WIC
Supervisor: Senior Nutritionist & Breastfeeding Coordinator
Hours per week: 12 hours
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Primary Function:

The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor provides basic breastfeeding education, encouragement, and support to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding participants. As a paraprofessional member of the WIC team, the Peer Counselor uses personal breastfeeding experience to offer guidance, address common concerns, and promote positive breastfeeding outcomes. This role maintains regular contact with assigned participants through phone calls and clinic interactions, provides culturally sensitive support, documents participant interactions, and refers participants with complex concerns to lactation professionals or healthcare providers as appropriate. The Peer Counselor helps strengthen breastfeeding promotion efforts and supports WIC participants in achieving their infant feeding goals.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide basic breastfeeding education, encouragement, and support to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding participants.
• Maintain regular contact with assigned participants through phone calls and/or clinic visits according to WIC contact guidelines.
• Offer information on the benefits of breastfeeding, strategies for getting started, and ways to overcome common breastfeeding challenges.
• Assist participants in preventing and managing common breastfeeding concerns using approved WIC guidance.
• Provide culturally sensitive support while communicating in a professional, respectful, and supportive manner.
• Document all participant contacts and counseling activities accurately in the WIC data system (Eos).
• Refer participants with complex breastfeeding concerns to appropriate resources, including the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), the local breastfeeding coordinator, healthcare providers, or other community services following established protocols.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all participant information in accordance with program policies and privacy regulations.
• Be available to provide support to participants experiencing breastfeeding concerns outside of regular clinic hours, as appropriate.
• Assist with prenatal breastfeeding education classes, breastfeeding support groups, and other breastfeeding promotion activities.
• Participate in staff meetings, required trainings, and breastfeeding-related workshops or conferences.
• Complete required WIC breastfeeding training and continuing education activities.
• Support WIC staff in promoting breastfeeding services through outreach, education, and special projects as assigned.

Hours: Flexible work model at 12 hours a week.