Job Description

Requisition No: 838549 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER - 64944151

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64944151 

Salary: $15-$19 hour 

Posting Closing Date: 10/25/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator 

Job Advertisement: Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Requisition No: 838549

Agency: Florida Department of Health

Working Title: OPS Family Support Worker

Hours: 20 hours a week

Position No: 944151

Salary: $15- $19.00 per hour

Description:

This is a part-time paraprofessional position as a Loving Support breastfeeding peer counselor in the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program in Monroe County, based at the Key West Health Department at the Gato Building (1100 Simonton St. Key West, FL 33040). The position is responsible for promoting and supporting breastfeeding and providing basic breastfeeding education to WIC participants. This position reports directly to the Breastfeeding Program Coordinator.

The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor:

• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone at scheduled intervals determined by the local WIC program.
• Counsels women in the WIC clinic
• Makes routine hospital visits and counsels women in the Lower Keys Medical Center.
• Receives a caseload of WIC clients and makes routine periodic contacts with all clients assigned based on WIC program protocols.
• Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including telling them about the benefits of breastfeeding, overcoming common barriers, and getting off to a good start with breastfeeding. She also helps mothers prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns.
• Is available by telephone, outside the usual 8 to 5 working hours (until 9pm weekdays and 8am to 9pm on weekends) to new mothers who are having breastfeeding problems.
• Works within her scope of practice and yields to breastfeeding expert, nutritionists, and/or other health care professional, or social services according to clinic protocols when the issue is outside of peer counselors’ scope of practice.
• Cannot give medical advice.
• Keeps accurate records of all contacts made with WIC clients and documents encounters the same day.
• Attends, assists, and/or facilities prenatal classes and breastfeeding support groups and documents encounters the same day.
• Reads assigned books and materials on breastfeeding that are provided by the supervisor.
• May assist WIC staff in promoting breastfeeding through special projects, health fairs, and other duties as assigned.
• Accurately completes all required forms and reports including but not limited to Employee Activity Report (EAR), Leave and Attendance Record, Leave Authorization Form, and travel logs by required deadline.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to speak both English and Haitian-Creole fluently.
• Knowledge of basic breastfeeding practices.
• Enthusiastic about breastfeeding and have a desire and ability to assist mothers from low- income communities.
• Skillful in professional telephone etiquette.
• Skill in typing and computer programs.
• Ability to record information accurately, file, and maintain records.
• Ability to plan, organize, manage time, meet deadlines, and work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with others.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in the workplace.

Requirements for this position:

• Ability to speak both English and Haitian-Creole fluently.
• Must have breastfed at least one baby and/or provided pumped breastmilk to at least one baby.
• Must be willing to work before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency. This may include working in Special Needs or Red Cross Shelter, performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to threats involving any disaster or threat of a disaster, man-made or natural.
• Must be willing to make and receive calls to and from clients after normal work hours (Until 9pm on weekdays and 8am to 9pm on weekends) using your own phone or state-issued phone.
• Must be able to work from home and/or report to office as necessary.
• Must have a valid State of Florida driver’s license.
• Must possess typing and computer entry skills.
• Must be willing to accept hourly rate of $19.00.
• Communicates with courtesy, respect, and understanding in dealing with the clients, the staff, and the public always.
• Complies with the Department of Health policies and laws.
• As a paraprofessional, a breastfeeding peer counselor may not be a Registered Nurse, Registered Dietitian, Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, or other licensed or credentialed health, nutrition, or lactation professional.
• Peer counselor can be a certified lactation counselor (CLC).

Travel: 15% -- Travel is required to meet clients at other locations throughout Monroe County, as needed. Travel is required to attend mandatory staff and DOH-Monroe meetings and trainings, depending on meeting location. Travel may be required to other clinics to provide coverage when necessary.

Preference will be given to the following:

• Breastfed at least one baby exclusively for 6 months and continuous breastfeeding/pumping for 12 months.
• Current or previous WIC client.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. As an OPS employee, the benefits below are available:

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements. Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit  .

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website:  

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country. 

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

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