Community Nutrition Worker

Department: Public Health-WIC
Salary: $19.95-$21.58


General Position Summary
Provides technical and staff support in nutritional program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clients; provides direct services to WIC clients through nutrition assessments, eligibility determination, certification, education and counseling; assists in coordinating the activities of the WIC Program with other services provided by the Health Department through referrals. Must submit to and pass a background and financial check prior to offer of employment.

Essential Functions
The following may not be all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.
Determines WIC program eligibility in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and procedures.
Obtains anthropometric and biochemical measurements; evaluates and explains results to clients.
Reviews and assesses the diet and health histories of clients, identifies all relevant risk factors and refers high risk clients to WIC Dietician; develops plans for diet improvement; educates clients on various health and nutrition issues; makes referrals to other community resource agencies and monitors client progress; determines and assigns appropriate food packages.
Utilizes participant centered education techniques when working with clients.
Provides nutrition education to groups of clients; presents information on nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding, infancy and early childhood, as well as a variety of nutrition topics such as picky eaters, encouraging childhood activity, menu planning, shopping, and healthy food preparation.
Maintains client confidentiality and accuracy of electronic record.
Assists in monitoring client census in relationship to program's targeted caseload.
Conducts ongoing quality assurance in laboratory procedures.
Promotes breastfeeding as the optimal infant feeding choice, while allowing participant personal choice.
Distributes WIC breast pumps according to established guidelines.
Completes all WIC training modules within six months of initial employment, and new training modules as required.
Participates in quarterly time study.
Provides excellent customer service in person and/or on the telephone.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Certification, & Experience
Graduation from a four-year college or university in Health Education, Home Economics, Nursing, Psychology/Sociology or Social Work with courses in nutrition education is preferred, or comparable WIC certifier experience; thorough knowledge of current nutrition information; knowledge of parenting skills, childhood growth and development and maternal health care. Any combination of training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: College level training in nutrition/dietetics or community-based experience in nutrition/dietetics.
Current Driver’s License

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to sit; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.