Breastfeeding Counselor

Equal Opportunity Employer

The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote health equity for marginalized communities by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, and comprehensive health and human services.  Health equity is at the heart of all our work. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.  This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

Breastfeeding infants has multiple benefits for the family and the child, including, but not limited to, direct health benefits for the mother and baby, improved bonding, and food security. In order to encourage and support breastfeeding in and around the Philadelphia area, the Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health seeks an experienced part-time breastfeeding counselor for the following core responsibilities: 1) Provide breastfeeding/infant feeding education, counseling and support within relevant scope of practice for pregnant and lactating people in the City of Philadelphia in-person, online, and by telephone as appropriate, 2) Conduct breastfeeding support groups both virtually and in-person at City Health Centers for breastfeeding persons, 3) Create and facilitate basic breastfeeding presentations and trainings both in-person and through social media outlets, 4) Provide outreach to labor and delivery hospitals, clinics and pediatrician offices regarding available lactation services through the MCFH Pacify app and online referral form, 5) Track all breastfeeding activities and provide written reports as required.  The part-time position calls for someone with significant experience supporting lactation within a community clinic setting, a passion to promote breastfeeding, and experience working both independently and within a team, in keeping with MCFH’s health equity mission, all work performed will be aimed at reducing racial disparities in breastfeeding.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

  • Respond promptly to all referrals for breastfeeding assistance in City Database, process referrals, and provide tailored counseling, education, and in-person hands-on support in the City Health Centers or through home visits, as appropriate and on an as-needed basis.
  • Develop content for, and lead online and in-person infant feeding support groups that respond to need from referrals as well as from outreach at other locations. 
  • Create content such as presentations and educational posts tailored to diverse clientele through social media outlets.
  • Provide outreach about the PDPH Lactation Program to City Health Centers, local birthing hospitals, and relevant community organizations.
  • Provide direct lactation support via the Pacify Tele-lactation app, and document support as indicated by Pacify protocols. 
  • Assist Lactation Program manager in organizing World Breastfeeding Week activities.
  • Assist Lactation Program manager in representing the PDPH Lactation Program at offsite community events.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • CLC or IBCLC, and significant related experience required.
  • Bachelors or Associate degree in a health care/social services or related field preferred.
  • The ideal candidate will have experience supporting breastfeeding in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, birth centers, homes and/or private practice. 
  • Experience educating on and supporting breastfeeding at the community level is a requirement.
  • Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in direct lactation support.
  • Familiarity with Philadelphia’s health and social service landscape preferable.
  • Ability to operate independently, to collaborate as part of a team, and to receive direction.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with clients, families, colleagues, and other partners.
  • Ability to document lactation support encounters, and maintain applicable data for the program as needed.
  • Familiarity with social media outlets and their use for general breastfeeding information.
  • Familiarity with using virtual platforms such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Teams, Blue Jeans.
  • Basic skill with Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel and typically used computer programs.

POSITION TYPE AND WORK SCHEDULE

Part-time position, working 25 hours a week.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary commensurate with experience.  Pro-rated benefits package

Eligibility and participation is handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy. 

DISCLAIMER

The Health Federation reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, responsibilities and/or skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied, or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “at will.” The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals.