WIC Nutrition Assistant - CinnaMoms at Public Health Foundation Enterprises, In in Los Angeles, California

Job Description:

Applicants must submit a resume to be considered for this position.

Deadline to apply for this position is: (Midnight) Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Starting Rate: $20.91. per hour.

Location: Los Angeles County WIC Centers

Eligible applicants will be invited to attend a job preview on May 13 or May 16 via zoom.

Interviews will be in person  on June 4, 2024.

Hire Date: July 8, 2024

ABOUT PHFE WIC

Public Health Foundation Enterprises WIC (PHFE WIC), a program of Heluna Health, is a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children that connects families to healthy foods and a village of support. We have over 500 employees serving more than 180,000 people each month at 39 WIC offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Gabriel Valley.

 At PHFE WIC, workplace inclusion is a core value and we celebrate our differences as a strength. The diversity of our staff is an asset that allows us to better support and empower WIC program participants.

As the largest local WIC agency in the country, PHFE WIC is known nationwide for thought leadership, published research, and innovation. We aim to foster a supportive environment where staff can grow personally and professionally while finding new ways to make an impact in our community.

 WHAT WE OFFER

 At PHFE WIC, we invest in our staff by providing ongoing training and opportunities for professional growth and development.

• 
   Upon hiring, we offer a comprehensive on-the-job training program for staff to learn about client-centered counseling, breastfeeding, and nutrition education for children and parents.


• Our peer mentoring program connects new employees to current employees who will provide support and encouragement as they navigate and adapt to our company.


• Dietetic internship and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) internship opportunities are available to staff that have worked for PHFE WIC for at least one and two years, respectively, and meet eligibility requirements.


• Employee scholarship opportunities are available to those pursuing higher education.


• PHFE WIC provides reimbursement for the annual cost of RDN licensure, and opportunities for continuing education credits RDN and IBCLC licensing.


• Pregnant and breastfeeding employees have the opportunity to receive lactation support from IBCLCs, and perinatal and breastfeeding support groups are held each month for employees to connect, learn, and share their experiences.

BENEFITS

• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance


• 10 paid vacation days annually


• 12 sick days annually


• 13 paid holidays per year


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)


• Flexible Savings Account options


• Health Savings Account options


• Retirement Plan 403(b): Heluna Health contributes 6% of employee compensation

SUMMARY

In accordance with Federal, State, Heluna Health and Public Health Foundation Enterprises WIC (PHFE WIC) policies and procedures, the WIC Nutrition Assistant, CinnaMoms will assist with both the WIC program and CinnaMoms. Responsibilities include the delivery of all WIC and CinnaMoms activities related to targeted enrollment, certification processes, and practices aimed at achieving health and racial equity at PHFE WIC. The WIC Nutrition Assistant, CinnaMoms will provide clients with nutrition education and breastfeeding information; facilitate CinnaMoms support circles; certify WIC eligible clients using the WIC Web Information System Exchange (WIC WISE); and comply with PHFE WIC breastfeeding policies and requirements to promote, educate and support breastfeeding among all clients and staff. Prospective candidates must maintain courteous and respectful behavior as a WIC and CinnaMoms representative. This includes excellent customer service to all clients, staff and visitors.

BACKGROUND:

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a public health nutrition program under the USDA providing nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals for income-eligible women who are pregnant or post-partum, infants, and children up to age 5. In Southern California, PHFE WIC, a program of Heluna Health, provides personalized WIC support to about 185,000 families.

CinnaMoms is a motherhood and breastfeeding support program created by and for Black women through Heluna Health’s PHFE WIC Program. Since 2015, the CinnaMoms support circles have been providing a safe space to discuss life, health, and the unique breastfeeding challenges Black/African American mothers face, all while breaking down barriers and fighting breastfeeding stigma. In 2018, CinnaMoms expanded its mission to include topics such as maternal and infant health, self-care and generational trauma and resilience.

With the expanded mission and collaboration with the PHFE WIC Council on Racial Equity, assembled in 2020 to evaluate and inform next steps for advancing racial equity, CinnaMoms aims to reduce stress and trauma and celebrate pregnancy and parenthood. CinnaMoms goals are to increase enrollment and certification rates, program satisfaction, and utilization of WIC benefits by Black families. It is our hope that this position will contribute to our bold vision and support efforts to improve birth and maternal health outcomes for Black women, infants and children served by WIC.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

60%   WIC Client Services

Performs the following functions:

• Serves applicants and participants using the WIC WISE system


• Communicates with WIC participants using current technology


• Presents appropriate nutrition education and WIC orientation for individuals and groups.


• Provides breastfeeding support to WIC pregnant and postpartum women and refers to our breastfeeding Peer Counselors.


• Able to work at any PHFE WIC Center based on program necessity.


• Attends all required WIC sponsored training modules, meetings and seminars, and is able to apply the information provided in the WIC setting effectively which results in proficient performance.


• Completes office and center activities necessary to facilitate smooth overall operation of the WIC Center while providing excellent customer service.


• Assists in upkeep of WIC Center.


• Transports supplies to clinic sites as needed.


• Office and center activities necessary to facilitate smooth overall operation of the WIC Center while providing excellent customer service.


• May be required to assume responsibility for center function in the absence of the supervisors and nutritionists.

40%

CinnaMoms Support Activities

• 
   Facilitation and planning of virtual and in-person support groups.


• Connects newly enrolled WIC families to the CinnaMoms program. Tracks and manages a small caseload of families


• Develops and responds to text messages.


• Actively engages with CinnaMoms social media platforms (including Facebook Group, Instagram, TikTok, website, and blog).


• Assists walk-in clients


• Supports with current and future CinnaMoms grant deliverables.


• Supports/participates in special projects and WIC outreach activities.

The employee must have the ability to work cooperatively and successfully in a team setting; take care of both internal and external customers; and deal with challenging situations involving the public and/or staff. Depending on business needs, flexibility is expected with work assignments (including traveling to assigned work locations i.e. PHFE WIC Main Office, WIC sites, and Outreach activities).The employee must immediately report suspected child abuse to their supervisor. Must use current computer technology to fulfill job requirements. The employee must have a commitment to health and racial equity. 

JOB 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/Experience

Required:

• High School diploma or general education degree (GED).


• One year continuous experience in a customer service field.


• Experience serving Black/African American families in any capacity.


• Experience and passion for community engagement.

Communication Skills

• Excellent English verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.


• Ability to read and understand instructions, correspondence, and memos.


• Clearly and concisely expresses information and thought in written form.


• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.


• Exhibits good listening and comprehension.


• Processes email and messages in a timely manner.


• Keeps supervisors and co-workers adequately informed.


• Ability to attend to detail and follow-up.


• Ability to maintain customer and employee confidence and to protect WIC operations by keeping information confidential.


• Follows PHFE WIC policies and procedures and supports PHFE WIC’s goals and values.


• Follows instructions and responds to management direction.


• Displays cultural competence/humility as evidenced by a background living and/or working in communities served by CinnaMoms.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to perform basic arithmetic operations.

Computer Skills

• Ability to use PHFE WIC internal computer applications and other software products as needed to perform job tasks.

Reasoning Ability, Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.


• Ability to problem solve while dealing with the demands of the job.


• Ability to deal with unresolved situations, frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.


• Ability to attend to detail and follow-up.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

• Must be able to secure timely transportation to fulfill the requirements of the essential job duties for this position (e.g. floating to other WIC Centers, training modules, seminars, meetings, outreach, main office and transporting supplies).


• Must have cell phone, home telephone or message phone. All numbers must be current.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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 me made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

Stand Frequently
Walk Frequently
Sit Frequently
Handling / Fingering Frequently
Reach Outward Occasionally
Reach Above Shoulder Occasionally
Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend Occasionally
Lift / Carry Occasionally - Up to 10 lbs
Push/Pull Occasionally - Up to 10 lbs
See Constantly
Taste/ Smell Not Applicable

Not Applicable Not required for essential functions
Occasionally (0 - 2 hrs/day)
Frequently (2 - 5 hrs/day)
Constantly (5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
• General office setting, indoors temperature controlled.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

See job description

Apply Now