Nutrition Counselor- Full time - DC

Minimum Education
High School Diploma or GED with 2 years of working at a WIC clinic with providing secondary nutrition to individual clients or groups, completed DC Health required Competent Paraprofessional Authority training and observation, and able to document counseling notes (Required)

OR
Bachelor's Degree and 6 months of working in Community Nutrition related field or Dietetic internship and able to provide individual and group nutrition counseling (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
2 years https://www.dcwic.org/local-agencies-forms (Required)
1 year Provided counseling in individual and group settings for one year with Bachelors (Preferred) Or

Required Skills/Knowledge
Basic computer skill and ability to learn and apply new technology and skills
Detail oriented, ability to multi-task, and excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
Excellent customer service, time management skills and ability to follow through
Ability to work well independently in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment.
Complete WIC para-professional competency training with a passing grade upon hiring

Functional Accountabilities

• Interviews participants using the DC WIC State agency provided assessment tool to obtain participant characteristics, health and dietary information.

• Educates participants regarding their rights and responsibilities, the food delivery system, WIC foods and certification schedule.

• Performs and records height and weight measurements.

• Performs and records biochemical measurements, such as hemoglobin or lead tests.

• Screens the health and nutritional status of participants, identifies and assesses for health risks.

• Provides basic nutrition education to non-high-risk participants either individually or in a group setting with established curriculum and under supervision of a CPA or Nutrition Coordinator.

• Promotes the advantages of breastfeeding to all prenatal participants unless contraindicated for health reasons.

• Provides substance abuse and smoking cessation information.

• Provides referrals as appropriate and identified during the screening process.

• Completes food prescription for standard contract formulas in powder or concentrate form for infants

• Provides tailored food prescription for non-high-risk women and children per WIC State agency policy.

• Refers high-risk participants, breastfeeding participants, and participants with questions or concerns beyond the CPPA scope of work to CPA and breast-feeding authority, in accordance with WIC State Agency policy

• Documents notes for all contacts made with WIC participants.

• Issues food benefits in accordance with DC WIC State Agency policy.

• Performs additional tasks assigned by supervisor, as needed.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met
• Available to rotate and cover at other WIC clinic locations based on staffing needs.

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance