WIC Nutritionist - CPA

Oswego County Opportunities - Oswego, NY

Full-time - Entry Level

Oswego, NY

Social Assistance

About the position

The WIC Nutritionist position at Oswego County Opportunities involves providing nutrition education and support to participants in the WIC program. The role focuses on assessing nutrition risks, prescribing supplemental foods, and ensuring participants receive the necessary education and referrals to improve their health and nutrition outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Conducts a complete nutrition assessment, determines nutrition risk and enrolls participants.
• Prescribes, tailors, authorizes, issues and reissues any food package including those requiring medical documentation.
• Reviews and approves formula requests requiring medical documentation for participants in consultation with the Health Care Provider (HCP).
• Provides and documents participant-centered nutrition education (individual/family sessions or facilitated group discussions) responsive to the identified needs/interests of participants.
• Provides and documents appropriate follow-up referrals to other health and social services agencies for participants, especially participants with additional nutrition or health concerns.
• Ensures referrals for lead testing and immunizations are performed.
• Tracks participant's progress, and documents outcomes.
• Identifies the need for an individual care plan and refers to the Qualified Nutritionist as appropriate.
• Carries out high risk care plans established by the Qualified Nutritionist and provides participant-centered counseling for high risk participants.
• Conducts a breastfeeding assessment, and provides participant centered counseling that helps a mother initiate breastfeeding, establish a milk supply, exclusively breastfeed and continue breastfeeding.
• Addresses common breastfeeding concerns and issues breast pumps.
• Refers prenatal and postpartum clients to peer counselors and other breastfeeding support resources.
• Assists CPAs in planning and evaluating participant-centered nutrition education (individual/family sessions and facilitated group discussions).
• Develops, conducts and evaluates nutrition training of LA staff in nutrition education topics.
• Orients/trains/mentors new nutrition support staff.
• Conducts and oversees all duties of a Nutrition Assistant to enhance program services to participants.
• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibility and skill required for the job.

Requirements

• Must be familiar with nutrition education and county health resources as they relate to special populations.
• Must have critical thinking skills and understand the fiscal & nutritional risks involved with the over-issuance of food packages.
• Must have the skills to assess nutritional needs and risks beyond a standard food package and make appropriate adjustments/substitutions accordingly.
• Must be skilled in participant-centered nutrition counseling to produce behavioral change.
• Must exhibit professionalism, good judgment, flexibility, courtesy, and integrity.
• Must possess good communication skills and be able to follow oral and written directions.
• Must have the ability to maintain client confidentiality.
• Must be motivated, have ability to relate to clients in a caring and sensitive manner, be a positive role model and work collaboratively with others.
• Must attend trainings, in-services and seminars for skill maintenance and enhancement. Required to obtain 24 hours of continuing education every three years in topics relevant to WIC.
• Must possess a valid New York State Driver's License with a good driving record; must have access to a reliable, properly insured vehicle for travel throughout the county and occasionally, outside the county.
• Must be able to carry out responsibilities such as keyboarding regularly and lifting 25 - 50 pounds 5-10% of the time.
• Must be able to attend to detail and accuracy and be able to work well in a stressful environment.
• Must be flexible and able to work hours of operation as established to meet State, program and participant needs including some evenings and Saturdays.
• Must have good knowledge of Oswego County geography and county resources for the lower socioeconomic population.

Nice-to-haves

• Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR/DTR); or
• Bachelors in an appropriate health-related field with at least six credit hours in nutrition; or
• Registered Nurse (RN) with Bachelor's degree.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (available to Full-Time staff)
• Paid leave (sick leave, PTO, holidays, etc.)
• 403B Deferred Annuity Retirement Plan
• Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program