(Archived) WIC Educator

The WIC Educator provides essential services to applicants and clients of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This position is responsible for determining program eligibility, conducting nutrition assessments, and providing nutrition education. The WIC Educator works in a busy clinic setting and collaborates with internal and external healthcare and social service providers.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Assess each client's nutrition status, identify nutrition risks, and provide participant-centered nutrition education that addresses individual needs.
• Conduct height, weight, and hemoglobin measurements as needed and record accurate information.
• Accurately assess growth or weight gain during pregnancy and explain the results to clients in a clear and understandable manner.
• Identify the need for individual care plans and develop goals and strategies with clients using a participant-centered approach.
• Document assessment information, food package assignments, referrals, nutrition counseling, and other relevant client information.
• Assign appropriate food packages and ensure proper documentation when issuing foods and special formulas.
• Assess breastfeeding status, provide education on basic breastfeeding problems within the scope of practice, and promote and support breastfeeding as the norm for infant feeding.
• Assess postpartum clients' needs for breast pumps, issue breast pumps according to policy, provide education on their use and breastmilk storage, and follow up with clients after issuance.
• Refer clients to breastfeeding leads, Registered Dietitians, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), or designated breastfeeding experts when necessary.
• Conduct vendor site reviews and document client vendor complaints according to ITCA policies and procedures.
• Deliver WIC nutrition classes and food preparation demonstrations to clients.
• Perform certifier duties as needed.
• Stay updated on nutrition and breastfeeding knowledge by attending relevant classes, conferences, workshops, and seminars.
• Refer high-risk clients to Registered Dietitians and all clients to appropriate health and social services, following up on referrals.
• Attend annual civil rights training.
• Complete assignments and submit reports, logs, and inventory to the WIC Supervisor in a timely manner.

Qualifications/Experience/Requirements:

• Nutritionist (Master's or Bachelor's degree in Nutritional Sciences, Community Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, or Home Economics with an emphasis in Nutrition), Registered Dietitian, Dietetic Technician, Registered Nurse, or successful completion of the ITCA competency-based training program within 60 days of hire.
• Valid and unrestricted Arizona driver's license with a clean driving record.
• Class I Fingerprint Clearance Card obtained within the initial ninety (90) calendar days of employment.
• Substance abuse testing upon employment and random testing during employment.
• Updated Immunization (IZ) Record and current Tuberculosis (TB) skin test upon employment.
• CPR Card obtained within ninety (90) calendar days of employment and maintained throughout employment.
• Preference given to bilingual Spanish speakers, experience working with American Indian/Alaskan Native communities, experience in nutrition counseling of minority populations, experience in the WIC Program, experience with case management or database systems, and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification.