WIC Nutritionist - CPA

Full-time - 37.5 hours per week

Grade 15

Monday through Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

About Oswego County Opportunities

Ranking among Oswego County's top ten largest private employers, OCO carries out its mission to inspire partnerships and provide services that empower people, support communities, and change lives through more than 50 programs serving 15,000 people each year. OCO's Employee benefits include:

• 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

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for determining nutrition risk eligibility, prescribing and tailoring the WIC food package and providing nutrition education for the county-wide WIC Program. Acts as a resource for WIC Staff; and provides consultation as needed. Carries out all duties in accordance with Federal, State, Agency and WIC program policies and procedures.

JOB DUTIES AND 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.
• Track participant’s progress, and document 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.
• Conduct a breastfeeding assessment, and provide participant centered counseling that helps a mother initiate breastfeeding, establish a milk supply, exclusively breastfeed and continue breastfeeding.
• Address 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.

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 w/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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 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;

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Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.