HEALTH EDUCATOR - 64084866

Requisition No: 837777 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: HEALTH EDUCATOR - 64084866

Position Number: 64084866 

Salary:  $49,000 - $50,850 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 09/23/2024 

Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County.  If you are looking to establish a successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place.  Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida.  We hope you decide to join our team!  Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

The incumbent is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Polk County in its mission to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts and its vision to be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness and Excellence in all aspects of their work.  

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This position spends the majority of the time engaged in supervisory responsibilities. This includes communicating with, motivating, training, and evaluating employees in addition to planning and directing employees' work. The incumbent has the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline subordinate employees or effectively recommend such action. The incumbent will also be required to develop performance expectations, meet with staff regularly to discuss performance, complete performance reviews, maintain vacation and work schedules, ensuring proper coverage, and complete timesheets.

This is a highly responsible public health position providing services to clients or the community at any site or location in the geographic area covered by the Polk/Hardee WIC Program.  The incumbent in this position is directly responsible to the Nutrition Director, Public Health Services Manager F - SES.  A current Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), or Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) with extensive experience in breastfeeding management and education is needed for this position.  International Board Certified Lactation Counsultant (IBCLC) is preferred.

The primary work of the position is managing the WIC Breastfeeding Program and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program throughout Polk and Hardee Counties.  Serves as a DBE (Designated Breastfeeding Expert) for the Polk/Hardee WIC program.

The primary responsibilities of this position are:

Management and Supervision of Breastfeeding Program:

• Serves as the Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Polk/Hardee County WIC Program.
• Attends and actively participates in state-wide Breastfeeding Coordinator Meetings.
• Develops local breastfeeding plans and sets breastfeeding goals in conjunction with the Nutrition Director.
• Monitors the breastfeeding program including quality improvement (QI) monitoring and reporting.
• Routinely communicates to Nutrition Director on program progress and/or concerns.
• Serves as the lead resource person for Polk/Hardee Counties for breastfeeding support and promotion activities.
• Promotes breastfeeding in Polk/Hardee counties and serves on committees as assigned.
• Provides breastfeeding education and outreach to health care professionals and members of the community.
• Collaborates with community partners to assist in the provision of consistent breastfeeding messaging and support.
• Plans and provides breastfeeding training and updates to all WIC staff and DOH staff as needed or requested.
• Assures appropriate management and distribution of breastpumps and breastfeeding supplies.
• Makes recommendations for the purchase of breastfeeding pumps and supplies to meet agency needs.
• Monitors breastfeeding supply inventory and ensures accuracy for entire agency on minimum monthly basis.

Management and Supervision of Peer Counselor Program:

• Manages the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program for the Polk/Hardee County WIC Program.
• Attends and actively participates in state-wide Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Coordinator Meetings.
• Assists with establishing Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program goals, objectives, protocols, and policies.
• Monitors the peer counselor program to ensure compliance with goals, objectives, protocols, and policies.
• Recruits and interviews potential peer counselors in alignment with program polices and standards.
• Hires peer counselor staff, arranges for DOH orientation, provides WIC orientation and initial/on-going trainings.
• Provides ongoing supervision of peer counselor staff which includes direct observation of individual counseling and/or group classes, review of FL-WiSE documentation, and ensures documentation of observations is kept on file.
• Mentors peer counselor staff and provides routine feedback, follow-up, and guidance.
• Holds regular meetings (at least monthly) with peer counselors and documents staff meeting minutes.
• Determines peer counselor caseload assignments, staffing needs, and creates monthly schedules.
• Approves peer counselor staff timesheets and compares to EARs for accuracy at end of each pay-period.
• Approves peer counselor staff travel (authorizations and reimbursements) and submits required paperwork.
• Assigns peer counselor staff cell phones, approves bills in a timely manner, and submits paperwork as required.
• Assigns peer counselor laptops and completes appropriate paperwork as needed.

Education Duties:

• Plans and provides classes and group breastfeeding education per lesson plans with appropriate documentation.
• Provides and documents breastfeeding counseling to WIC clients per program policies.
• Provides breastfeeding information and serves as a resource specialist to other agencies in the community.
• Coordinates and oversees WIC outreach activities for agency and completes required paperwork.
• Designs and produces education media materials, brochures, displays for health fairs, outreach events, etc.
• Certifies clients for the WIC program and provides nutrition education (as allowed per program polices and credentials).
• Performs additional related work as required or requested.

Completes administrative forms such as EARs, time sheets, and travel per department policies and required deadlines.

Attends and participates in staff meetings, in-service trainings, and other staff development activities.

Complies with all Department of Health and WIC security and confidentiality rules and regulations.

This position may serve clients that speak only Spanish, Creole, or other languages.  It may require performance of interpreter duties, if bilingual, or implementation of the Department’s Limited English Proficiency Plan.

Performs other duties as required, including performance of additional interpreter duties, consistent with skill level, and as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective communication
• Knowledge of breastfeeding management and promotion
• Knowledge of the methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data
• Knowledge of program management
• Ability to develop educational/training plans and supporting materials.
• Ability to use various communication channels to provide education/training.
• Ability to interview and counsel clients.
• Ability to plan, organize and evaluate a nutrition/breastfeeding program or project.
• Ability to hire, train, and supervise people.
• Ability to determine work priorities, assign work, and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Qualifications:

Minimum:

• Florida Driver’s License
• A current Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), or Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) with extensive experience in breastfeeding management and education is needed for this position.

Preferred:

• International Board Certified Lactation Counsultant (IBCLC) is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree (or master’s degree or higher) from an accredited college or university with the major course of study in nutritional science, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, dietetics, or public health nutrition is preferred

Other job-related requirements for this position:

Emergency Duty: Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.  Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.

Confidentiality: Incumbent may have access to records containing Social Security numbers in the performance of their job duties.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Bartow, FL

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

If there are any problems applying online, please call People First Staffing Administration: (877) 562-7287.

Service Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET. TTY users, call (866) 221-0268.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.