OPS FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER - 64935321

Requisition No: 878296 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER - 64935321

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64935321 

Salary:  $16.80 Hourly Rate of Pay 

Posting Closing Date: 07/27/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Job posting category: Open Competitive

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Breastfeeding Peer Counselors will:

Perform in a professional manner in all aspects of the peer counselor role:

• Respect the participant’s privacy, dignity, and confidentiality.
• Respect and respond sensitively to cultural attitudes and practices of participants and the community.
• Work within the policies and procedures of the WIC Program.
• Maintain records according to legal requirements and ethical practices.
• Recognize when assistance is needed and consult with the supervisor, Breastfeeding Coordinator and/or Peer Counselor Coordinator, and the WIC Designated Breastfeeding Expert (WIC DBE).
• Identify situations outside the Scope of Practice and refer as appropriate in a timely manner.
• Yield to the WIC DBE for situations out of the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Scope of Practice.
• Acquire ongoing breastfeeding education to maintain and build knowledge and skills within the Scope of Practice.

Encourage and support participants to breastfeed:

• Use participant-focused communications techniques to best meet participant needs.
• Help participants identify the support available to them and educate family members.
• Help women identify their breastfeeding concerns, barriers, and solutions.
• Teach the reasons to breastfeed and the risks of not breastfeeding.
• Teach the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the early weeks.
• Teach participants about the WIC food packages for breastfeeding mothers.
• Assist in infant feeding classes and peer support groups.
• Be available to WIC participants outside of usual clinic hours and outside of the clinic environment.
• Refer mothers to resources for support.
• Promote breastfeeding in the community, workplace, and health care system.
• Support breastfeeding participants from pregnancy through growth spurts, introducing solid foods, and weaning.

Teach basic breastfeeding to participants and help them when difficulties occur

• Teach basic, evidenced-based techniques to help ensure a successful start in breastfeeding, including milk production, skin-to-skin care, positioning and latch, and milk expression and storage.
• Identify signs of the normal course of breastfeeding, including breastfeeding frequency and duration, infant feeding cues, and normal infant weight gain and stooling patterns.
• Provide anticipatory guidance to help prevent the occurrence of problems.
• Provide guidance to mothers regarding non-evidence-based breastfeeding information they receive.
• Help mothers plan for a return to work/school that supports the continuation of breastfeeding.
• Provide basic and timely problem-solving and support.
• Yield mothers experiencing difficulties to the WIC Designated Breastfeeding Expert.

Qualifications:

Minimum –

• Willing to work before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency. This may include working in a special needs or Red Cross shelter, 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.
• Exclusively breastfed an infant for at least 6 months.
• Willing to travel to different WIC sites in Lake County.

Preferred –

• Experience providing individual or group education regarding breastfeeding.
• Experience talking and presenting to groups

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:

Clermont, FL

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. As an OPS employee, the benefits below are available:

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements.  Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)
• 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.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

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

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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. 

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.   

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.