Senior Public Assistance Representative

Overview

The New Mexico WIC Program, Department of Health and Family Health bureau safeguards the health of nutritionally at-risk low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infant, children and seniors by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, nutrition information for healthy eating, health counseling, breastfeeding support, nutrition classes, cooking classes, and referrals to health care providers and social services.

Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of the closing date.

To screen low-risk children and post-partum applicants to determine eligibility by assessing income, residency, and nutritional risk. Prescribes food packages. Provides group and one-on-one nutrition education on healthy eating, healthy counseling, and/or breastfeeding promotion and support. Refers participants to other health and social services and provides appropriate follow-up to referrals. Documents nutrition services provided, including referrals and follow-up to referrals. Provides clerical support in using online WIC application to schedule clients, issue food vouchers, maintain E-WIC Card security, and perform outreach, vendor activities, collecting medical data and other duties needed to support direct client services.

Maintain effective and efficient Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program operations in the Region by assessing and documenting low-risk children and post-partum nutrition risks; prescribe and assign food packages; determine eligibility and provide one-on-one and/or group nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support. Obtain and assess hemoglobin and anthropometrics on each low-risk applicant/participant. Provide quality client services using constructs of Participant Centered Education (PCE) as required by United States Department of Agriculture.

Assist low-risk families in developing healthy eating goals and provide on-going nutrition education. Refers low-risk applicants/participants to other health and social services. Perform clerical duties such as filing, typing, data entry, word processing, and other computer software applications; operate photocopiers, fax machines, and other office equipment; and prepare mailings, answer phones, answer questions, deliver messages, and make appointments; electronic card inventory, archiving, vendor monitoring, supply and pharmacy orders and vehicle coordination.

Achieves and maintains quality and customer service satisfaction and maintains and protects the participants and WIC agency confidentiality. Assist Nutritionist/Supervisor to increase community awareness and positive perception of the Public Health Division-Program by providing outreach in the community and interacting with other Public Health programs including participating in health fairs and developing nutrition education bulletin boards with approved messages. Demonstrates support of WIC's mission, vision and philosophy in delivery of all services and the ability to communicate and work with a wide variety of culturally diverse people.

Qualified Pregnant, Breastfeeding and Post-partum women, infants and children - up to the age of five (5) years.

Fluent in both English and Spanish; experience in entering and retrieving data from multiple information systems including the New Mexico Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program Automated Data System; providing and/or coordinating direct nutrition services to low-risk children and post-partum including nutritional screening, assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation based on program guidelines, client education and management of records; collaborating and coordinating with other organizations within the community;

assisting in food and nutrition programs in the department of dietetics to meet nutritional requirements; counseling individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.

High School diploma or Equivalent and two (2) years of women, infant, and children (WIC) experience, customer service, office administration, or government assistance programs such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security benefits and/or public housing. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling two (2) years may substitute for the required experience.

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certification from the State of New Mexico, or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to visual/video display terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Extended periods of driving and the ability to lift…