Position Summary
The Nutritionist in WIC is a qualified individual who will provide nutrition education and counseling to high-risk participants and oversee the nutrition education aspect of the program. The position may also be required to coordinate breastfeeding promotion and support activities, and to monitor breastfeeding rates.
Reportability
This position will report directly to the WIC Nutrition Education Coordinator.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
WIC Certifications
- Assess nutritional and/or health risks, including an assessment of eating patterns, breastfeeding goals, economic and cultural background, food preferences, medical history, laboratory values, and other pertinent data.
- Determine and prioritize the nutritional risks of participant based on established priority factors.
- Prescribe a food package to address the individual participant's medical and nutritional needs, taking into consideration food preferences and cultural background, as well as the availability of refrigeration and cooking facilities.
- Provide education and counseling in individual and group settings to women or caretakers concerning breastfeeding goals, nutritional needs of women and children, and preventive health, including substance abuse education and referrals.
- Develop high-risk nutritional care plans for designated individuals and provide individual and follow-up instructions as required to assure that the health and nutritional needs of the participants are adequately addressed.
Referrals and Outreach
- Coordinate nutritional care with other members of the health care team to assure comprehensive medical and social services for participants, including referrals for related services, such as substance abuse intervention, Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid/DC Healthy Families benefits, and child protection as required.
- Conduct outreach activities in the community to promote good nutrition and the benefits of the WIC program.
Training and Professional Development
- Plan, schedule, and conduct training programs for Local Agency WIC and intra-agency clinic staff to address the nutritional and health care needs of the participants.
- Supervise day-to-day clinical operations to assure that the WIC Program is carried out in compliance with State and Federal requirements.
- Assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of nutrition education programs to meet the needs of the WIC community, taking into consideration cultural and ethnic needs, including selection of appropriate materials, formats, and scheduling of sessions.
- Keep abreast of current research findings in maternal and child health and nutrition in order to assure that appropriate intervention strategies are provided to participants.
- Assure that nutrition education and counseling services are documented as appropriate and that anthropometrical and hematological data are appropriately recorded.
- Train and mentor interns in dietetics and community nutrition.
Breastfeeding Promotion
- Establish and conduct activities as necessary to promote and support breastfeeding among the target population and evaluate the effectiveness of these services.
- Perform other tasks determined necessary by the Director of the WIC Program.
Qualifications
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities -
- Requires B.S. in Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition Services, Dietetics or nutrition-related field.
- Master's Degree preferred.
- Requires a Minimum of one (1) year of experience and/or completed internship, preferably in the area of maternal and child health.
- Must be licensed in the District of Columbia or in another state with proof of application for licensure in the District of Columbia.
- Registered Dietitian (RD) or RD-Eligible with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics preferable. Bilingualism in English, Amharic, and Spanish highly desirable.
Language Requirement- Ability to communicate effectively in English is required. Additional language proficiency or fluency in Spanish and/or Amharic highly desired.
Physical Demands- Regularly required to sit; frequently required to reach with hands and arms, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk or hear; must be able to lift objects up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
Work Environment- Mostly in a typical office and/or home setting with quiet to moderate noise level. May be exposed to extreme cold, heat, and humidity due to outside weather conditions. May be exposed to potentially hazardous blood-borne pathogens which require the practice of Universal Precaution procedures.
The Benefits:
- Health Insurance: medical, dental & vision - plus retirement options through 403(b) contribution and investment opportunities
- 25 days of paid leave annually (in addition to paid holidays), plus 5 educational days
- Tuition reimbursement of $2000/year towards education assistance and professional development
- Transportation subsidy via metro & bus
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)