Associate Health Education Specialist - Breastfeeding (Hybrid)

Position Description

The Anoka County Public Health & Environmental Services mission is to improve health through education, prevention, service, regulation, and advocacy in Anoka County. The department has an immediate opening for two Associate Health Education Specialists on the WIC team to provide peer counseling support to breastfeeding mothers in the program. This position provides basic breastfeeding information to WIC families and supports and encourages WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers along their breastfeeding journey.

Emergency Preparedness is a core Public Health responsibility. As a Human Services employee, your roles and responsibilities include: participating in Public Health Emergency Preparedness training and exercises, responding to notifications and activation drills during business hours and periodically outside of business hours, and responding to Public Health emergencies and department responsibilities at the time of need (during business hours, outside of business hours, on weekends and holidays) in order to protect the health and well-being of our residents.

These are full-time, non-exempt, hybridpositions. Interviews will take place the week of February 3rd, 2025 for those selected to move forward in the hiring process.

Pay & Benefits

• Salary: $48,006 to $56,409 ($23.08 to $27.12 per hour).
• 2025 Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 28: $48,006 to $64,812 ($23.08 to $31.16 per hour).
• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays.
• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, flex benefits and more at www.anokacountymn.gov/benefits.
• Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.
• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.
• Advancement/professional development opportunities.

Work Location

• This position will work at Blaine Human Service Center, located at 1201 89th Ave NE, Blaine, MN 55434.
• This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work, with most days working remotely and some days working in the office.
• Expected to work 40 hours per week, including at least one evening up to 8:00 p.m.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Associate Health Education Specialist.

• Counsel WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers by telephone, occasional home visits, hospital visits or WIC clinic at scheduled intervals.
• Receive a caseload of WIC clients and gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers, including education regarding the benefits of breastfeeding and overcoming barriers.
• Assist mothers to prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns.
• Make and receive phone calls at home or off-site during non-traditional work hours.
• Refer participants to community resources.
• Accurately complete client documentation.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, substituted on a year-for-year basis.
• Valid driver's license and vehicle available for business use.
• Experience with breastfeeding through the first 6 months of life or longer.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Degree in human services, public health, or a closely related field.
• Experience in WIC programs, counseling women on breastfeeding, and/or breastfeeding an infant/child.
• Experience with breastfeeding through the first 12 months of longer.
• Have been or currently are a participant of a WIC program.
• Bilingual.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Standard office environment.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds.
• Assignments are sedentary, occasionally alternating between sitting, standing, walking, crouching, and kneeling as required to perform job responsibilities. Frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work.
• Occasional lifting of 10-20 lbs.
• Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment.
• Occasional travel to other county work sites as needed. Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

About Anoka County

As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, we depend on the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. We offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences who can come together for the single purpose of serving Anoka County's 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County!Hear from other Anoka County employees here.

Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.

If you require accommodations or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Human Resources Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number. If you have questions about the hiring process, please visit: http://www.anokacountymn.gov/er-faq

Anoka County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy: https://www.anokacounty.us/401/Diversity-EEO