Community Services Representative I (Peer Counselor)

Salary : $42,416.40 - $51,772.03 Annually
Location : City of Pasadena, CA
Job Type: Limited Term
Job Number: 25-135
Department: Public Health
Opening Date: 03/20/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

The City of Pasadena Public Health Department is currently seeking a skilled and passionate Community Services Representative I (Peer Counselor) in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Peer Counseling Program. The Peer Counseling Program is offered to pregnant women enrolled in WIC who wish to receive monthly breast feeding information to help prepare for breastfeeding, infant behavior, and lactation support. Peer counselors are paraprofessionals who provide basic breastfeeding education and support to WIC Peer Counseling Program participants by providing individual and group education. This position offers flexible hours with the option of a hybrid telework schedule.

IDEALCANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will have the ability to lead a support group (both in person and virtually) and will have experience using video conferencing platforms and other technology as well as computer related equipment. Candidates must be customer service oriented and be able to communicate clearly in English while demonstrating compassion, problem-solving skills, and a collaborative approach to teamwork. Strong desire to help and mentor WIC moms and families through their breastfeeding journey is a must.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
For over 125 years, the Pasadena Public Health Department has been responsible for helping protect, maintain, and improve the health of the Pasadena community. The City of Pasadena is one of only three cities in the State of California that maintains its own independent local health jurisdiction with responsibility for a wide variety of services that support the three core functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance. This is a limited-term grant funded position with current funding through September 30, 2025 with the possibility of continued funding to local WIC agency through a new three-year contract for FY , commencing on October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2028. Many public health positions are funded through external grants with various time durations. We are excited about serving our community and we hope you are too. Come join our team and grow with us.

This recruitment is open until filled, with a first review of applications scheduled for April 3, 2025. Apply now.
Essential Functions
The major responsibilities of this position are listed below. For more detailed information, please review the .

• Promotes breastfeeding as the preferred infant feeding method.
• Attends monthly WIC staff meetings, department meetings, Peer Counselor(PC) trainings and breastfeeding seminars as appropriate.
• Develops relationships and communicates with participants at WIC clinic visits, by phone, email, video conferencing or by texts.
• Provides basic breast feeding information to prenatal women and their significant others.
• Provides emotional support for new mothers.
• Keeps accurate records of all contacts and documents appropriately in the Peer Counseling Database (PCDB) and in WICWISE (WIC Information System Exchange).
• Provides and assists with prenatal breastfeeding classes and breastfeeding support groups.
• Models positive breastfeeding attitudes toward participants and co-workers.
• Issues electric breast pumps and manual pumps.
• Stays up-to-date on breastfeeding information.
• Abides by confidentiality protocol and practices good judgment.
• Assesses infant breastfeeding during their individual contacts and provides appropriate support or referrals as needed.
• Collaborates with the WIC staff to provide services to participants in a timely manner and fosters teamwork.
• Keeps accurate records of hours worked and mileage to places traveled.
• Demonstrates intermediate software application experience (attaching videos, files, texting, emailing, internet searches, etc.).
• Coordinates multiple tasks efficiently and displays strong attention to detail.
• Is organized and displays strong time management abilities and has strong attention to detail to effectively meet clinic needs.
• Demonstrates ability to work in a team environment and work independently with limited direction from supervisors.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualification Guidelines

COMPETENCIES
The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position.

• Learning Agility - Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to one's work.
• Professional Integrity & Ethics - Displaying honesty, adherence to principals, and personal accountability.
• Self-Management - Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability.
• Oral Communication - Engaging effectively in dialogue.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing.
• Customer Focus - Attending to the needs and expectation of customers.
• Handling Conflict - Managing interpersonally strained situations.
• Relationship Building - Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships.
• Developing Others - Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities.
• Teamwork - Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals.
• Using Technology - Working with electronic hardware and software applications.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.
• At least one year of experience providing community service, and knowledge of the local Pasadena community and resources.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in English and Spanish (or another language).
• Prior experience as a WIC participant.
• Prior personal experience in breastfeeding. (Has breastfed at least one baby. Does not need to be currently breastfeeding.)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook and Word.

Preferred qualifications will be factored into the initial screening.

SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process may consist of a training and experience evaluation, structured interview panel, and/or department- level interviews.

VACANCY INFORMATION
There is currently one part-time, limited term vacancy in the Health Promotion and Policy Development Division of the Public Health Department. Hours may range between 28 to 48 hours per pay period pending grant funding. The resulting eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill this vacancy and similar vacancies in the future.
Candidates selected for this position are subject to a one year probationary work period.

Special Requirements
Must possess a valid California Class C driver's license and comply with the City's Motor Vehicle Safety Policy during the course of employment.
Effective January 1, 2013, new members to CalPERS or an agency with CALPERS' reciprocity or who have more than a six month break in service between employment in a CalPERS (or reciprocal) agency will be subject to the provisions of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and will receive the 2% 62 benefit formula.

Employees who are current members of CalPERS or an agency with CalPERS' reciprocity, or who have less than a six month break in service between employment in a CalPERS (or reciprocal) agency and employment with the City will be enrolled in the 2.5% 55 benefit formula.

All employees are required to pay the full employee contribution to CalPERS.

Click link below to review the City's excellent benefits package
01

To further assist us with reviewing your qualifications, please answer the following questions. Please complete all sections of this form truthfully and completely. Your responses will be validated if you are considered one of the most qualified applicants. Although resumes will be accepted and evaluated, this form must be completed if the application is to be considered valid. Please select yes to reflect that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

02

Select the best option which describes your years of experience providing community service.

• No experience
• 1 - 2 years of experience
• 2 - 3 years of experience
• 3 - 4 years of experience
• 4 or more years of experience

03

Based on your response to the previous question, briefly describe your community service experience, paid and/or unpaid. Your response must be well supported in the work experience section of your application. Enter N/A if no experience.
04

In 200 words or less, describe a time when you assisted a post-partum mom on a challenging breastfeeding problem. In your response, please include the setting or program where it took place, the counseling or education that took place, methods used and the outcome. If no experience, please respond N/A.
05

Are you fluent in any language other than English? If so, please list the language(s). If not, please list N/A.
06

In 200 words or less, describe a situation when you conducted a group class or support group to pregnant, postpartum/breastfeeding women or parents/caretakers with young children. In your response, please include the setting or program the education or counseling took place, and education methods used. If none . click apply for full job details