Sonya,
I would love to redirect your question to WICBFNET. This is a forum for WIC
PC's and Bfing Coordinators that I started back in 1998.  This is just the
type of discussion we
encourage and would love to have you brainstorm with us.  Please go to
www.yahoogroups.com/group/wicbfnet and click on join  OR just email me at
[log in to unmask] and I'll send you an invite.

Ilene Fabisch, IBCLC/RLC
WIC Bfing Coordinator
Listmom WICBFNET



> Date:    Tue, 8 Nov 2011 08:36:52 -0500
> From:    Sonya Shaver <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: developing a lactation support program in a public health
> department
>
> Hello,
> I work as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in a public health department.
>  The peer counselor relationship is incredibly valuable and a huge help to
> our moms.  Being able to follow someone through their pregnancy and beyond,
> and having someone they can call with questions or to get help has
> literally saved breastfeeding relationships that otherwise would have
> ended.  However, the role of the peer counselor is supposed to be one of
> support, encouragement, and referral when there are problems.  But we have
> no one else to refer them to.  Our clients have very limited access to an
> IBCLC after leaving the hospital.  I would estimate that at least 80% of
> the clients I see need a home visit from an LC.  While the peer counselor
> role is so valuable, and I would never want to take that important job
> away, it is not enough.  I see a need for both services, both valuable but
> very different.  So I am trying to write a grant to employ LCs in our
> health department to be able to do home visits, and also do more community
> outreach and education.  If anyone has any experience doing this, or if you
> have ideas on how this would be set up, I would love to brainstorm with a
> few folks.  I would be happy to have you email me privately, or discuss it
> here.
>
> Some questions that I have:
> --If we were to do a warm line from something like 9 to 9, how do you set
> that up?  Like, if you have a few people, do you just take turns being on
> call to check the messages throughout the day?  How do you pay the person
> for in essence being on call that day?
>
> --If you have more than one person, how do you handle caseloads, following
> up, knowing who needs to be seen or called when, etc?  Right now, the way
> we operate is that everyone has their own caseload, and you know when your
> moms are due, and you follow them all the time.  And if one of your own
> clients calls you and needs help on a day that you are out of town or not
> available, you have to refer them to one of the other peer counselors, who
> may or may not be able to help that day, but I essentially feel like I am
> on call ALL the time.  And I am really burned out from it.  There must be a
> better way!
>
> --Do you think we need some kind of administrative person to basically
> handle answering calls, figuring out who needs a visit and when,
> scheduling, faxing, that kind of stuff, or do you think we could just take
> turns answering calls?  Again that is kind of the question of, do we each
> have our own caseload or do we have someone on call each day, and how do
> you set that up, etc.
>
> I would love any discussion, ideas, encouragement, or opinions you might
> have.  Thank you for your time.
>
> Sonya Shaver, BS, CHES, IBCLC
>
>

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