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 > > *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome