Certified Lactation Counselor

Title: Certified Lactation Counselor

Reports to: Operations Seat

Guiding Star Southwest, a division of Southwest Coalition, Inc., is searching for Certified Lactation Counselors to join its mission in expanding life-affirming medical and birth services for women in El Paso, Texas. As an affiliate of the national Guiding Star Project and inspired by St. Mary, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Guiding Star Southwest is committed to delivering trauma-informed healthcare that respects the whole person by considering a woman’s mind, body, and soul. The organization’s focus spans the full spectrum of women’s health, from puberty through perimenopause, and emphasizes fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and motherhood, while striving to reduce trauma by advocating against societal pressures that may compromise the natural functions of a woman’s body. The ideal candidate is a compassionate Lactation Counselor with a servant’s heart, eager to support women through their lactation journey as well as educate women through wholistic comprehensive care.

The Opportunity

As we expand our core services to include a birth center in alignment with Wholistic Feminism, we are looking for pro-life Certified Lactation Counselors to be responsible for working closely with pregnant women to provide early education on lactation facts while also being available to provide educational classes virtually and in person, as well as one-on-one sessions for women with specific lactation issues during pregnancy and postpartum.

As a Lactation Counselor, you will provide essential support and education to breastfeeding mothers and families, assisting them in achieving their breastfeeding goals. Your primary focus will be on delivering expert lactation counseling, promoting breastfeeding techniques, and addressing common breastfeeding challenges. Your dedication to empowering and nurturing mothers through this critical phase will contribute to positive maternal and infant health outcomes. Must be Christ-centered, ready & willing to share their God-given talents with a servant-heart.

To be a successful wholistic Guiding Star Lactation Counselor, you should be dedicated
and focused on providing top-quality wholistic care and education to your patients, focused on “wholism” or whole-person care which considers a person’s mind, body, and spirit. You should have a strong working knowledge of trauma-informed women’s healthcare, as well as a patient, caring, and detail-oriented personality.

The ideal candidate will enjoy:

• Our unique model: In addition to our programs to build a Culture of Life in the Southwest, we also strive to provide expert healthcare to ensure that women have a life-affirming alternative through pre-natal and post-natal healthcare, education, and material support.
• Our culture: At Southwest Coalition for Life, we offer a more relaxed working environment, catering to the needs of our employees and establishing a family-like feel, leading by example by supporting breastfeeding in the workplace.
• Being an innovator: With the merger and expansion of two non-profit organizations, you will be establishing the medical practice for a new venture and helping support a ground-breaking mission on the new frontline of the pro-life movement in post-Roe America.

The Company

Southwest Coalition, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation focused on restoring reverence for the sanctity of human life and natural womanhood across the Southwest through a coalition of nonprofit social enterprises in line with Catholic and Biblical teaching, including our Guiding Star Southwest women’s medical centers, The Lily Pad Maternity Home, our Her Care Connection outreach and mobile medical bus, and Coalition for Life ministries.

Our Core Values

All team members must embody and execute our Core Values within their day-to-day duties and responsibilities:

• Humble: Lack entitlement and ego, be respectful and flexible, don’t take yourself too seriously, set others up for success even at a potential loss for yourself.
• Hungry: Have an unrelenting hunger to change the world, taking initiative fueled by a boldly optimistic hope and entrepreneurial growth mindset.
• Smart: Strong emotional intelligence, understanding the impact of your words and actions on others, inviting vulnerable communication and healthy conflict.
• Heart: Be compassionate, prayerful, and empathetic with a sincere desire to truly see and know others through a reverence for life and natural womanhood.

What the Role Entails

The following are detailed performance objectives for a Certified Lactation Counselor. When measuring overall aptitude and cultural fit, all candidates will be benchmarked using these standards.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Conduct thorough assessments of mothers and infants to identify breastfeeding challenges, including evaluating latch, milk transfer, nipple pain, and milk supply.
• Provide evidence-based lactation counseling and education to support breastfeeding initiation and continuation.
• Adhere to the Documentation Guidelines for Certified Lactation Counselors provided by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP).
• Assist mothers in developing personalized breastfeeding plans, taking into consideration their individual needs, preferences, and medical conditions.
• Offer guidance on positioning and proper latch techniques to ensure optimal breastfeeding and prevent or address common breastfeeding difficulties.
• Provide practical advice and support for managing engorgement, nipple soreness, mastitis, and other breastfeeding-related concerns.
• Conduct breastfeeding equipment assessments and recommend appropriate tools such as breast pumps, nipple shields, and supplemental nursing systems when absolutely necessary.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, midwives, and lactation teams, to establish coordinated care plans and ensure consistent support for breastfeeding families
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, certifications, and quality assurance processes
• Conduct educational sessions and workshops in-person as needed for healthcare professionals, new parents, and support groups to promote breastfeeding awareness and education.
• Maintain accurate and confidential documentation of consultations, billing, assessments, recommendations, case management details and follow-up plans within databases (i.e. EHR, Athena, etc.)
• Stay up-to-date with current research, best practices, and guidelines in lactation management by attending conferences, workshops, and continuing education courses.
• Uphold professional ethics and standards in all aspects of practice, respecting cultural diversity and individual choices in respect to the woman and her breastfeeding journey.
• Collaborate with community resources and organizations to enhance breastfeeding support and outreach initiatives.
• Provide ongoing support and follow-up care for mothers and families through in-person consultations, phone calls, and virtual platforms as needed.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, research projects, and program development to enhance lactation services.
• Participate in client outreach events at medical clinics, health fairs and other events as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Must be a professed, faithful, and engaged Christian
• Must be passionately pro-life, exhibiting a reverence for life at all ages from conception to a natural death
• Required to speak english and spanish fluently
• Possess a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and reliable personal vehicle
• Must be able to lift/carry more than 50 lbs
• Agrees with and is willing to uphold and adhere to the foundational principles in accordance with our Faith and Values agreement
• Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) by Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP) certification is required.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing, nutrition, or a related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in providing lactation support and counseling, preferably in a healthcare or community setting
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of breastfeeding physiology, infant nutrition, and lactation management.
• Proficient in assessing and addressing common breastfeeding challenges, such as poor latch, low milk supply, and infant weight gain issues.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to establish rapport and effectively educate and counsel mothers and families.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage time efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills to assess complex situations and provide appropriate recommendations and interventions.
• Highest level of personal integrity and must be humbly confident, hard-working, and trustworthy
• Excellent communication skills - written and verbal
• Proficient in commonly-used computer programs and applications, such as Microsoft Suite, EHR Systems, Google Suite, email, project management apps (Asana), time clock, messaging apps, and other relevant technologies
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; Be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to execute duties with little supervision
• Joyful, friendly, caring and patient attitude

Please note that this job description is subject to change and may be updated as needed.