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Volunteer
Opportunities...
Interested in helping?
Nursing Mother's Counsel
of Oregon has a number of ways that mothers with nursing
experience as well as community members can help support
our ever-expanding non-profit work.
If you are interested,
please contact
Rachel Martinez
at
rachel@nursingmotherscounsel.org
Peer Counselors
Women with at least six
months breastfeeding experience are welcome to join NMC
as a peer counselor. In training they receive 16 hours
of lactation education and peer counseling training
NMC peer counselors may
choose to help answer live-line calls from mothers,
teach return to work classes, lead mother-to-mother
group for new moms, provide outreach to community
partners, and more. Counselors receive our monthly
newsletter and attend continuing education events.
Look here to see when our next training session is.
Tax Deductible Contributions
Can’t give your
time? NMC welcomes and appreciates all donations
contributed to help keep our organization running.
If your interested, click here.
Training:
What is covered in training?
NMC
volunteer responsibilities, normal course of
breastfeeding, 1st two weeks, common problems,
breastfeeding equipment, counseling skills, how to
refer out for professional help, getting more
lactation training if desired.
I am
accumulating hours for my IBCLE, will these hours count?
Yes,
but they won't accumulate very rapidly simply
because of our phone schedule. If you want extra
hours, sign up for more live line shifts.
I never had
any breastfeeding problems, how will I counsel others on
problems?
The
training covers common issues and gives practice in
taking these calls. We do role playing in training
and there are always other experienced volunteers
available to help. We set new volunteers up with a
current member to offer a "mentor" to the new
trainee for the first set of calls.
Can I bring my
baby to the training?
Lap
babies that are not yet crawling are welcome. Our
space does not provide safety precautions for older
babies, so crawlers, toddlers and older kids can not
attend the training.
What are the
volunteer duties?
How
many hours will I have to commit? Both of these
questions are pretty flexible. You can be as
involved as you want. We have options for live line
shifts, options for answering messages, and options
to just attend meetings and be involved with
committees without doing phones at all.
I don't have
breastfeeding experience, but I am a doula / midwife / work
with breastfeeding mothers, can I come to the training?
Yes,
we are happy to have you train with us. We ask for
a donation from attendees in this group to
compensate for the fact that they will not be
volunteering with us. We can only offer our phone
lines to true peer counselors with at least six
months of breastfeeding experience, but you can
still participate in committees and attend meetings
to be involved with NMC.
Volunteer
Requirements
-
Attend the NMC training and orientation (same thing)
-
Purchase
The Breastfeeding Answer Book
3rd Edition: w/ CD-Author(s):
Mohrbacher, Nancy;
Stock, Julie; LA Leche League International
Pub. Date: 1/1/2004
Publisher(s): LA Leche League Intl
You can purchase the
book yourself, or will have the
opportunity to
purchase the book at the at the first training class
for $50(check or cash).
If you are unable to afford the cost of this book,
some book scholarships are available. Please let
Rachel know when you sign up for training.
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Read at least one
other reference book (recommended books below)
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Complete all
paperwork, including NMC questionnaire by the end of
training
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