Senior Peer Counselor Training

This is a 1 1/2-day virtual training offered to provide peer counselors with 2 or more years of WIC breastfeeding peer counseling experience more advanced training to gain knowledge and skills. Information from this training will prepare the peer counselor to be able to better serve clients, mentor fellow peer counselors and perform in a Senior Breastfeeding Peer Counselor role at a local WIC agency.

Dates & Locations

The next training will take place in 2025.

Continuing education hours will be available for this training. This information will be added to this website once amount and type are confirmed.

A Certificate of Attendance with educational hours will be provided for healthcare professionals who can self-report.

Senior Peer Counselor Training — Purpose, Objectives, and Disclosures 2023

Peers are eligible to participate in this training if they have at least 2 years of experience as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. Participants are expected to have a solid understanding of all Level 2 topics listed in the MDHHS WIC Scope of Practice document. The Sr. PC is a role model for other peers, and therefore, we expect that individual to be on a path of continuous learning. In the registration process, we will be asking how you have increased your breastfeeding knowledge these past two years.

Participants will be able to:

  • Detail the role of the Senior Peer Counselor in coordinating community events for breastfeeding/chestfeeding families and demonstrate effective methods of connection with community partners.
  • Identity ways to train LA staff and educate clients by: mentoring peers, assisting in the development and execution of breastfeeding education training, and developing/teaching infant feeding classes.
  • Identify ways that communication break down occurs and how to avoid by defining Motivational Interviewing and the tools that are central to MI and how they are related to breastfeeding support.
  • Utilize two of the four elements of Motivational Interviewing and explain how they relate to lactation help.
  • Describe methods used to maintain proper breast pump inventory and how to assist in reconciling inventory within MIWIC.
  • Identify innovative ways to enhance the breastfeeding peer counselor program by: recognizing projects that educate the community, collaborating with community partners and local coalitions, and educating legislators about breastfeeding/chestfeeding policies.
  • Describe ways to achieve breastfeeding equity for all community members.
  • Gayathri Akella
  • Marji Cyrul
  • Kristina Doyle
  • Whitney Jackson
  • Amey Little
  • Amanda Marsh
  • Erica McLeod
  • Dionne Moore-Smith
  • Katie Pearson
  • Barbara Robertson
  • Shonte’ Terhune-Smith
  • Hanna Thelen
  • Colleen Unsal

The Senior Peer Counselor training is a one and a half day, live virtual training that will run from 8:30am- 4pm on the first day and 8:30am-12:30pm on the second day. Currently, there is no fee for this training. The deadline for registration is 4 days before the training begins.

Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email. Before the training, attendees will receive and email with a Zoom registration link. Please register with Zoom prior to the training. Once attendees register with Zoom, they will be sent a unique link to access the training. Do not share this link.

The Cancellation Policy is available for you to read during the registration process under “Terms and Conditions” prior to submitting your registration.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact MPHI at (517)324-8330 or EandTReg@mphi.org.