Maternal and Child Health Promoter

Job title: Maternal and Child Health Promoter

Company: Peace Corps

Job description: Positions Available18DescriptionSince 1963, over 5,000 Volunteers have served in Guatemala making it one of the Peace Corps’ longest standing posts. Volunteers serve in municipalities in one of six departments in the Western Highlands. A country of striking features and a strong indigenous culture, Guatemala’s natural beauty and powerful identity stand prominent in Central America. Indigenous populations make up about half of the population, with a high concentration in the Western Highlands. More than 20 indigenous languages are spoken alongside Spanish, the official tongue. Strategically located, with substantial natural resources and a young multi-ethnic population, Guatemala has enormous potential to generate growth and prosperity for its people. However, poverty and inequality in the country are persistently high. High rates of childhood stunting and lack of opportunities for youth, women and the indigenous populations threaten Guatemala’s ability to reach its full potential. Peace Corps Guatemala responds to these inequalities through strategic governmental collaborations and community empowerment within three program areas: Youth in Development, Maternal and Child Health, and Rural Extension.
Since the Maternal and Child Health program began in 2013 , Volunteers have collaborated with community health counterparts to train over 2,000 health workers in adult learning methodologies and over 5,000 women and family members in health practices. In 2018, the Maternal and Child Health program was reviewed by local stakeholders to include an additional focus in promoting behavior change. Volunteers work directly with women of reproductive age, mothers, and family members, delivering health education to promote behavior change. Additionally, Volunteers collaborate with and build capacity among health workers, community leaders, and other stakeholders who are receptive to learning new methodologiesThe goal of the Maternal and Child Health program is to decrease preventable maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Volunteer and counterpart activities work toward three overarching objectives:1. Increase the capacity of community health service providers to support mothers and family members in adopting key maternal and child health behaviors;
2. Increase the capacity of women and family members to adopt key maternal and child health behaviors; and
3. Increase the capacity of key actors and organizations to strengthen community systems that enable the adoption of maternal and child and/or community health behaviors.Community health workers promote healthy behaviors for mothers, pregnant women, and their family members through non-formal group education and one on one education in clinics and house visits. Volunteers assist by training and guiding community health workers to use adult education methodologies, participating in outreach activities, and providing feedback. Together, health workers and Volunteers track educational outcomes by assessing the adoption of healthy behaviors. Volunteers also train health service providers on the creation of safe spaces for youth to address reproductive health topics.Volunteers also work with the community to identify and address social factors that influence behavior change and support the mobilization of community leaders to facilitate social enablers to healthy behaviors. Volunteers work together with community members to connect key leaders and organizations in the assessment of community needs and to co-facilitate the design of joint work plans. Together, they collaborate to implement campaigns, activities, and projects that support the adoption of healthy behaviors. As service advances, opportunities often arise for additional projects such as organizing parades to promote better nutrition, hosting workshops to empower women and girls, and writing grants for small-scale capacity building activities with community groups.Request Type155 Health ExtensionPostGuatemalaRequired SkillsQualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in the health sector and one or more of the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field

OR

• 5 years’ professional work experience

Start Date08-Mar-2026Desired SkillsCompetitive candidates will have one or more of the following:

• Master of Public Health degree or Master of Arts/Master of Science degree in Public Health.
• Certified Physician Assistant or Public Health Nurse with expressed interest in public/community health.
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition, Health, or Nursing.
• Experience or interest in adult health education and behavior change promotion.
• Experience or interest in working with adults with low literacy levels.
• Experience or interest in tutoring and/or training
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• At least one year of professional work experience.

Living ConditionsWork Site and Housing
Most Volunteers live in medium-sized to larger rural communities (3,000 – 40,000 people). Most communities have electricity and running water, but the supply may be intermittent. Fruits, vegetables, and meats are available within the community or in nearby communities. Housing typically consists of cement block structures with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, bathroom, and living rooms. The phone plan Peace Corps provides includes credit for some local calls and limited internet. Most Volunteers have access to internet in their communities either in a local internet café or by purchasing additional internet data.Host Family Situation
Volunteers are required to live with a host family during the 10-week Pre-Service Training and during the two years of service to increase integration and for continuous orientation to the local safety and security concerns. Many Volunteers cook for themselves during service, but some opt to eat with their host family or in small local restaurants.While Guatemala is generally tolerant, values may be different from those in the U.S. Volunteers will need to be mindful of cultural norms and use their judgement in their communities and host countries. Volunteers may find they experience a high degree of curiosity or unwanted attention from host country nationals. Staff and currently serving Volunteers will address these topics during Pre-Service Training, and identify support mechanisms for incoming trainees.Climate
Volunteers are placed in Guatemalan communities which may be quite mountainous and, due to the altitude, can be cool to cold at night. Dressing in layers is the best way to deal with the daily temperature variations. The sunlight is strong, even during colder temperatures.Dress
Personal appearance is important to people in Guatemala, so professional or business casual dress is expected. Dressing appropriately helps Volunteers to gain respect in their host community, facilitate integration, and increase credibility and effectiveness. It is advised to take cues from Guatemalan colleagues, and dress to meet/exceed their standards of professionalism.Volunteers with visible body piercings must remove them before arriving to Guatemala. Those with tattoos will need strategies to conceal them. In Guatemala, tattoos may be associated with criminal activity. Likewise, having visible body piercings may make it more difficult to integrate into the host community. Keep in mind that Peace Corps/Guatemala staff ask Volunteers to be flexible regarding personal appearance to facilitate integration in training and during service. Remaining flexible is the key to Peace Corps service in any country.Cultural Considerations
Guatemala is a very traditional and religious society. People’s roles in regard to work and the community are much more clearly defined along gender roles than in the U.S. Volunteers must be aware, tolerant, and respectful of their practices, customs, and way of life and they may need to adapt certain behaviors to demonstrate that respect.The cultural and security considerations for alcohol use differ greatly in Guatemala and the United States. Volunteers must understand and evaluate the social and cultural implications of alcohol use in their communities. Peace Corps service has many stressors, and it is important for applicants to bring healthy self-care practices and coping strategies that will help them serve positively within country. Additional conversations and guidance on coping strategies will be shared during the Pre-Service Training period.Language Requirement(PCV) Spanish 1Language Skills Additional InformationVolunteers need to demonstrate an Intermediate Mid level of oral and written proficiency by the end of Pre-Service Training. Most Volunteers will work directly in Spanish, and some will work in communities with Mayan languages with support from a Spanish/Mayan speaking community member. Volunteers serving in areas where Mayan languages are spoken may study the local language once they arrive to their community to assist with integration into the community and basic communication.Primary SectorHealthAccepts CouplesYesCouples CommentsPeace Corps Guatemala is happy to accommodate cross-sector couples. Staff will identify communities with sufficient work opportunities for both Volunteers. Your partner can apply and must qualify for service as a:
Food Security Extension Volunteer.Couples will not live together during the ten weeks of Pre-Service Training. Guatemala’s community-based training model places Trainees in communities based on their technical program and Spanish level. Special considerations are given to couples so that they live in nearby communities, offering them more flexibility to see each other during training (e.g., on weekends). Peace Corps Guatemala has also found that language acquisition and cultural integration increase when each member of the couple lives with a separate host family. After training, couples will live together for the duration of their service.Apply By01-Jul-2025Know By01-Sep-2025Language Requirements InformationCandidates must meet one or more of the language requirements below in order to be considered for this position.A. Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework within the past 8 years
B. Completed minimum 2 semesters of Spanish college-level coursework within the past 6 years
C. Native/fluent speaker of SpanishCandidates who do not meet the language proficiency levels above can take the language placement exams to demonstrate their level of proficiency. Competitive applicants typically attain a score of 50 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program CLEP exam or a score of Novice-High on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL OPI).Total Number of Positions Available18Assignment Length (months)24Accepting Applications?YesProgramPCVTEFL certificate programNoPost to LinkedIn?No

Expected salary:

Location: Ciudad de Guatemala

Job posting date: Sun, 02 Feb 2025 05:46:27 GMT

Apply for the job now!