Health Specialist

JOB TITLE:       Health Specialist                                            STATUS: Full Time

FLSA STATUS:  Non-Exempt                                                               

DIVISION: Program and Services 

DEPARTMENT: Support Services

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Health Service Manager

Core Values

Our employees commit themselves as individuals to live out the core values of integrity, excellence, creativity, advocacy, respect and empowerment in our daily work, as we serve the needs of others.

Integrity - Acting with transparency, humility and honesty.

Excellence - Providing quality care with compassion.

Creativity - Being continuously resourceful and inventive.

Advocacy - Supporting the cause of those who lack resources for a reasonable quality of life.

Respect - Recognizing our own value and upholding the dignity and value of all people.

 Empowerment - Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development.

Summary

The Health Specialist will work with the zero to 12 years programs. The Health Specialist will monitor and coordinate health, nutrition and safety services to ensure that the health needs of children in our programs are met. By working with the support service staff he/she will schedule meetings and screenings, and establish partnerships with providers of medical, dental, hearing and vision services in the community.

Responsibilities

• Work and collaborate with nurse and nutrition consultants as well with the Family Support Specialist Supervisors to ensure services are comprehensive in health.
• Track and monitor the children’s medical information including physical exams, dental or oral health, food restrictions, health conditions (chronical conditions).
• Assist with entering health data for children served, including physicals, well baby checks documentation, dental exams/oral screenings, health screening, and vision in the data management systems (Child Plus-ProCare) health information.
• Support and conduct vision screenings for 13 months to 3 years old as needed to ensure the 45 calendar days screenings are completed.
• Assist to schedule the Hearing and Vision screenings for the zero to five children with the IDPH technician. 
• Work in collaboration with the health team to ensure consents for the screening done on site are collected and entered in the data management system and children’s files.
• Ensure that all program clients receive appropriate hearing and vision screenings and well-baby check-ups.
• Monitor health screening results and maintain information in the data management systems.
• Follow up with parents/guardians regarding missing documentation, update health documents, and follow-up referrals by sending Health Follow-Up Forms.
• Follow-up on health care referrals by children’s health care providers and assist families in accessing needed services.
• Assist the parents/guardians who are bringing medicine for their children at the program to ensure they are familiarized with the administration medicine protocol and forms.
• Complete the list of children with food allergies and medicine and share the information with the educational staff.
• Support Head Start/Early Head Start staff during the referral process and ensure follow-up are completed.
• Work in collaboration with the Health-Team to recruit parents and community partners for the Health Service Advisory Committee (HSAC). 
• Regularly review client files to ensure accurate documentation of health services.
• Coordinate training for staff on the health needs of children under the age of five.
• Complete timely documentation and reporting of services provided and coordinated monthly with supervisor.
• Participate in the meetings: center parents’ meetings, HSAC, staffings and Start Early.

Qualifications:

• Associate’s Degree in Health Services, Public Health, Child Development, Social Services or related field required; Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.
• Experience managing data and producing reports required; experience with health data preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Knowledge of children's health needs a plus.
• Attention to detail, ability to be effective in an autonomous work setting, and ability to manage multiple projects required.
• Valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and reliable transportation required.

Screenings: 

• The applicant must submit to a criminal background check and a child abuse and neglect screening and maintain a cleared status throughout employment.
• The applicant must submit to and pass a TB and health screen, including MMR and Tdap immunizations upon hire and update TB/physicals as required by the licensing standards. Additional Requirements:
• Regular travel locally and occasional travel to other locations in the state.