Health Advocate

Every TAP employee shares in TAP’s responsibility to “Mobilize Community Resources” in support of TAP’s anti-poverty efforts.

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE:

The Health Advocate is responsible for ensuring that children and families receive comprehensive access to medical, dental, and nutritional care, as well as other health-related services. This role is essential in maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations, while promoting the overall well-being of children enrolled in programs such as Early Head Start and Head Start. The Health Advocate conducts screenings, coordinates follow-up care, and collaborates with other service area coordinators to deliver integrated services to families. By facilitating health fairs and ensuring up-to-date child health status, the Health Advocate plays a key role in supporting the health and development of children and empowering families to access and utilize community health resources.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervised by: Whole Family Advocate Supervisor

Supervises: N/A

Coordinates with: All Coordinators of other HS/EHS areas

Whole Family Advocates and Home Based Staff

Administrative staff

Responsibilities:

• Sensory Screenings: Conduct hearing and vision screenings for all children within 45 days of enrollment using evidence-based methods. Plan mass screenings with the Supervisor of Health Services and supervise staff and volunteers during screenings for Early Head Start and Head Start centers, community and public school partner programs, and Home Base families. Perform screenings for newly enrolled children throughout the program year.

• Follow-up Care Coordination: Coordinate follow-up care for medical, dental, and nutritional needs of enrolled children and families. Complete and distribute documentation to Whole Family Advocates and parents regarding screening results, schedule re-screenings as needed, and communicate with Whole Family Advocates and parents to facilitate referrals.

• Health Data Monitoring: Monitor Child Plus health data and reports for expiring, missing, or incomplete children's well-child visits, immunizations, and dental visits. Provide reports and reminders to Whole Family Advocates so they can assist families in staying on schedule with health and dental visits.

• Input Health Data into Child Plus: The Health Advocate is responsible for inputting health data into the Child Plus data management system to ensure that all records are accurate and up-to-date. Key areas of health data input include:
• Input results from sensory screenings (hearing and vision) and other health assessments within the required timeframes.
• Enter information regarding well-child visits and medical assessments to track the health status of each child.
• Update immunization records to reflect each child's current status, ensuring compliance with recommended schedules.
• Input data on dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and restorative treatments for each child.
• Enter information about follow-up care plans, including re-screenings, referrals, and treatments received.
• Document emergency care plans and special health needs of individual children.
• Input data on children's nutritional health needs, including special dietary requirements, food allergies, and other concerns.
• Track compliance with health standards and requirements, such as well-child visits, immunizations, and dental visits.

• Ensuring Up-to-Date Child Health Status: Within 90 calendar days of a child's first attendance in the program or home visit, obtain determinations from health care and oral health care professionals as to whether or not the child is up-to-date on age-appropriate preventive and primary medical and oral health care.

• Use the well-child visits and dental periodicity schedules as prescribed by the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program of the Medicaid agency of the state, immunization recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and additional recommendations from the local Health Services Advisory Committee.

• Assist parents with making arrangements to bring the child up-to-date as quickly as possible, and if necessary, directly facilitate provision of health services with parent consent.

• Vision and Hearing Screenings: Within 45 calendar days of a child's first attendance in the program or home visit, obtain or perform evidence-based vision and hearing screenings.

• Height, Weight & Blood Pressure Screenings: When applicable.

• Nutritional Health Needs: Identify each child’s nutritional health needs by considering available health information, including the child’s health records and family and staff concerns such as special dietary requirements, food allergies, and community nutrition issues as identified through the community assessment or the Health Services Advisory Committee.

• Health Fairs Coordination: Plan and conduct health fairs to keep children up-to-date with physicals and immunizations. Coordinate with local healthcare providers and community partners to offer these services during health fairs. Ensure that children receive necessary health checks, immunizations, and preventive care during these events.

• Inter-Agency Collaboration: Work with other service area coordinators to facilitate an integrated system of service delivery for children and families. Attend meetings to discuss the needs of individual children and families and track requests for information from service providers.

• Emergency and Health Plans Monitoring: Monitor emergency and health plans at each center for safety and compliance. Inspect classrooms and kitchens for posted information on allergies, emergency numbers, and photo releases. Restock first aid kits and deliver supplies to centers as needed.

• Staff Teamwork and Collaboration: Support a team approach when working with staff by attending meetings, planning with appropriate team members, and handling health-related concerns of children and families.

• Professional Standards: Adhere to professional standards in documentation, recordkeeping, and reporting. Maintain confidentiality and adhere to policies, codes of ethics, and state licensing and regulations.
• Continuous Learning: Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops as requested to stay updated on the latest practices and techniques.

• Additional Duties: Perform other tasks as assigned and required.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of community health practice required
• Knowledge of family and health related community resources required
• Experience in working with children and families required
• Must demonstrate leadership ability
• Must demonstrate proficiency in written and oral communication, including public speaking
• Must demonstrate time management and organizational ability
• Must be willing to work as part of a team
• Must have a history of regular work attendance and satisfactory job performance
• Must be able to self-direct and demonstrate good judgment and decision making skills.
• Must be fully vaccinated.
• Must have driver license and provide a copy of record to HR

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

§ B.S. degree in Community Health, Public Health, nursing or relate field preferred or equivalent experience.

§ One year working with children and families in a health related setting required

§ At TAP, we focus on the Whole Family Approach. Whole Family is a family led strategy to achieve set goals. As an employee you may be required to attend Whole Family training and subject to data entry into the agency’s software as part of the Whole Family approach and serving clients

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a valid Virginia Operator’s license with a good driving record and reliable transportation.
• TAP participates in the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program. Employees who operate a TAP vehicle or their personal vehicle to conduct TAP business may be subject to driver record monitoring through the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program.
• Must pass drug screening. Some positions require positive complete background screening including: criminal, sex offender and child protective services.
• This position requires the individual to be in the field and must have contact with the office staff and supervisor therefore an agency issued cell phone is necessary.
• Must be capable of maintaining certification in First Aid and CPR for adults, infants, and children
• Must be willing to adjust work schedule as necessary.
• – climbing; ascending and descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like; balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, use of fingers for – picking, pinching and typing; grasping, feeling, hearing, talking, repetitive motion of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• – heavy work; exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• – must have visual acuity to operate motor vehicle and/or heavy equipment.
• – worker is subject to noise, hazards and atmospheric conditions; one of more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of this skin: fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases or poor ventilation.

This description provides information regarding the essential functions of the designated job, and general nature and level of work associated with the job. It should not be interpreted to describe all the duties that may be required of such employees or be used to limit the nature and extent of assignments such an individual may be given.

We only hire individuals legally eligible for employment in the United States.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace

Bilingual ability is a plus

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $17.05 - $24.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $24