Job Description

POSITION TITLE: Health Specialist – Head Start

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s Degree in community or public health, health promotion or related field. Experience with child and family health care. Must acquire certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and as CPR/First Aid Instructor within one year of hire. Experience in EPSDT. Ability to use clinic/medical equipment, basic pharmacology knowledge, ability to lift students as required, knowledge and use of universal precautions, good oral and written communication skills.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS: Assesses the health needs of Early Head Start/Head Start students by observation, screening programs and referral procedures and provides intervention as needed. Document findings and follow-up in PROMIS. Interprets health status and/or medical findings to parents and school personnel as necessary. Ensures that all EHS infants and toddlers and HS preschoolers have a source of accessible and ongoing healthcare by linking families to health care professionals, and assisting parents in the selection of health providers. Assists with the planning and coordination of the Health Fair for parents and students. Develops, maintains and utilizes a system for tracking all activities in the areas of Health Services. Enters all health data on each assigned child into PROMIS (Child Tracking Software). Reviews, evaluates and analyzes health-tracking system and ensures follow up services are completed and documented in PROMIS in a timely manner. Promotes and ensures parental involvement in all aspects of the EHS/HS health program. Develops and updates the annual Health Services Plan in conjunction with area specialists, Policy Council, Health Advisory Committee, parents and staff. Serves as a program liaison with the community’s public and private health providers and resources, establishing working partnerships, networks, and linkage to promote effective health service delivery to children and families. Reviews the Health Booklet, physical exam, and dental exam for each assigned student, enter information into PROMIS and develops an Individual Care Plan (ICP) based on the results of the review (include areas such as developmental and behavioral concerns). Prepares and submits monthly progress reports to the EHS/Head Start Specialist and identifies progress in achieving program goals. Ensures that all medical requirements (medical exam and dental exam) are conducted within the 90-day mandate. Reviews all health information for new and returning students by July 1st and notifies families of missing health information. Submits a list of students with missing health documents to each assigned classroom teacher at the beginning of the year. After several attempts to receive the information from parents, completes health referral for assigned students needing documented health requirement, including follow up and submits to the Family and Community Specialist by the 15th of each month. Completes the Health Services weekly classroom visitation log and submit to the building administrator and the EHS/Head Start Specialist at the end of each week. Trains staff and volunteers on appropriate health and safety practices and procedures. Makes home visits as necessary. Provides CPR and First Aid training to EHS/Head Start staff and Transportation staff and parents. Perform all other duties as assigned.

GENERAL DEFINITION AND CONDITIONS OF WORK: Coordinates all phases of Health Services including medical and dental for the Early Head Start/Head Start Program. Work may require the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally. Work requires vocal communication for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data.

REPORTS TO: EHS/Head Start Specialist

PAY SCHEDULE: Unified Pay Schedule, Pay Grade 116

LENGTH OF CONTRACT: 260 Days (12 months)

FLSA: Exempt