Health and Nutrition Coordinator

The Health and Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for management of the child health, dental, mental health, safety and nutrition service areas for the Head Start and Early Head Start program. The Health and Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that Head Start Programs develop and implement systems and procedures for the delivery of quality health and nutrition services. This position also ensures compliance with Head Start performance standards as well as local, state and federal regulations.

Requirements:

• Knowledge of health and nutrition related services to the community.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement Head Start Performance Standards and state and local licensing requirements.
• Knowledge of Department of Health and Nutrition regulations.
• Ability to adapt professional expertise to the needs of Head Start and Early Head Start staff
• Ability to communicate and work with diverse families and professionals and guide staff in obtaining positive nutrition, health and safety, medical and dental results.
• Ability and willingness to work in a program located in a high-risk, low-income community.
• Proven ability to function as a leader, as well as a team member.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials. Ability to communicate and respond in a manner that consistently demonstrates respect and concern.
• Must have excellent organizational skills and proven ability to work within prescribed timelines.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to travel to Grantees Delegate and Partners sites.
• Intermediate knowledge of computer applications, Windows software, and ability to learn and master other computer technology/software as needed.

Qualifications:

• It is preferred that the Health and Nutrition Coordinator have credentials as a registered nurse (R.N.), a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.) or a Bachelor's degree in public health, nursing, health education, maternal and child health, child nutrition, health administration and/or early childhood.
• Knowledge of young children's food requirements according to Head Start Performance Standards, Health, and Child Care Food Program regulations.
• Criminal background clearance and a physical examination and TB test are required as condition of initial employment and continued employment.
• Current driver's license, car, and liability insurance required.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assists with planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating health and nutrition service plans, systems, and procedures.
• Develops written health, environmental safety, sanitation, food service and emergency policies and procedures ensuring compliance with local and state regulations, along with the appropriate director, consultants, staff, Policy Council, and CCANO Board of Directors.
• Ensures compliance with Head Start performance standards as well as other local, state and federal regulations, to ensure health, safety, and nutrition standards are met.
• Contributes to the development of the Grantee Annual Plan, program proposals and Community Assessment, as requested. Monitors and follows upon health and nutrition status of children, service systems and outcomes, to ensure high quality and individualized services are delivered for children and families.
• Build alliances with community health and nutrition stakeholders in order to create interagency linkages.
• Provides training and technical assistance to staff based on assessment of health, safety, and nutrition service area needs.
• Ensures follow-up on service area-related recommendations.
• Monitors health, nutrition safety, and dental services and records, including data, and documents all findings.
• Disseminates and interprets information to agencies related to changes in nutrition regulations.
• Organizes and facilitates the activities of the agency's Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC); ensures that the Committee membership is composed of all required professions and parent representation, and that it meets at least twice a year.
• Report incidents or concerns of child abuse and/or neglect.
• Participates in IEP/IFSP meetings as needed when child requires special health/dietary modifications.
• Ensures that all enrolled children are up-to-date on a schedule of age appropriate preventive and primary health care within four weeks of child's entry and as services become due. Works collaboratively with parents to arrange any needed medical, dental, or nutritional examinations and immunizations, keeping in mind parents' work schedules.
• Advises Family Advocate staff and Center Directors when developing written follow-up plan and arranges re-screening, further diagnostic testing, examination and treatment for each child found to have medical, dental or nutritional problems. Assists parents, as needed, with identifying resources to obtain prescribed medications, aids, or equipment for medical and dental conditions.
• Identifies health, dental, emergency, and nutrition service resources within the community; ensures all these services are included in the Community Resource Directory; and, helps parents, as needed, in securing a source of accessible health care for their families.
• In close communication with the Director, negotiates and develops written agreements and/or contracts with service providers; makes vigorous efforts to assure that Head Start is the dollar of last resort, seeking to obtain free or reduced priced services whenever possible.
• Secures the services of a qualified Nutrition Consultant to support the program's nutrition services and, with prior approval of the Director, develops a written contract for the nutritionist's services; secures and keeps on file nutritionist's credentials; orients the consultant to duties and to the Head Start/Early Head Start program and the population served; and, coordinates the schedule of the nutritionist's visits ensuring at least eight hours of service per month.
• Monitors the ongoing health status and needs of enrolled children by ensuring the completion of daily health checks, the administering of medications per the agency's policy and doctors' orders, the implementation of the program's Short-term Exclusion and Readmission Policy and other procedures as needed.
• Along with Nutrition Consultant, provides ongoing supervision of the cook and the assistant cook(s). With the assistance of the Nutritionist, monitors the implementation of the menus, recipes, and Food Service Policy; monitors food service staff in food purchasing, preparation, service and storage, kitchen cleanliness, and food handling and dish washing procedures; provides training and technical assistance as needed; and, assists director and cook, as requested, in maintaining records for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
• Maintains detailed, accurate, up-to-date, and confidential records including: child health files, health services tracking system, and documentation of all activities; develops and submits timely reports of component service provision and activities for director, grantee, PC, Board and others as required. Maintains strict child, family, and staff confidentiality at all times.
• Participates in and contributes to all case management, parent education planning, supervisory, management team, and staff meetings. Also, attends interagency meetings, the agency's board meetings, Parent Committee and Policy Committee meetings and other meetings, as appropriate.
• Attends and participates in grantee-sponsored trainings, center pre-service and in-service trainings, and other continuing education, career and professional development opportunities; reads and reviews regulations and other resources to keep abreast of current issues and trends related to the responsibilities of the job.
• Participates in the annual program self-evaluation and grantee monitoring, and complies with the program improvement plans developed. Contributes to the development of the Delegate Agency Annual Plan, program proposals and Community Assessment, as requested
• Perform other duties as assigned and reasonably within scope of duties listed above.