Health Specialist

SUMMARY The Health Specialist supports the Foothill Family Early Head Start staff and Child Care Partners to deliver and implement quality health and nutrition services to children and families as stated in the Head Start Performance Standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supports and promotes the mission of the Agency: Foothill Family empowers children and families on their journey to achieve personal success. Effectively represents the Agency in interactions with parents and other clientele. Compiles reports, surveys, and other program documentation, as well as analyses data as directed on a regular basis to assist in monitoring of the health/nutrition/safety service area.

Provides support to Early Head Start direct staff by providing health education, resources, staff training, and one-on-one meetings. Facilitates health referrals and follow-ups to ensure services for health promotion, prevention, early identification of health concerns, and treatment of children and pregnant clients are met.

Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements related to health services for both pregnant clients and children, including but not limited to well-baby checks, prenatal care, dental exams, immunizations, medical/dental home, and health/dental insurance. Ensures that health and nutrition records are reviewed, evaluated and interpreted to collect statistics and other data affecting health and nutrition services.

Assists with health screenings such as vision and hearing screening for children at their home and/or childcare facilities to assist the program to stay compliant with the Office of Head Start (OHS) regulations. Researches and prepares materials for Health and Nutrition workshops/trainings, as well as for staff and families as resources.

Provides health and nutrition related T/TA support for staff as needed. Prepares Health Letters and other correspondence as requested. Provides written and verbal translations for the Program Nurse/Program Nutritionist/Health Manager as needed. Researches and informs the Health Manager of current health events and activities in the community.

Participates on outreach efforts and uses approved presentations, brochures, and other advertisement materials when conducting outreach. Actively seeks out and engages in regular recruitment and outreach throughout the year to promote the program and engage the community, aligning to the program’s recruitment plan and the community’s health related needs.

Attends in-service Health Service Advisory Committee meetings to gain recommendations and information from the community experts to inform the program decisions. Attends ongoing trainings as well as community-based health education and preventative health promotion. Provides care or services to minors or comes into contact with minors as part of their job duties.

Provides services relating to the administration of public funds or benefits, including eligibility for public funds or public benefits. Travels between Foothill Family sites for training, meetings, and other in-person interactions. Attends in-person meetings and events at various locations within the Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.

Displays sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomics characteristics. Performs work in a safe manner at all times and ensures that other individuals do not put themselves or others at risk. Follows all policies, procedures and legal mandates related to HIPAA and maintenance of client files. Ensures performance and behaviors support the Agency’s performance quality improvement (PQI) goals and objectives.

Reports to work on time and maintains reliable and regular attendance. Performs other duties as assigned. POSITION REQUIREMENTS Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Health Sciences, Health Education, or Human Development with coursework in public health and/or health education. Knowledge and experience in public health, prenatal health, early childhood development, nutrition, and social services preferred.

Knowledge of Early Head Start Performance standards and experience in an Early Head Start Program preferred. Good computer skills; word processing, spreadsheets and data entry. Excellent organizational skills to manage high activity level. Detail oriented; high level of accuracy. Skill and experience in data aggregation and analysis.

Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent people skills; ability to work cross culturally. Leadership skills and motivated to mentor and train others to be successful in their jobs. Flexible and enthusiastic; demonstrates initiative and creativity. Effective screening and assessment skills and intervention strategies.

Must not appear on any federal, state, or other applicable sanctions, exclusion, or debarment lists that would prohibit or restrict employment with an agency receiving federal or state health care funding. Requires regular and reliable driving throughout Los Angeles County. Valid CA Driver’s License and maintains insurability on the Agency’s auto liability policy (including a minimum of 2 years driving experience) and maintains the California state required auto insurance liability limits.

Bilingual-Spanish required. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside-weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Travel to other program locations or offsite meeting sites is required.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Foothill Family is an Equal Opportunity Employer including individuals with disabilities and veterans.