Health and Mental Health Coordinator (Home Based)

Job Description
Job Title: Health and Mental Health Coordinator (Home Based)
Department: Early Childhood Education
Reports to : Program Manager, Early Childhood Education
FLSA Status: Exempt (Salary)
Employment Type: Full-time
Location : Chicago, IL 60647
SUMMARY
The Health and Mental Health Coordinator oversees and has primary responsibility for managing, planning, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive health/mental health, dental, and nutrition services for children and their families enrolled in Early Head Start (EHS) program. This position will complete all health histories and health related documents at the time of enrollment. Intentional interaction with home visitors, HB supervisors, parents, pregnant women, and consultants. Participation in the HSAC is also required, this will be a collaborative effort with the agency Health Manager. Additionally, this position will collaborate and work closely with the EHS staff to plan integrated services for all enrolled children, families, and pregnant women. This position enters all health data for the home-based option.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
• Complete all health histories and nutrition assessments at enrollment, vision and hearing screenings within the 45-day period, and other health related services as needed.
• Collaborates with HB Supervisor to ensure access to consultants are aligned to the needs of the home visitors.
• Ensure all enrolled children are up to date on the schedule of age-appropriate preventive and primary health care needs (i.e., well-baby checks and immunizations). Work collaboratively with home visiting staff to inform any needed medical, dental, and immunizations, or nutritional needs are met and/or followed up upon.
• Ensures parent consents and release of information for all health, mental health, dental and nutritional services provided to children by the program or its contracted service providers are received and on file.
• Lead all parental efforts which would include planning of group socializations, and coordination of related services (nurse, MH, nutritionist), and written communication. In addition, hold the responsibility of health services and inform parents in writing of the results of all services.
• Identify health, dental, and nutrition resources within the community, and assist families as needed, with securing a source of accessible health care for their children/family. In collaboration with the HB Supervisor or Director, develop written MOU agreements that form partnerships for related services.
• This position ensures all health services coordination for the nurse consultant, with the assurance that the 2 week postpartum visit is conducted and the Edinburg is completed.
• In collaboration with the HB Supervisor or Director, identify Nutrition Consultant to support the program's nutrition services and coordinate the schedule of the nutrition visits ensuring at a minimum of ten service hours per year, as additional hours may be necessary as a result of data dictation to meet family needs.
• In collaboration with the HB Supervisor or Director, ensure consultants (nurse, Mental Health, and dietitian) provide services to children, families, and staff as needed or requested.
• Provide training and information related to health, dental, nutrition and mental health topics to home-base staff, families, and pregnant women.
• In collaboration with Health Manager at the program, organize and co-facilitate the activities of the agency's Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC); ensure the committee membership is composed of all required professions and parent representation and that it meets at least twice a year (during the months of Nov & May).
• In conjunction with the HB Supervisor or Director, develop written health, sanitation, and food service policies and procedures ensuring compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards, and other local and state regulations. Ensure these policies and procedures are carried out including scheduling and monitoring.
• As required, maintain detailed, accurate, current and confidential records including: child health files in ChildPlus, health services tracking system and documentation of all health activities (create internal monitoring system).
• Assist with the recruitment efforts as needed, directed, and informed by the EHS Supervisor.
• Attend and participate in grantee-sponsored training, pre-service and agency in service trainings, and other continuing education career and professional development opportunities.
• Participate in the annual self-assessment and other related programming activities as well as Grantee monitoring activities.
OTHER DUTIES
• Participate in the annual self-assessment and other related programming activities as well as Grantee monitoring activities.
• Ensures Early Head Start performance standards are being met in relation to family and community services, including entering data into Child Plus.
• Attends staffing's of all families in the program; attends case management staffing's for those families who receive services.
• Maintains written documentation of activities with parents, community agencies and staff.
• Participates in ongoing training and staff development, including regularly scheduled
staff meetings and quarterly All Staff Meetings.
• Participates in Children's Place quality assurance initiatives as needed and appropriate to improve service quality and ensure compliance with licensing, accreditation and contractual standards.
• Respond to agency and program needs by performing assigned tasks which do not fall within the above description. If such tasks are not of a temporary nature, they should be added to this list of designated job responsibilities.
OTHER EXPECTATIONS
Employees shall respect the diversity of all individuals (e.g., clients, co-workers, stakeholders) and refrain from any form of discrimination and/or harassment based on religious, marital, ethnic, racial, gender, sexual orientation or other differences. Employees share the responsibility of creating and maintaining a welcoming and supportive work environment.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Not Applicable
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION, SKILLS, and/or EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Social Services, Family Services, Family Studies, Human Services, Counseling or related field required.
• Illinois Gateways Family Specialist credential (Level 4 or higher) required within 18 months of hire.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience working with young children and families in a community-based early childhood program required.
• Experience working with persons living with chronic illness and/or families living in poverty preferred.
• Demonstrated experience providing parent education to families.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Computer knowledge, including WordPerfect, Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and use of the Internet.
• Good writing and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team.
• Knowledge of Early Head Start performance standards preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) written and verbal communication skills preferred.
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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment described here is representative of that an employee encounters
while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and is sometimes loud. The work environment may include any or all of the following: working alone; working with others; verbal contact with others and face-to-face contact; working inside; working
outside; working in extreme hot or cold temperatures; moving objects.
Pay Range: $48,560 per year