Health & Nutrition Specialist Jobs

General Summary
Apply professional expertise in coordination with the Health and Nutrition Services Manager in monitoring, consultation, training, and daily oversight of Health/Nutrition Services. Assist the Health and Nutrition Services Manager in creating and maintaining collaborations with community agencies and Health Providers. Collaborate with all members of the Health and Nutrition team to assure that performance standards and Health and Nutrition policies and procedures are implemented consistently across the entire program.
Primary Responsibilities6. In coordination with the Health and Nutrition Services Manager, maintain relationships and collaboration with the medical and dental communities and other community health agencies and partners.18. Perform other duties as requested.

• Participate in the coordination of the program's annual self-assessment as directed by the Health and Nutrition Services Manager.
• Planning/Community Networking
• Ensure that Health and Nutrition Services materials are tracked and accounted for.
• Participate in community health related projects, work groups, and initiatives as assigned by Health and Nutrition Services Manager.
• In coordination with the Health and Nutrition Services Manager, deliver training to staff, parents and volunteers in the following areas: (additional topics may be designated by Health and Nutrition Services Manager).
• Provide guidance to staff and be active in the safety committee regarding the assessment and follow-up of safety concerns and hazards.
• Provide information, referral, and coordinating efforts to link staff and families to appropriate community resources.
• USDA/CACFP training
• Accompany Home Visitor/Support Specialist to home visits for high risk pregnant women and medically fragile children in Head Start and Early Head Start.
• Accompany Home Visitor/Support Specialist on “new baby” home visits in EHS within first 2 weeks of baby's birth.
• Coordinate all initial vision, hearing and nutrition screenings in the program. Refer failed screenings to Health and Nutrition Services Manager for recommendations and referrals for appropriate medical follow up.
• Child Safety
• Collaborate directly with Health and Nutrition Services Manager, Food Services Manager and Contracted Registered Dietician to assure that appropriate Special Diet menus are updated each month.
• Disaster Response
• Implement and follow all CACFP guidance and regulations. Utilize required forms for monitoring and documentation.
• Provide clarification and technical support to all staff in implementing all Health and Nutrition policies and procedures
• In coordination with the Health and Nutrition Services Manager, review and analyze data from ChildPlus, including quarterly monitoring of individual family and classrooms to ensure nutrition and health needs are being met.
• Occupational Health and Safety
• In coordination with the Health and Nutrition Services Manager, use a multidisciplinary team approach to provide health and nutrition services to children, families and staff.
• Conduct visits at all CACOST Head Start locations as directed by Health/ and Nutrition Services Manager.
• Hearing and Vision screening
• Attend meetings, staffings, training and professional development activities as directed.
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards
• Attend interagency, organizational and committee meetings as appropriate.
• Ensures that pertinent knowledge about families is appropriately shared with staff and professionals in a way that assures confidentiality and increases service coordination.
• Collaborate with outside agencies to advocate for the needs of Head Start families.

Preferred
Work Experience

• Prior two year Head Start experience

Education/Certifications/Licensure
Required

• Must pass pre-employment physical. Obtain Health Certificate annually.
• Within 30 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified
• Certified Medical Assistant
• Must attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year to include training on methods to handle suspected or known child abuse and neglect cases, that comply with applicable federal, state, local and tribal laws, training that builds their knowledge, experience and competencies to improve child and family outcomes and any other trainings as outlined by the Head Start Performance Standards and Minimum Standards from the State of Texas.
• Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Must pass DFPS background check.

Preferred

• Licensed Vocational Nurse

Skills
Required

• Ability to train and provide presentations to large and small groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with others.
• Computer skills, (i.e. creating documents/forms, database/spreadsheet knowledge etc.), internet and e-mail.
• Ability to utilize various agency resources including technology to appropriately answer questions and provide guidance to staff and parents.
• Ability to collaborate with and have working knowledge of local community resources related to health and nutrition services.
• Ability to understand, interpret and implement policies and procedures.

Preferred

• Bilingual ability (Spanish/English).

Physical Requirements
Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 10 lbs., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in a classroom/office setting where minimal exposure to injury exists. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours and average at least 40 hrs. Per week. There will be work variations in work hours due to employee special projects, and deadlines.