Nutritionist

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY

This position provides services and expertise to the Early Head Start Program in the area of child and family nutrition and works with the Health Manager to ensure practices, recommendations and nutrition services provided are in compliance with the Federal Performance standards and local regulations. Develops and implements a plan of action for referred cases, works with staff, parents and partners to promote healthy lifestyles, healthy eating habits and overall, good child nutrition. Through direct contact with staff, children, families and partners, this position will ensure nutrition services and support are being delivered in order to meet the nutritional needs of children enrolled in the EHS program, including children with disabilities.

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.
• Ensures the nutrition services provided to enrolled families and children are developmentally and culturally appropriate and support each child’s growth and school readiness.
• Provides nutrition information and recommendations through direct and indirect consultation/educational trainings to the Early Head Start staff, childcare partner agencies, and families and children served.
• Responds to referrals generated by program staff for related needs and/or concerns such as growth, feeding challenges, eating habits, food allergies, or other special dietary need by providing consultation, information, recommendations and education to pregnant women, children and their families and/or partners.
• Develops and implements a plan of action that responds to high-risk referrals to ensure the nutritional needs of children and pregnant mother are appropriately addressed.
• Tracks and monitors the number and timelines for referrals received, action plans developed and follow ups. Produces reports and submits those along with analysis of data, identification of trends, patterns, needs etc. to the Health Manager on a monthly basis or as requested.
• Trains staff, parents and partners on family style meals, division of responsibility, feeding infants on demand, safety precaution for breast/formula handling and storage, benefits of breastfeeding, transition to cup from bottle and other topics as required by the Head Start Program Performance Standards or as requested by the Health Manager.
• Provides input into the planning and evaluation of menus for Early Head Start program and childcare partners.
• Develops/updates nutrition policies, procedures, forms, tracking/monitoring system, referrals and reports.
• Participates in collaborative and advisory meetings, to be able to provide sound recommendations for services. Participates in the program self-assessment and the community assessment to ensure the data, patterns, needs and direction of the program are guided by program and community data.
• Ensures adherence to the nutritional guidelines outlined in the State and Federal regulations: Federal Performance Standards and Child, Adult Food Program regulations, OCHS by conducting monitoring visits to the Foothill sites, socialization events and the childcare partners.
• Takes responsibility for keeping abreast in current nutrition issues, trends, and developments and assuring the program’s practices result on quality, timely and appropriate provision of services to children and families.
• 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Community Nutrition, Health Sciences with a nutrition emphasis, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience providing nutrition education, assessment, counseling, or related services in an early childhood program, healthcare setting, public health agency, social services organization, nonprofit agency, community-based organization, or a related field preferred.
• Experience providing nutrition services to infants, children ages 0-5, pregnant and postpartum individuals, parents, caregivers, and families preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively and provide nutrition education and support to individuals and families from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Must obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to read and write complex material.
• Great interpersonal skills, including the ability to work cooperatively as a team member.
• Demonstrated competency and respect for a child and family’s background.
• 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. 
• 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 OR maintains reliable transportation to attend all appointments and meetings as required in the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), Certified Nutritionist, or other relevant nutrition credential.
• Experience working in Head Start, Early Head Start, WIC, maternal and child health, public health, healthcare, or other family-serving programs.
• Experience conducting nutrition assessments, developing nutrition care plans, and facilitating nutrition education for individuals and groups.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification at the time of hire.
• Bilingual abilities relevant to the populations served.

  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.