Health Coordinator

Description

Next Door is seeking a highly organized and collaborative Health Coordinator to help ensure that every child enrolled in our early childhood programs receives required health screenings, appropriate follow-up care, and the support needed to be healthy and ready to learn.

The Health Coordinator oversees the systems used to track, coordinate, and document health services for children enrolled in Next Door's Early Head Start and Head Start programs, including center-based, home-based, and child care partnership programming. This position works closely with Family Advocates, education staff, families, health care providers, and other members of Next Door's comprehensive services team.

The ideal candidate understands that completing a screening is only one part of the work. Success also requires obtaining records, identifying missing information, helping families overcome barriers, coordinating referrals and follow-up care, and ensuring that every step is accurately documented.

What You Will Do
Coordinate screenings and follow-up care

• Monitor each child's health record to ensure required medical, dental, developmental, behavioral, vision, hearing, lead, hemoglobin, height, weight, and other required screenings are completed within applicable timelines.
• Develop and maintain a clear system for identifying upcoming, incomplete, overdue, or undocumented health requirements.
• Coordinate screening events, enrollment clinics, health fairs, dental events, and other health-related activities.
• Obtain required health records, screening results, consents, and assessments from families, clinics, public health departments, and other providers.
• Coordinate referrals and follow-up services when screenings identify a concern.
• Help ensure children with chronic conditions or complex medical needs have appropriate Individualized Health Plans and that relevant staff understand how to implement them.
• Support the coordination and documentation of medication administration, allergies, dietary accommodations, and other health-related needs.

Partner with Family Advocates, Parent Educators, Education Managers, Site Directors and families

• Work closely with Family Advocates, Parent Educators, Education Managers and Site Directors to identify children and families who need assistance completing health requirements.
• Provide Family Advocates, Parent Educators, Education Managers and Site Directors with timely, understandable information about missing documents, upcoming deadlines, referrals, and required follow-up.
• Develop practical follow-up plans with Family Advocates, Parent Educators, Education Managers and Site Directors and families when screenings, appointments, treatment, or documentation have not been completed.
• Help families identify health care providers, community resources, insurance supports, transportation options, and other services that may reduce barriers to care.
• Communicate respectfully and consistently with families regarding health requirements, screening results, referrals, and follow-up care.
• Document outreach, family communication, referrals, and follow-up efforts in the appropriate records.
• Provide health education and resources to families through meetings, events, workshops, and individual support.

Maintain accurate documentation and data

• Enter and maintain complete, timely, and accurate health information in ChildPlus and other required systems.
• Document screening results, health histories, allergies, chronic conditions, referrals, care plans, family contacts, follow-up efforts, and completed treatment.
• Conduct regular audits of child health records to identify missing, inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete information.
• Work with Family Advocates, Teachers, Parent Educators, and program leaders to correct documentation gaps.
• Monitor data quality and ensure health information is consistent across electronic records, child files, care plans, and classroom documentation.
• Maintain accurate data for the health-related sections of the Program Information Report and other internal or external reports.
• Produce routine reports, dashboards, and summaries showing screening completion, outstanding requirements, referrals, follow-up care, and compliance trends.
• Use health data to identify recurring barriers, recommend improvements, and support program planning and quality improvement.

Support compliance and program quality

• Help ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, Wisconsin child care licensing requirements, Next Door policies, and applicable health and privacy requirements.
• Maintain a working knowledge of required screening and follow-up timelines.
• Participate in monitoring, quality assurance, file reviews, and preparation for internal and external reviews.
• Develop and maintain consistent procedures for health screening, documentation, referral, and follow-up.
• Alert program leaders to significant compliance concerns, overdue requirements, or patterns that require corrective action.
• Prepare reports and information for leadership, program governance, and the Health Services Advisory Committee.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of information related to children, families, and staff.

Collaborate across programs and with the community

• Coordinate health services with Family Services, Homevisiting, Education, Disabilities, Mental Health, Nutrition, Enrollment, and other program areas.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings involving children with health, developmental, behavioral, nutritional, or disability-related needs.
• Communicate relevant health information to appropriate staff while maintaining confidentiality.
• Build and maintain relationships with physicians, dentists, clinics, public health departments, screening providers, and community organizations.
• Maintain current knowledge of health services and resources available to Milwaukee-area children and families.
• Coordinate with outside providers to obtain information, arrange services, and incorporate recommendations into a child's care plan.
• Provide training, guidance, and technical assistance to staff regarding health requirements, documentation practices, and procedures.
• Maintain necessary screening, first-aid, and health-related supplies and coordinate purchasing or distribution as needed.
• Support agency emergency preparedness and health-related response procedures.

Qualifications What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in public health, nursing, health education, social work, community health, or a related field preferred. A combination of relevant education and substantial experience may be considered.
• At least two years of experience in community health, early childhood health, health services coordination, social services, or a related setting.
• Experience working with young children and families from culturally and economically diverse communities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple children, deadlines, records, and follow-up activities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with families and staff while maintaining clear accountability for required outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate, timely documentation.
• Experience entering, reviewing, and analyzing information in a database or case-management system.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to interpret regulations, identify compliance concerns, and translate requirements into practical steps for staff and families.
• Knowledge of community health providers and family resources preferred.
• Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and early childhood health requirements preferred.
• Experience with ChildPlus or a similar child-data system preferred.
• Health-related credential or licensure, such as LPN, is a plus but is not required.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and required automobile insurance.

Work Environment

This position includes a combination of office-based work, record review, meetings with staff and families, and travel between Next Door locations and community partner sites. The Health Coordinator may assist with screening events and interact with children in classrooms or other program environments.

The position requires the ability to respond appropriately during an emergency or health-related concern and may occasionally require lifting or moving materials weighing up to 50 pounds.