Healthy Steps Specialist

Healthy Steps Specialist

Crossing Healthcare - Decatur, IL 62521

Salary Range $20.00 - $27.00 Hourly Position Type Full Time Job Shift Day Shift Category Health Care

Position Summary:

The Healthy Steps Specialists is responsible for promoting positive parenting and healthy development for babies and toddlers with an emphasis on families living in low-income communities. This individual consults with Pediatric providers and is integrated into the primary care team.

Position Status

This is a full-time, exempt position. The Healthy Steps Specialist reports to the Chief Medical Officer.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages the care of patients in collaboration with other health professionals and members of the Healthy Steps (HS) team in order to make decisions about treatment and attain health goals
• Provides consultations with families, with babies and young children regarding developmental and behavioral concerns such as sleep, discipline, picky eating, etc.
• Collaborates with the HS team to implement all core components of the program including universal child development and SDOH screenings as well HS Warm Line management, making positive parenting and early learning guidance information readily available to all families and practice staff and adjusting workflows for optimal efficiency
• Provides consultation to medical professionals and all practice staff re: early childhood development, infant mental health and trauma informed practice
• Identifies community resources, makes appropriate referrals and tracks follow-up to help families make connections to key resources and maintain continuity of care
• Maintains extensive databases required to meet HS fidelity metrics including both internal and external referrals
• Collaborates with HS team to complete annual site reporting to the National Office which may include analysis of both external database files and EMR reports
• Documents all patient clinical activity and care coordination in electronic medical records
• Maintains open communication with medical staff and members of the care team
• Works closely with pediatric providers around care coordination, goal setting, counseling, coaching and education about key aspects of a child's development
• Collaborates with all Crossing departments (WH, BH, Adult Medicine) for internal referral linkage and management
• Participates when appropriate in community-wide early childhood meetings
• Performs other duties as assigned

Competencies

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to relate to persons of various economic levels and cultures
• Ability to multitask and triage/juggle multiple appointments and conflicting priorities
• Maintain open door policy, potential frequent interruptions and warm hand-offs
• Ability to speak and write fluently in English; Spanish desirable
• Ability to take initiative, willingness to learn and show confidence and assertiveness with providers and colleagues
• Ability to work both in teams, independently and interdependently within a clinic setting utilizing various accepted therapeutic modalities, adherence to a strong code of personal and professional ethics
• Ability to collect and enter data for program management, evaluation and reporting purposes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Being able to switch from being on the floor playing with young patients to communicating with medical professionals regarding health interventions in a professional, coherent and efficient manner
• Strong motivational interviewing skills
• Knowledge of and access to community resources
• Proficiency in data entry, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency working in an Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.
• Reflectiveness, insight and curiosity about oneself
• Willingness to pursue continuing education opportunities

Education and Experience

• Master's degree (preferred), or Bachelor's degree (required) in psychology, social work, counseling, early childhood development education or related field.
• Experience and knowledge about early childhood growth and development, parent-child relationships, child health infant mental health and family systems.
• Experience evaluating the growth and development of infants and children under three years of age
• Successful work history providing direct patient care in a social services or healthcare setting is a plus

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in conditions that include exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissues, contagious diseases and/or other potentially hazardous materials
• Moderate physical exertion including frequent walking, standing, bending, reaching, sitting on floor and carrying moderately heavy loads (up to 25 lbs.)