HEALTH TECHNICIAN (HEAD START)

Health Assistant

The Health Assistant will work collaboratively with the Health Coordinator/team and Family Engagement team to ensure the health and well-being of all children and achieve our outcomes for children of all abilities including, but not limited to, completing health screenings, data entry and follow up. The Assistant will ultimately be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions, and behaviors, some of which are related to the specific service area of this position and others that represent general expectations of all Shine Early Learning employees.

Tasks and Essential Job Responsibilities:

1. Assist the Health Coordinator/team with developing and executing a screening plan for the program year.
2. Assist with the completion of all health screenings, hearing and vision, using machines for internal screenings on children.
3. Assist with the completion of various controlled health screenings using machines for internal screenings on children (i.e. growth assessments, blood pressure, hemoglobin).
4. Support the Family Engagement and Health team members to assure that a determination of a medical and dental home and insurance is made within 30 days of a child entering the program and a determination of the child's status is made within 90 days of a child entering a program.
5. Develop and implement strategies with the Family Engagement and Health team to ensure that all children are up to date on requirements, including receiving timely evaluation and treatment for identified concerns.
6. Assist the Health Coordinator/ team in distributing a variety of health screening/requirements and failed event letters to parents.
7. Ensure child ratio rules and regulations are observed during center-based screening days.
8. Monitor center health and screening supplies, first aid kits, concern lists, and medication.
9. Strategizes with Family Engagement and Health Coordinators regarding center-wide strategies/incentives to maintain up-to-date health documentation.
10. Contribute to establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment.
11. Support the health and well-being of all children and families.
12. Participate in assigned meetings, events, and training as required.
13. Support the family Engagement and Health team in obtaining medical release forms from families.
14. Use medical release forms to contact providers to obtain necessary screenings
15. Work side by side with health, early learning, and disabilities and other members of the family engagement team to support families to be fully engaged in all aspects of our program.
16. Encourage the involvement of the families of the children in a Head Start program in their child's health.
17. Inform appropriate leadership regarding children with allergies, chronic health conditions, or special needs to assure that medical documentation is received and case conferences occur prior to entry.
18. Support regular coordination and communication with Health, Nutrition and Disabilities team members in order to provide more intensive support to families of children with chronic health conditions and special needs, including targeted goal setting, and assistance with building family advocacy skills to navigate community systems of care for their children.
19. Support establishing and maintaining working relationships with health community partners to strengthen access to resources and training identified as priority goal areas by families.
20. Support team in securing health requirements documentation during the application and enrollment process, including follow-up with families after entry regarding outstanding health documentation.
21. Review health documents that are required for entry to ensure that they meet the licensing requirements.
22. Work with the team to assist families on the waitlist to secure required health documents, etc for entry into the program.
23. Proactively support Family Advocates and families to obtain outstanding health items that would exclude a child from the program per licensing.
24. Support the Health Coordinator/team with monitoring chronic absenteeism for children with acute and chronic health conditions.
25. Effectively manage workload and ensure accurate record-keeping and documentation
26. Maintain accurate record-keeping, documentation, also, electronic and hard copy records and case notes to support positive child and family outcomes.
27. Complete data entry for health-related items.
28. Record, monitor, and follow up on health items for reporting requirements.
29. Submit reports as needed and requested, such as monthly summary tracking reports, etc.
30. Support the Family Advocates in assuring that all health-related PIR data is up to date in the data system.
31. Assist Health Coordinator/ team with Health & Safety Audits as needed.
32. Performs any and all other duties as assigned.

Experience, Education, Skills & Knowledge Required:

• High School Diploma
• Previous work experience in the health field notably with children and families.
• Physical exams and background checks are required for this position.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
• Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Bilingual Required- translation and interpretation (per program- language(s) specific).
• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
• Strong leadership skills with excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines
• Self-motivated and able to work independently

Disclaimer: The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.