Health/Nutrition Coordinator

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership

• Administers all health components of the Head Start Program educational components as described in the

Performance Standards;

• Promote a culture that reflects the organization's values, encourages maximum performance, and

recognizes the productivity of the staff;

• Assures that the organization, its mission, programs, and services are consistently presented in a strong

positive manner to the community; and

• Cultivate participation and future leadership within the department and community.

Supervision

• Provides ongoing supervision of the cook and the assistant cook(s). With the assistance of the Nutritionist,

monitors the implementation of menus, recipes and Food Service Policy; monitors food service staff in
food purchasing, preparation, service and storage, kitchen cleanliness, food handling and dish washing
procedures; provides training and technical assistance as needed; and, assists director and cook, as
requested, in maintaining records for the food program.
Health Services Programming

• Ensures that all enrolled children are up-to-date on a schedule of age appropriate preventive and primary

health care within four weeks of child's entry and as services become due. Works collaboratively with
parents to arrange any needed medical, dental, or nutritional examinations and immunizations, keeping in
mind parents work schedules.
In collaboration with parents and other staff, develops a written follow-up plan and arranges re-screening,
further diagnostic testing, examination and treatment for each child found to have medical, dental or
nutritional problems. Assists parents, as needed, with identifying resources to obtain prescribed
medications, aids, or equipment for medical and dental conditions.
Obtains informed signed parental consent and release of information for all health, dental and nutritional
services provided to children by the program or its contracted service providers; encourages parental
presence and participation at these health services; and, informs parents in writing of the results of all
services.

• Identifies health, dental, emergency and nutrition service resources within the community; ensures all

these services are included in the Community Resource Directory; and, helps parents, as needed, in
securing a source of accessible health care for their families.

• In close communication with the Director, negotiates and develops written agreements and/or contracts

with service providers; makes vigorous efforts to assure that Head Start is the dollar oflast resort, seeking
to obtain free or reduced priced services whenever possible.

• Secures the services of a qualified Nutrition Consultant to support the program's nutrition services and,

with prior approval of the Director, develops a written contract for the nutritionist's services; secures and
keeps on file nutritionist's credentials; orients the consultant to duties and to the Head Start/Early Head
Start program and the population served; and, coordinates the schedule of the nutritionist's visits.

• In consultation with service area experts and in collaboration with other staff, plans and delivers or secures

group and individualized training for staff and parents on health, dental, nutrition and environmental safety
topics. Provides staff with technical assistance in the performance of their jobs as they relate to these
service areas.

• Develops written health, environmental safety, sanitation, food service and emergency policies and

procedures ensuring compliance with local and state regulations, with appropriate director, consultant,
staff, parent, advisory committees, Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC), and grantee
participation and approval. Ensures these policies and procedures are carried out including scheduling
required drills, conducting required safety checks and monitoring all other provisions.

• Monitors the ongoing health status and needs of enrolled children by ensuring the completion of daily

health checks, the administering of medications per the agency's policy and doctors' orders, the
implementation of the program's Short-term Exclusion and Readmission Policy and other procedures as
needed.

• Coordinates the Nutritionist's review of classrooms to ensure: that foods are an integral part of the total

education program; that mealtime atmosphere is conducive to socialization and development; that meals
are served family style; and, that the quality, quantity and size of food served is appropriate to the ages of
the children.

• Coordinates the observation of the Head Start and Early Head Start rooms by medical personnel as

required by Federal and Tribal Standards; ensures observations, instructions and recommendations are
recorded and carried out.

• Organizes and facilitates the activities of the agency's Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC);

ensures that the Committee membership is composed of all required professions and parent representation
and that it meets at least twice a year.

• Maintains detailed, accurate, up-to-date and confidential records including: child health files, health

services tracking system and documentation of all activities; develops and submits timely reports of
component service provision and activities for director, grantee, PC, Board and others as required.
Maintains strict child, family and staff confidentiality at all times.

• Ensures children are familiarized with all health services they will receive prior to delivery by assisting

teachers with child centered activities in the classroom and instructing parents on how to prepare their
children for services; provides and/or arranges for transportation for children to health service
appointments and for translation services, as necessary;

• Refers children suspected of having a disability immediately to Director and coordinates with all necessary

service providers, other staff and families for the provision of services to children with disabilities or
suspected of having disabilities.

• Provides parents with records of all services provided to their children before they leave the program;

discusses with parents the importance of these records and how to maintain them. Also, transfers children's
records as requested and approved by parents in writing.

• Facilitates the transition of children with incomplete medical/dental treatment or with ongoing medical

needs to services at their next destination, per the delegate's transition plan and with full participation of
parents.

• Participates in and contributes to all case management, parent education planning, supervisory,

management team and staff meetings. Also, attends interagency meetings, the agency's board meetings,
Parent Committee and Policy Committee meetings and other meetings, as appropriate.

• Attends and participates in grantee-sponsored trainings, center pre-service and in-service trainings, and

other continuing education, career and professional development opportunities; reads and reviews
regulations and other resources to keep abreast of current issues and trends related to the responsibilities
of the job.

• Participates in the annual program self-evaluation and grantee monitoring, and complies with the program

improvement plans developed. Contributes to the development of the Delegate Agency Annual Plan,
program proposals and Community Assessment, as requested

• Coordinates annual Child Find Health Screenings
• · Performs other duties, as requested.

Finance

• Ensure compliance with tribal, federal, state, non-profit, and other funding agency requirements.

Communication

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Tribal officials, departmental administrators,

representatives of contracted agencies to include federal, state, educational, non-profit and other
agencies/institutions/ organizations; and

• Create an optimal workplace by encouraging open communication between departments, programs, staff,

volunteers, and community members.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree in public health, nursing, health education, maternal and child health, child nutrition,

health administration and/or early childhood. It is preferred that the Health Services Coordinator have
credentials as a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse;

• Must be 21 years old and have completed at least 18 credit hours of course work and training;
• Meet any criteria requirements set forth by the funding source;
• Must obtain a First Aid/CPR and Food Handlers certification within the initial probationary period;
• Valid New Mexico Driver's License and insurable through the Tribe's insurance carrier;
• Must not have any DUI/DWI convictions within the last five (5) years from any Tribal, State or

Federal Court;

• Must pass a background check successfully; and
• Must pass a drug/alcohol screening.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrates understanding of Head Start philosophy.
• Understanding of the principles, practices and current state of child health and nutrition.
• Experience working with infants, toddlers or preschoolers.
• Familiarity with community resources.
• Experience organizing and managing multiple responsibilities under pressure and documenting extensive

information.

• Experience in the use of computer data base and/or word processing.
• Knowledge of the challenges and strengths oflow-income and Native American families.
• Knowledge of Tribal and department policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of tribal, federal, and state laws and regulations related the area of projects;
• Knowledge of Head Start/Early Head Start philosophy, standards and the ability to implement is principle

of shared authority and decision-making;

• Knowledge of theory and techniques in regards to fiscal, grant and budget preparation administration to

include SCP policies pertinent to the expenditure of funds relative to the mission to include required SCP
fiscal documentation;

• Knowledge of SCP personnel hiring, pay, discipline and termination procedure;
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of personal motivation, organization, supervision and evaluation

in order to emphasize accountability;

• Knowledge of appropriate personnel requirements such as Equal Opportunity Act, Civil Rights Act, Age

Discrimination in Employment Act, Sexual Harassment prohibitions;

• Knowledge of time management and the effect on one's well-being and stress level;
• Knowledge of the steps to effective conflict resolution;
• Knowledge of problem solving techniques;
• Knowledge of project evaluation procedures and processes;
• Skill in strong leadership, supervisory, negotiation, and interpersonal skills for restructuring priorities to

meet changing goals or objectives;

• Skill in writing letters and reports and filling out forms for routine operations;
• Skill in collecting, grouping, organizing information;
• Skill in building group consensus to meet objectives through give and take;
• Ability to develop new insights into situations in order to improve the situation, increase efficiencies, or

to mitigate safety problems;

• Ability to function as an effective team member to interact and communicate effectively with staff and

tribal leadership and able to recognize changing conditions, develop alternative strategies and take
appropriate action;

• Ability to be decisive in leadership roles and use sound reasoning to arrive at a conclusion/decision and

to recognize and correct unsafe practices and conditions;

• Ability of effective listening, speaking, and writing skills;
• Ability to perform computer skills such as word processing, software applications, email, internet and

spreadsheets;

• Ability to perform duties under stressful and adverse conditions, such as long work hours, and emergency

situations; and

• Ability to develop and recommend reporting systems for monitoring grant and contract development status.