Job Details

Health And Disabilities Coordinator

Under the supervision and direction of the Head Start Director, the Health and Disabilities Coordinator promotes oversight in compliance with all regulations per applicable Performance Standards; ensures monitoring, agency collaboration and tracking of health and disability services; identifies children who may have a disability, assuring appropriate intervention and services; and manages, implements, and evaluates comprehensive programs for children with disabilities and their families enrolled in the Spokane Tribe of Indians Head Start Program. Planning children's readiness to learn involves culturally responsive, trauma informed, integrated service delivery of child development, disabilities, and mental health that support learning environments.

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Ensuring operations will be in accordance with the Tribal Plans of Operations, Head Start Performance Standards, USDA, Washington Administrative code (WAC) disability laws/mandates and related Tribal, State & Federal regulations.
• Verifying and coordinating care to ensure that all Head Start Children receive a health examination within 90 days of enrollment.
• Ensuring that each child receives a nutrition assessment which shall include a growth assessment, hemoglobin check, diet assessment and nutrition education.
• Organizing a health advisory committee with the assistance of the program director.
• Developing and assisting in implementation of a health education curriculum in the areas of health, dental and safety.
• Conducting daily health checks of all Head Start students to look for head lice, possible contagious illness and overall wellbeing.
• Conducting immunization review, vision and hearing screenings with the children. Making referrals, developing Health Alert lists and Emergency Care Plans as necessary.
• Facilitating health related home visits and promoting parental involvement.
• Monitoring health and safety checklist, fire drills, evacuation routes/procedures and playground safety inspections.
• Responding appropriately to crisis or emergency situations that may occur—to include providing minor first aid, communicating with parents and coordinating care.
• Regularly monitoring the classroom environment, disabilities services, screening and assessment tools and methods.
• Ensuring accurate reports, documentation and compliance with applicable State, Federal and Tribal laws, policies and procedures.
• Entering all health screening, treatment and other health related information into Child Plus (data entry program).
• Monitoring and re-stocking First Aid kits in classrooms and school buses to ensure compliance with licensing guidelines.
• Acting as an advocate for parents and children with special needs, and providing referrals to appropriate resources.
• Assisting in providing appropriate disabilities information and referrals for staff, parents, and collaborating agencies.
• Assisting with ongoing assessment of health education needs and assisting with the distribution of health information to children, staff and parents as necessary or requested.
• Assisting in establishing MOUs in collaboration with local school districts, Indian Health Service, and Health and Human Services.
• Developing and distributing written and web-based materials for child, parents, employees and community partners within the areas of developmentally appropriate practices, screening, assessment, health, behavior management, learning environments, special education, disability laws and services.
• Utilizing the identified data management system to track, monitor and follow-up on cases with identified concerns and for those children receiving services.
• Actively working in the classrooms with teachers and students assisting with observations, assessing needs and filling in as needed.
• Reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect by serving as a mandated reporter.
• Participating in the recruitment and enrollment of children and families.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required include:

• Training and experience in public health, nursing, health education, maternal and child health, or health administration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills along with human relation skills with both children and adults.
• Skills adequate to manage the agency to serve children with disabilities (including coordination with other program components and community agencies) and work with parents.
• Successful clearance of Criminal History and Background inquiry with no findings of child abuse and neglect.
• Familiarity with Head Start Performance Standards.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality.
• Understanding of Early childhood Developmental Stages and appropriate preschool practices.
• Able to contribute to the Head Start team in a positive and productive manner with reliability, patience and consistency.

Minimum requirements include:

• Baccalaureate or advanced degree (Preferably in in the fields of public health, nursing, health education maternal and child health or health administration or equivalent).
• First Aid, CPR and Blood Borne certification, Food Handlers Permit, Mandated Reporter Training to be obtained during orientation period.
• TB test and Immunization record.
• Successful clearance of criminal history and background check.

Preferred requisites include:

• Possess a basic understanding of the scope of the Head Start effort and Trauma informed practices.
• Demonstrated ability to relate well to, and coordinate with the population served, especially low-income Spokane Indian Reservation population.

Indian Preference Applies – Indian Preference grants preference to any enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.

Safety Sensitive Background – Requires a higher standard of performance and behavior.