Health Advocate at Lulac Head Start Inc – New Haven, Connecticut

Summary/Objective

The Health Advocate will support the Health Manager in a variety of tasks in meeting quality assurance and compliance in the Health department across the agency. This is an entry level position with an opportunity to grow within the agency.

Essential Functions in Collaboration with and Under the Guidance of the Health Manager:

• Collaborates with the Health department, Social Service team in supporting the enrollment of children into the program and providing support in health services while they are enrolled.
• Maintains children’s records to ensure compliance with health and nutritional needs.
• Reviews and updates children files, including but not limited to data entry, filing, physical dental notices to parents, etc.
• Conducts health screenings including vision, hearing, height and weight, and assists with dental screening under the supervision of the health manager or nurse consultant.
• Works with families on children referral processes and follow up.
• Supports efforts to refer families for follow up with medical and dental care.
• Assists families in obtaining a complete medical, dental and developmental history for each child.
• Maintains a variety of logs, and inventory of health and nutrition supplies for classrooms.
• Conducts monthly safety checks of physical environment, playgrounds and completes monthly reports and follows up with facilities as needed.
• Monitors First Aid kits and and follows up as needed.
• Under the supervision of the health manager the health advocate monitors children’s medications, medication administration documents and care plans and follows up as needed.
• Conducts monthly safety drills, reports on the drills and provides follow-up as needed.
• Supports the accuracy of Health data.
• Collaborates with the Health Manager to educate teaching staff on children’s health and nutritional needs.
• Communicates with the LULAC team, parents, and children to provide information related to health and nutrition.
• Participates in professional development- e.g. attending meetings, workshops, conferences, etc.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with an Associate’s Degree with a concentration in Health and Nutrition or certification in related field.
• Any other combination of training and/or experience, which demonstrates that the applicant is likely to possess the required skills, knowledge and abilities, may be considered.
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred