Job Overview

The Director of Health, Wellness, and Developmental Support is chiefly responsible for oversight and full implementation and continuous improvement of all aspects of the Head Start program’s health, wellness and developmental support services, this position ensures the delivery of high-quality, integrated services that promote children’s school readiness, child safety, family well-being, and inclusive practices for children of all abilities.

Through direct supervision, coaching, professional development, collaboration, monitoring, data analysis, governance reporting and community partnerships and other tasks, as needed, the Director ensures compliance, supports quality improvement efforts, as well as AVANCE’s two-generation approach to child well-being and family wellness.

The Director will have a central office location, and travel will be required for each of the centers and partnering ISDs.

Job Responsibilities

• Child Health, Safety & Development:
• Ensure full implementation of Head Start standards related to child health, oral health, nutrition, mental health, and developmental services.
• Develop and manage systems for timely completion and follow up of developmental screenings, sensory screenings, immunization compliance, well-child exams and dental exams in accordance with EPSTD requirements.
• Ensure ongoing care coordination and follow-up for identified health or developmental concerns.
• Oversee school readiness health indicators and collaborate with the Education team to support individualized child outcomes.
• Ensure safe medication administration procedures, allergy management plans, and health and nutrition care plans are established.
• Nutrition & Child and Adult Care Food Program:
• Ensure the implementation of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
• Ensure meal patterns meet USDA requirements and support developmentally appropriate nutrition practices for all children, including for all dietary requirements.
• Collaborate with the Nutrition and Food Systems Coordinator and center leadership to ensure safe food handling practices and audit readiness.
• Support nutrition education initiatives for children and families.
• Promote lactation and feeding support preferences.
• Mental Health & Social Emotional Wellness
• Establish and maintain partnerships with licensed mental health professionals to ensure program-wide mental health consultation services.
• Ensure the implementation of classroom-based social-emotional supports, positive guidance strategies, behavior support plans and crisis response procedures.
• Ensure timely referrals and follow-up for children requiring additional social-emotional or mental health support.
• Support staff wellness initiatives and reflective supervision practices to strengthen adult capacity.
• Promote trauma-informed, strengths-based practices program wide.
• Ensure mental health services are available and accessible to staff, families, and children.
• Ensure families receive strengths-based guidance and access to wellness resources.
• Developmental & Support Services:
• Ensure the implementation and compliance with IDEA, IFSP, and IEP collaboration requirements.
• Develop and monitor systems for developmental tracking, referral timelines, and transition services.
• Monitor inclusion practices to ensure children with suspected or identified developmental delays receive appropriate support.
• Support staff training and professional development on inclusive classroom strategies and individualized supports.
• Communication & Service Coordination:
• Develop and maintain Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with health providers, mental health agencies, dentists, and community-based organizations.
• Collaborate with Local Education Agencies and Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Programs.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration between mental health and cross-departmental programs to ensure integrated service delivery.
• Establish a Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee.
• Provide regular health, nutrition, and wellness reports to Leadership, Policy Council and Governing Body.
• Collaborate with the leadership team during audits, federal reviews, child care licensing inspections, CACFP reviews and health inspections.
• Record Keeping, Reporting & Confidentiality:
• Ensure all children files meet Head Start, CACFP, and local licensing requirements.
• Maintain secure and confidential documentation systems.
• Conduct audits and review data trends to ensure program compliance with standards and policies.
• Ensure compliance with confidentiality policies and mandated reporting compliance.
• Fiscal Oversight & Regulatory Compliance:
• Oversee assigned content area budgets, monitor expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility and compliance with federal cost principles.
• Review and approve content area approved purchases in alignment with approved budgets, procurement procedures, and internal controls.
• Ensure accurate inventory management of equipment and materials.
• Support licensing compliance by ensuring program spaces meet Child Care Licensing standards, including capacity, safety, health, and environmental requirements.
• Assist with licensing process for new classroom spaces and support licensing corrective action responses as needed.
• Ongoing Monitoring & Self-Assessment:
• Conduct internal audits of health compliance, nutrition documentation, developmental screening timelines, and mental health service delivery.
• Analyze data trends to inform program planning and quality improvement.
• Participate in Self-Assessment and Community Assessment processes.
• Prepare documentation for federal reviews and monitoring events.
• Planning, Implementation & Staff Development:
• Develop and implement tools, policies, and procedures to support program implementation, compliance, and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Support the quality of health, wellness, and developmental support efforts through professional development, supervision and coaching.
• Establish and Maintain a Safe, Healthy & Positive Learning Environments:
• Ensure health and safety compliance with Head Start standards, Child Care Licensing requirements, and AVANCE policies.
• Monitor and support emergency preparedness, health and safety practices, and sanitation protocols.
• Coordinate crisis response and child safety protocols when necessary.
• Support and monitor injury prevention systems and follow-up procedures.
• Develop, monitor and implement exclusion and return-to-care policies and procedures for illnesses.
• Other Duties
• Participate in assigned meetings, events, and training as required.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding staff and family information.
• Fulfill the role as mandated reporter under the Child Abuse and Neglect Policy.
• Perform any other work-related duties as requested by your supervisor.
• Be present at work to provide consistency of services.
• Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in daily duties.
• Supervise assigned department personnel, including hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluating.
• Educate direct reports on policies and procedures.
• Meet with assigned staff regularly to resolve problems and track goals.

AVANCE Core Competencies

• Execution & Accountability
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Communication & Influence
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Stakeholder Focus
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Education

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, Health Administration, Nutrition, Social Work, Early Childhood, or related field.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Social Work, Nutrition, or related field.

Work Experience

Required:

• 3+ years’ experience in the health and wellness field, including experience in coaching, supervision, program management and providing technical assistance
• Expertise in community-based interventions to improve outcomes for low-income families and communities, with direct experience developing and implementing program strategies
• Experience in federal compliance and monitoring reviews
• Expertise assisting families of young children to partner in promoting their children’s school readiness and overall healthy development.
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position

Preferred:

• Experience with Head Start Performance Standards and federal compliance.
• Experience with CACFP monitoring and documentation.
• Experience with Child Care Licensing standards.

Additional Skills

• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders to successfully implement program plans
• Strong analytical skills in order to quickly assess situations, identify trends, develop solutions and apply critical assessments to the larger context
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Travel?

• Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
• Travel required up to 10% of the time for work-related site visits, meetings, and functions.

Equipment

• Standard office equipment generally used includes:
• Telephone
• Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
• Printer/Photocopy Machine
• Calculator
• Fax Machine
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle during duties.

Working Conditions??

• Work is generally performed in an office environment.
• Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices).

Mental and Physical Demands??

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds.?Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors??

Occasional exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather-related conditions when working in outside environment/neighborhoods and events.?

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking reasonable accommodation is prohibited.? Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.?