Health & Safety Specialist

To apply professional expertise and oversight in comprehensive early childhood health services, mental health services, nutrition, transportation, facilities, and safety. Responsible for providing training and technical assistance to Center Staff regarding component service areas.

• Facilitate comprehensive health services ensuring at a minimum the compliance with HS/EHS Performance Standards 45 CFR, Florida Child Care Standard, and NFCD’s policies.
• Manage the implementation of the comprehensive mental health, health, nutrition, dental, transportation, and safety services.
• Responsible for the provisions of mental health services.
• Monitors mental health section in participants’ files to ensure that files are up to date.
• Monitors the health status of all participants and promote/facilitate the maintenance of scheduled examinations and treatment.
• Promote medical and dental examinations on a schedule deemed appropriate by the attending health care providers as early as possible.
• Coordinates the provision of comprehensive health, dental, and transportation services through the MOUs within NFCD’s geographic service areas.
• Takes the lead and is responsible for monitoring the Health Services Contracts in conjunction with the COO and fiscal, evaluates the quality of the partnership, makes recommendations to the Health Advisory Committee, and to the CEO who in turn approves or not and submits to Governing Boards on an annual basis.
• Responsible for coordinating program operations in all agency centers in the areas of health, nutrition, safety, and transportation services.
• Responsible for monitoring and evaluating comprehensive health service trends and the development implementation of strategies for improving the quality.
• On an annual basis or as needed, establishes/develops and maintains contacts with community service agencies to advocate for the provision of services (i.e., health clinics, physicians, mental health providers, and nutrition services).
• Collaborate with FA/SDT to schedule meetings with parents to develop Medical Action Plans prior to enrollment for those students with chronic illnesses or needs following reviews of health documentation.
• Provide clarification and technical support to all staff in implementing all Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Champion the importance and value of a diverse, equitable and inclusive agency environment for participants, staff and visitors. Model behaviors which support the overall philosophy and design of the organization.
• Develops monthly plans and reports, as it relates to NFCD’s Site-Based Management Approach.

• Supports and comply with all aspects of NFCD’s operating policies and procedures, HS/EHS Performance Standards 45 CFR, Florida Child Care Standards, and OEL Standards.
• Develop and update the policies and procedures for the component areas of health, dental, nutrition, transportation, facilities, safety services, and expectant mothers.
• Establish and maintain a Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) and conduct HSAC meetings.
• Monitor for compliance all enrolled health sections in participants’ files to ensure that files are up to date.
• Provides regular on-site monitoring at all NFCD locations to monitor the environment, safety, transportation, health, and expectant mothers.
• Participate in the annual program self-assessment and the follow-up in reporting compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Trains and provides parents on information on the benefits of breast-feeding to all pregnant and nursing mothers.
• Develops, reviews, and revises, the annual comprehensive integrated service plans based on the Performance Standards and objectives established by the agency to include HS/EHS.
• Provide family…