SGA’s mission is to help children, families, and communities facing great challenges to realize their potential. SGA uses a proven and innovative method called the Cycle of Opportunity. This system is a continuum of comprehensive services that helps break the cycle of adversity and provide families with enough opportunity to change their lives and their communities.  

SGA’s Early Head Start Home-based program serves children 0-3 years within the city of Chicago through weekly home visits engaging both the caregiver and the child. Additionally, families participate in bi-monthly group socializations, parent trainings, governance, and field trips. As part of the research-based Head Start program, all children and their families receive wraparound services to ensure the healthy development and success of the child. The Health & Mental Health Specialist is responsible for monitoring all of the health physicals, hearing and vision screenings, developmental screenings, individual health plans, and follow-up care for the children in the program.  

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

Data entry & Reporting

• Responsible for reporting, data entry, and monitoring of child health, immunization, dental, hearing and vision screenings. 
• Responsible for data entry associated with the mental health interventions completed by the mental health consultant. 
• Responsible for all health, mental health, and nutrition reporting to agency and grantor. 
• Ensures accuracy of all health, nutrition, and mental health data entered in Child Plus for the annual Program Information Report (PIR) 

Monitoring

• Tracks and monitors the 30/45/90-day health events required for enrolled children. 
• Tracks and informs Home Visitors and parents when required physicals, immunization records, dental and hearing and vision re-screens are due. 
• In cooperation with the Home Visitors, ensures all hearing and vision screenings are complete within the child’s first 45 days in the program, and ensures re-screens are completed according to the grantor's timeline. 
• Acts as liaison between the Nurse, Mental Health, and Nutrition Consultants, and Home Visitors. 
• Collaborates with Nutrition Consultant to ensure the nutritional needs of children and families are met. 
• Coordinates with Nurse Consultant to ensure children are current with all health requirements. 
• Collaborates with Home Visitors to ensure healthy snacks are served at socialization and home visits. 
• Monitors medication logs for each socialization group. 
• Community Partnerships and Training 
• Follows up with hospitals and clinics as needed to support caregivers in obtaining health documentation. 
• Support families to secure primary health providers for medical and dental needs.  
• Coordinates and facilitates biannual Health Safety Advisory Committee meetings. 
• Coordinates training and information related to health, mental health, oral health, and nutrition for Home Visitors, families, and pregnant women. 
• Seeks, maintains, and renews community partnerships with local health, mental health, dental, and nutritional providers to support the needs of children and families. 

Administration

• Participates in internal staffing around health and mental health content areas when necessary. 
• Assists Home Visitors with completion of referrals to the Mental Health Consultant. 
• Participates in all required training and meetings at the grantor or the agency.  
• Attends recruitment events to recruit eligible children and families. 
• Attends biannual focus groups. 
• Attends monthly Parent Policy Committee (PPC) meetings and gives health, nutrition, and mental health reports/updates. 
• In cooperation with the program coordinator, participates in annual self-assessment and community assessment. 
• In cooperation with the Program Coordinator, complete monthly inspections of the First Aid kits to guarantee they are always stocked. 
• Ensures that hearing and vision machines are calibrated annually and ensures that props are always stocked. 
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree public health, child development, early childhood education, social work, or related field. 

Experience:

• 2-3 years working with children ages 0-3 required 
• Knowledge and understanding of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Illinois 
• Experience working within a Head Start Programs and/or working with families regarding health, nutrition, and mental health for infants and toddler 
• Understanding Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs 
• Knowledge with Data System ChildPlus 
• Ability to complete monthly routine reports and correspondence  
• Ability to coordinate health groups as required 
• Exercises discretion and independent judgment in executing tasks. 
• Must demonstrate the ability to establish community relationships and with families of varying educational, experiential, and socio-economic backgrounds and handle emergency and crisis situations. 

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Bilingual – Spanish required  
• Competent in Microsoft Office tools and inputting services in an online database. 
• Schedule may be flexible and may include some evening and weekends. 
• Must be able to make home visits when necessary. 
• Valid Driver’s License and Automobile Insurance.  
• Reliable transportation.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to remain stationary 50% of the time 
• Must be able to frequently move inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.  
• Must be able to transport oneself to and from home visits 
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs 
• Constantly positions oneself to assist children during activities. 
• Frequently moves desks, chairs, tables, easels, and children's toys.  
• At times may be required to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. for various events  
• Frequently moves in outdoor weather conditions 

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time; this description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.