Health & Nutrition Coordinator (3792)

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is looking for a talented Health & Nutrition Coordinator who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose and Impact:

Works with Child Health & Safety Manager to plan, coordinate and monitor compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and Florida licensing laws.  Assists with the completion of the child health requirements and other required screenings and assessments. Plans, develops and implements training for education staff, parents, and volunteers in collaboration with HS/EHS staff development team, and if applicable Nutrition and Mental Health Consultants. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts. 

Essential Functions:  

• Leads Family & Community Engagement Specialists in encouraging parents to adhere to medical, dental, screenings, nutrition and ensure follow-up treatments are completed within established federal guidelines. 
• Organizes and participates in team management functions of planning, implementing and evaluating family health goals and objectives. 
• Assists in organizing and attends the Health Services Advisory Committee.  Develops and facilitates all conferences and team meetings.
• Assists nurse and Child Health & Safety Manager in developing health plan, training staff on how to better care for children with medical needs in the program.  Monitors, guides and provides advice to families and staff who work with infants/toddlers with re-occurring medical concerns. 
• Works cooperatively with local agencies to assist families to linkup with services in the local community. 
• Assists with the completion of the child health screening, other required screenings and assessments and is familiar with referral requirements.  May assist in recruiting prospective families and assists with enrollment process through coordinating and facilitating pre-staffing for children with health, nutrition and disabilities concerns.   
• Coordinates implementation of health and individual treatment plans.  May provide parent consultation, and coordinate care between parent/staff/physician.   
• Conducts and documents follow-up on all referrals to ensure that needs of the child are met. 
• While respecting family confidentiality, regularly shares information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families. 
• Provides health, safety and family literacy activities to parents, as appropriate. 
• Develops a working knowledge of community resources, and visits, at least annually, with major agencies for service delivery updates and community resource guide updates. 
• Assists in interpreting and implementing federal performance standards.  Participates in the development and revisions to the Parent & Staff Health Handbook including areas of health, safety and nutrition. 
• Attends parent/teacher conferences as requested. 
• Assists in ensuring the health and safety of children enrolled in the Home-based option. 
• Enters data into ChildPlus (Head Start/Early Head Start specific software) regarding critical health notes and allergies.  Documents all efforts to assist families, tracks family partnership efforts and outcomes, records, monitors and follows up on referrals, and submits reports as required. 
• Maintains strict confidentiality at all times, including the ability to recognize situations in which confidentiality is required. 
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the Director. 
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities. 
• Monitors Nutrition Services including CACFP paperwork review with submission to State Team 
• Conducts meal observation as part of CACFP compliance and tracking at Centers 
• Tracks and delivers nutrition/kitchen as well as health and safety supplies for Centers 
• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

Other Functions: 

Note: The duties above are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described above. 

Physical Requirements: 

Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds.  Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. 

Education:  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in health education, child health or health-related field. Training or course work in early childhood health, including oral health and or mental health and children with special needs a plus.  Applicant must have working knowledge of Florida’s EPSDT/Medicaid guidelines, health care providers and community resources related to health service, disabilities and safety services.  Must possess working knowledge of computer, word processing, spreadsheets and software (MS Word, MS Access, MS Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) 

Experience: 

At least two years of experience working in a community health system or a social services environment that serves culturally diverse low-income children and families. Experience working with comprehensive record keeping systems.  Head Start/Early Head Start experience preferred.   

Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area. 

Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening, local criminal record check and drug screening prior to hiring. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and human behavior. 
• Knowledge of human development and health. 
• Knowledge of social services and health services available in the area. 
• Knowledge of computer data entry processes.  
• Knowledge of family-centered practices. 
• Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing. 
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence. 
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals, such as Committees and Staff meetings. 
• Ability to calculate amounts by adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and figuring percentages. 
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions. 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. 
• Ability to make recommendations and develop implementation strategies. 
• Intermediate computer skills, including MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, etc). 

Other: Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs. 

Principal Accountabilities: 

• Team player with co-workers and central service office staff.  
• Cost effective program operations. 
• Adherence to LSF and Head Start/Early Head Start policies and management practices.  
• Effective leadership skills. 

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.  

Amazing benefits package including: 

Medical, Dental and Vision
Teladoc (24/7 online access to doctors)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement

Lutheran Services Florida embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in all business practices. LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.