Primary Purpose:

• To provide comprehensive health services to Head Start children, pregnant women, postpartum women, and families. 
• To provide training and skills for Head Start families and link the families to an ongoing health care system.  
• To provide prenatal and postpartum education to pregnant participants.
• To comply with all federal guidelines (Head Start Performance Standards, Transmittal Notices, etc.) and local Head Start policies in providing children and families with Head Start services.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification

• Licensed Registered Nurse required
• Bachelor's Degree required

 

Skills

• Must possess a command of medical terminology and childhood disease processes relating to pre-and post-natal infancy and early childhood
• Must possess knowledge of developmental stages, physical development, and nutrition requirements for infants and children zero-to-five years old
• Experience working with pregnant women and children with special needs preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, assume personal accountability and responsibility, and display an awareness of individual differences in order to develop skills in others
• Requires a high degree of competence and an ability to see the big picture while maintaining individual attention to all viewpoints

Working Conditions:

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard medical clinic equipment including automated external defibrillator (AED); special needs adaptive equipment; standard office equipment including computer and peripherals
• Posture: Must be physically able to tolerate frequent standing, sitting, kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing pulling, and twisting
• Motion: Must be physically able to tolerate frequent walking, grasping/squeezing, wrist flexion/extension
• Lifting: Must be physically able to tolerate light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds); may require regular heavy lifting (45 pounds or more) and position of students with physical disabilities; controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting non-ambulatory students
• Environment: Must be physically able to tolerate cleaning products and sanitizers, exposure to biological hazards, bacteria, and communicable diseases; tolerate frequent region wide travel and occasional statewide travel; regular exposure to noise
• Mental Demands: Must be able to work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress and self-control in the presence of children; work prolonged or irregular hours on occasion
• Regular Attendance is an essential function

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Coordinates and travels to homes, schools or other public places to provide prenatal and postpartum education to enrolled pregnant and postpartum participants in the Early Head Start program on a routine biweekly basis. 
2. Plans and implements an educational curriculum to support pregnant and postpartum participants. 
3. Documents routine prenatal visits in the data management system within 7 days of the visit. 
4. Conducts four group socialization activities for pregnant and postpartum participants in a program term.
5. Schedules newborn visits within 2 weeks of birth.
6. Conducts newborn and postpartum assessments as needed and documents visits in the data management system within seven days of the visit. 
7. Assists in transition of the infant to appropriate placement of center-based or home-based options after postpartum period. 
8. Performs perinatal and postpartum mental health referrals as appropriate based on need to the participant or any relevant family member as in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards. 
9. Determines if a pregnant participant has an ongoing source of continuous accessible health care within 30 days. Facilitates access to resources for health insurance coverage as appropriate for each participant.
10. Facilitates referrals for pregnant and postpartum participants at a minimum, to include nutritional counseling, food assistance, oral health care, mental health services, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and emergency shelter or transitional housing in cases of domestic violence as needed.
11. Engages in respectful goal-oriented partnerships with families to promote student success and family well-being.
12. Supports families in using community resources that enhance family well-being and children’s learning and development.
13. Acts as a member of the comprehensive services team to problem solve potential barriers.
14. Communicates with community agencies, physicians, and staff to ensure availability of and completion of services to pregnant women, infants/toddlers birth to five years of age, and their families, including those with special needs.
15. Coordinates with Head Start staff in scheduling dental, medical, health screenings, and follow-up for Head Start children and others as needed.
16. Assists Head Start health staff and supports health providers with completion of health screenings, physical examinations, and follow-up services for all Head Start children.
17. Visits assigned classrooms and home-based settings for child health assessments, screenings, and record maintenance.
18. Performs vision, hearing, lead, and hemoglobin screenings for Head Start children and appropriately refers children based on screening findings.
19. Monitors the data management system to ensure that health services and sensory screenings are completed within the time frame set forth by the Head Start Standards and that children with abnormal results receive follow-up.
20. Assists in monitoring emergency medical care, safety, fire prevention, and sanitation measures for children.
21. Plans and conducts parent and staff training in the areas of health, nutrition, medication administration, child development, safety, special health procedures, and other areas as needed according to the Head Start program.
22. Attends trainings, conferences, etc., and disseminates information received to families and staff.
23. Collects and analyzes information to find new solutions to challenges as ongoing monitoring and continual improvement in services.
24. Maintains licensure set forth by the requirements of the Texas State Board of Nursing.
25. Maintains a functioning cell phone and is accessible through this phone as deemed appropriate by the director. A functioning cell phone means that it is charged, activated, messages checked, and mailbox emptied regularly.
26. Reports for work ready to perform responsibilities.
27. Performs duties that directly and/or indirectly impact student performance in Region 16.
28. Maintains a professional level of confidentiality regarding all ESC matters.
29. Supports the mission, goals, and objectives of the ESC strategic plan.
30. Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the ESC safety program.
31. Performs professional responsibilities as required by ESC policies, processes, and procedures.
32. Manages time, calendar, and job responsibilities to meet deadlines. 
33. Meets proficiency levels of required technology skills as outlined by the supervisor.
34. Incorporates appropriate technology in daily work and exhibits continual growth in technologies as outlined by supervisor.
35. Performs other duties as assigned.

Assigned number of workdays: 226