Health Manager

The Health Manager is a key member of the EASTCONN Head Start & Early Learning Management Team who is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating comprehensive health services for enrolled children and families in accordance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, state child care licensing regulations, and local health requirements. The Health Manager ensures children receive timely preventive health, oral health, mental health, and nutrition services while supporting families in accessing ongoing medical and dental care. This position oversees health record compliance, medication administration systems, health and safety practices, staff training, data management, and continuous quality improvement.

The Health Manager collaborates with families, health care providers, community partners, education staff, family services staff, disabilities staff, consultants, and program leadership to ensure comprehensive, coordinated health services that promote children's school readiness and overall well-being.

This position is salaried at 200 days in a fiscal year.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Child Health Services

• Ensure all enrolled children meet Head Start and state requirements for health, oral health, and developmental services.
• Monitor compliance with required timelines including but not limited to:
• • Physical examinations/Well-child visits
  • Dental examinations/Preventive dental care
  • Vision screenings
  • Hearing screenings
  • Lead screenings
  • Hemoglobin/Hematocrit screenings
  • Immunizations
  • Tuberculosis Screenings
• Maintain accurate electronic child health records within the program database (e.g., ChildPlus).
• Assist families in accessing medical, dental, and specialty services when needed including facilitating health screenings at all locations by working with community providers to provide onsite screenings and resources to families.
• Monitor completion of referrals, evaluations, treatment plans, and follow-up care.
• Coordinate with families and providers regarding chronic health conditions and individualized health care plans.
• Support ongoing preventive care and ensure children remain current on age-appropriate medical and oral health services throughout enrollment.
• Analyze health data to identify trends, barriers, and opportunities for quality improvement.
• Assist in developing health policies and procedures, as necessary
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, FERPA, and agency policies
• Monitor services provided by the nurse within the contracted Windham Early Childhood Center to Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool children and families.
• Participate in annual program planning, ongoing monitoring, and continuous quality improvement efforts. Assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of program improvement plans, program goals, the community assessment, and the annual self-assessment, as requested.

Medication Administration and Health Care Plans

• Partner with the Family Service Team and Nurse Consultant to ensure medication authorizations, physician orders, and parent permissions are current. This includes compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state regulations, and licensing requirements.
• Maintain procedures for:
• • Medication storage
  • Labeling
  • Documentation
  • Administration
  • Disposal
• Monitor and develop Individual Health Care Plans for children with chronic medical conditions, allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes, or other health needs.

Health and Safety

• Monitor compliance with health and safety regulations across all program sites.
• Conduct health and safety monitoring visits.
• Conduct/schedule emergency drills.
• Coordinate responses to communicable disease outbreaks.
• Monitor compliance with health-related licensing requirements.
• Participate in emergency preparedness planning.
• Assist with health-related incident reviews.

Staff Training and Technical Assistance

• Plan/facilitate training including but not limited to:
• • Medication administration
  • Adult and Pediatric CPR
  • Individual Health Care Plans
  • Emergency response procedures
  • Child health requirements
  • Health Policies and Procedures
• Provide technical assistance to staff regarding health regulations and best practices.
• Support implementation of health policies and procedures throughout the program.

Family Engagement

• Partner with families using a strength-based, family-centered approach.
• Provide health education resources to families and staff
• Assist families in accessing:
• • Medical providers
  • Dental providers
  • Health insurance
  • Specialty care
  • Community health resources
• Collaborate with staff to address barriers affecting children's health and attendance.
• Support families in understanding preventive health recommendations.

Community Collaboration

• Develop and maintain partnerships and MOUs with:
• • Pediatric health and oral health care providers
  • Local health departments
  • Hospitals
  • Community clinics
  • Specialists
  • Mental health providers
  • Health Consultants
• Coordinate the program's Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee (HMHSAC).
• Oversight of Nurse Consultant and coordination of programming as necessary.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Public Health, Health Administration, Community Health, or related field required from an accredited college or university.

Experience

• Minimum of three years of experience in related areas that includes one year experience in public health, school health, community health, or preferably early childhood/ pediatrics.
• Experience working with Head Start or early childhood programs preferred.
• Experience with health compliance monitoring and electronic data systems preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions and perceptions.
• Strong multitasking and organizational skills.
• Strong database and data analysis skills.
• Ability to analyze compliance data and prepare reports.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to make independent and sound decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and confidentiality.
• Strong computer skills with the ability to adapt to new software.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel between program sites using own transportation.

EASTCONN is committed to providing high-quality early childhood programming through highly qualified staff, ongoing professional development, small class sizes, low child-to-staff ratios, meaningful family engagement, and inclusive learning environments that serve children and families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Compensation: Placement within the range is based on factors including education, experience, licensure/certification, and internal equity where applicable.

Benefits: EASTCONN offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees that may include:

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance - Participation in the Connecticut State Partnership Health Plan (where applicable).
• Retirement plan participation
• Paid sick leave and personal leave (as applicable)
• Paid holidays
• Employer paid life insurance and voluntary employee paid supplemental life insurance available
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional development opportunities

Eligibility for benefits is based on position and scheduled hours.

At EASTCONN, we believe that diversity is key to our success. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, including those who may not meet every listed qualification. Your passion, drive, and perspective are what matter most to us.

As an EEO/AA employer, EASTCONN provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, and caste, which is protected by our policies.

AA/EOE

M/F/D/V