Title: Early Childhood Health Consultant
Location: WHEDco Early Childhood Discovery Center
Reports to: Center Director
Role Overview:
WHEDco seeks an Early Childhood Health Consultant to join our Urban Horizons Early Childhood Discovery Center. This is a consultant role, offering the flexibility to work on a contract basis while contributing to the health and well-being of our students.
The Early Childhood Health Consultant will be responsible for delivering comprehensive early childhood health consultation services to our staff, students, and families, including training, coaching, and referral services. The Early Childhood Nutrition Consultant will also collect data, maintain records, and support compliance with all performance standards and regulations.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct monthly visits to each classroom to monitor and provide guidance on child development, particularly regarding physical health.
- Ensure completion of monthly inspections of first aid kits, medicine, allergy/asthma action plans, allergy/asthma lists, and the body check list in classrooms.
- Collaborate closely with the nutrition consultant, family services coordinator, and family workers to ensure comprehensive health management for students. This includes reviewing student health forms, following up on health appointments, and maintaining the health tracking form.
- Provide weekly updates to the Program Director on team progress and meet with parents individually when necessary.
- Coordinate with parents and obtain consent to communicate with a child’s pediatrician or dentist (medical/dental home) in cases involving serious health issues.
- Facilitate and coordinate staff training on health-related issues at least once per year.
- Engage in programmatic consultation by attending staff team meetings, contribute to the development and implementation of the mental health program, and participate in the Health Advisory Committee.
- Organize and facilitate parent training sessions by recruiting participants for at least one session per year. Coordinate and lead the training, and provide child and family referrals, ensuring follow-up with community services.
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with staff and families. Lead and facilitate trainings for staff and parents and refer parents to appropriate Home-Based Child Care Program. Engage in regular supervision meetings with the Program Director, assist with federal, state, and local reporting requirements, and perform additional duties as assigned.
About Us:
The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) is a community development organization founded on the radically simple idea that all people deserve to live in healthy, vibrant communities. We build award-winning, sustainable, affordable homes – but our work is not over when our buildings are complete. WHEDco believes that to be successful, affordable housing must be anchored in strong communities of which residents can be proud. WHEDco’s mission is to create and bridge access to resources in the South Bronx that support thriving neighborhoods – from high-quality early education and after-school programs, to healthy food, cultural programming, and economic opportunity. See www.whedco.org for more information.
WHEDco’s Urban Horizons Early Childhood Discovery Center, a year-round Head Start program for three-and four-year-old children, serves 103 pre-school students from over 20 different countries. The Center’s full-day program offers a nurturing environment that allows students to develop confidence, think creatively, analyze information, and communicate effectively. Each year 100% of the students graduate prepared for kindergarten, ensuring that they begin their school careers ready to succeed.
WHEDco affords all qualified applicants equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status or domestic violence victim status, or any other category protected by law. WHEDco follows the requirements of the New York Human Rights Law with regard to non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.
Qualifications:
- Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse is required. Master’s degree is preferred.
- Minimum of two years of direct experience in a health setting providing prevention services.
- Ability to manage physically active students aged 3 to 5, including guiding, pursuing, restraining, and withstanding sudden movements.
- Strong understanding of early childhood health, health services system, and cultural differences in health services and concepts.
- Knowledge of Head Start program is preferred.
- Bilingual/bicultural in English and Spanish is strongly preferred.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with diverse groups.
- Strong organizational skills, including efficient task and time management.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification.
- Compliance with child abuse training certification.
Contract Details:
- This is a consultant position, and the contract terms will be based on the needs of the Center and the scope of work.
- Compensation will be commensurate with education and experience not to exceed $150 per hour.
- The consultant will not be an employee of WHEDco, and there will be no benefits associated with this role.
Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume to svasconcelos@whedco.org with “Health Consultant” in the subject line.
WHEDco affords all qualified applicants equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status or domestic violence victim status, or any other category protected by law. WHEDco follows the requirements of the New York Human Rights Law with regard to non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.