HEALTH SPECIALIST 

OFFICE OF HEAD START TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REGION 6 

 

The Health Specialist (HS) possesses significant knowledge in comprehensive mental health/health services to support our Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) team in Region VI.  The Health Specialist (HS) provides TTA in all areas of health and safety, mental health and disabilities, comprehensive health services, and family engagement in health-related issues in accordance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards and other Federal Regulations.  The HS works remotely from a home office and travels 50% of the time in the region in accordance with the Regional Office (RO) expectations. Travel includes day trips, as well as overnight trips.  The HS resides in Region VI.

Work Location: AK, LA, NM, TX

 

Responsibilities/Duties:  

Provide subject matter expertise, strategies and resources to RO and TTA staff on comprehensive health services, such as mental health and environmental health and safety, as well as strategies for engaging families around issues on health.  Aggregate, analyze and disseminate state, regional and grantee health data from a variety of sources, including existing government systems, to identify emerging trends and patterns impacting HS/EHS grantees.  Serve as a liaison between regional and central OHS and the National Center responsible for health and wellness, and other agencies relevant to the work of the Regional Office.    Develop and implement strategies for connecting with grantee health managers and/or coordinators in the Region.  Develop and provide presentations and training on topics related to early childhood health, mental health, safety and related topics to regional office staff, grantees and state partners; and provide direct TTA to grantees, as assigned by the RO.   Coordinate TTA with Early Childhood, Health, and Family Engagement Specialist to ensure effective integration of management systems TTA that supports improvements to education, family services, and health services, as directed by the RO.  Participate in case conferences about individual grantees, at the request of the RO.  Serves as a member of a national peer group of Health Specialists.  Serve as a resource to other TTA specialists and HS Grantees on comprehensive health services, including mental health and environmental health and safety; strategies for engaging families around issues on health; and as a point of dissemination to program and TTA specialists about health data specific to grantees across the birth to five spectrum.  Support emerging OHS initiative and priorities.