Health Disabilities Advocate

Acelero Learning•North Brunswick, NJ

68d•$17

About The Position

Are you a socially conscious, dedicated individual who is committed to building a better future for children, families, and their communities? If so, join us as we support early childhood education programs across the country to create positive outcomes for the children and families served. The Health and Disabilities Advocate (HDA) will work as a member of a team whose primary role is to engage families to partner with us to promote children’s healthy development and school readiness. In their specialized role, the Health and Disabilities Advocates are responsible for working with their team members and the Health and Nutrition Coordinators to assure that all children in their assigned Centers are up to date on EPSDT requirements, receive health follow up on acute and chronic conditions, and have medical and dental homes. They will also provide individualized support to a caseload of families whose children have chronic health and nutrition conditions and special needs. In this role, they will collaborate with Health and Nutrition Coordinators and Early Learning Disabilities Specialists/Disabilities/MH Coordinators to assist with family support, care coordination, goal setting and follow up to align home and school interventions and enhance families’ capacity to meet their children’s special needs. This position has been established to strengthen our Head Start program’s ability to provide tailored, individualized support to a subset of families whose children’s health conditions and special needs often require enhanced knowledge and capacity to navigate community based medical, mental health and special education systems. In addition, the Health and Disabilities Advocates serve a critical coordinating function between service areas in our program by assuring that all staff have the information needed to support the children’s health and well-being. The position may involve reassignment of caseload and/or center location as deemed necessary for program operations.

Requirements

AA or BA Degree in Public Health, Social Work, Human Services, Family Services, Counseling or a related field preferred, OR AA or BA in another field with a commitment to complete Family Services/Certificate/Credential within 18 months of hire. We will also consider candidates with a High School Diploma with 3 years experience working in the community with families and a completed Family Development Certificate or Credential
The commitment and passion for achieving positive child and family outcomes through high quality family engagement
Experience, training, and skill assisting the parents of young children to advocate for their families
Advanced computer literacy in email, word processing and internet navigation
Ability to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed
Ability to obtain certification in CPR and First Aid

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (in Spanish) preferred

Responsibilities

Promote Family Environments that Enhance Children’s Development
Assure EPSDT Adherence
Support Families of Children with Chronic Health Conditions or Special Needs
Maintain Internal and External Service Coordination
Maintain Accurate and Timely Record Keeping and Reporting

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with multiple plan options to fit your needs
Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions up to $400/individuals & $800/family annually
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care expenses
401(k) Retirement Plan with up to 3% company match
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance
Up to $500 per year in Professional Development Reimbursements
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counseling and mental wellness support
Wellness Programs, including virtual fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
Pet Insurance, Legal Assistance, ID Theft Protection, and Employee Discount Perks
Average of 5 weeks of paid time off during 1st year of employment
Comprehensive benefits, including 401K matching and 100% vesting program