Disabilities Coordinator (3386)

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant. LSF is seeking a talented Disabilities Coordinator who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose and Impact

The Disabilities Coordinator works with the Child Health and Safety Manager to plan, coordinate, and monitor compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and Florida licensing laws. Assists with the completion of child health requirements and other required screenings and assessments. Plans, develops, and implements training for education staff, parents, and volunteers in collaboration with the HS/EHS staff development team. Participates in HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.

Responsibilities

• Works with Family & Community Engagement Specialists in encouraging parents to adhere to medical, dental, screenings, nutrition, and ensure follow-up treatments are completed within established federal guidelines.
• Organizes and participates in team functions of planning, implementing, and evaluating family health goals and objectives.
• Assists Child Health and Safety Manager in disability planning.
• Monitors, guides, and provides advice to families and staff who work with infants/toddlers with disability concerns.
• Works cooperatively with local agencies to assist families to link up with services in the local community.
• Assists with the completion of the required child screenings and assessments and is familiar with referral requirements.
• May assist in recruiting prospective families and assists with enrollment process through coordinating and facilitating pre-staffing for children with disability concerns.
• Coordinates implementation of health and individual treatment plans.
• May provide parent consultation and coordinate care between parent/staff/physician.
• Conducts and documents follow-up on all referrals to ensure that needs of the child are met.
• Regularly shares information with teachers to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families while respecting family confidentiality.
• Provides disability management activities to parents, as appropriate.
• Develops a working knowledge of community resources and visits, at least annually, with major agencies for service delivery updates and community resource guide updates.
• Assists in interpreting and implementing federal performance standards.
• Participates in the development and revisions to the Parent & Staff Health Handbook, specifically the area of disability.
• Attends parent/teacher conferences as requested.
• Assists in ensuring the health and safety of children enrolled in the Childcare Homes option.
• Enters data into ChildPlus (Head Start/Early Head Start specific software) regarding critical disability and notes.
• Documents all efforts to assist families, tracks child efforts and outcomes, records, monitors, and follows up on referrals, and submits reports as required.
• Monitors and rescreens developmental and behavioral screeners and compiles a list of children who have been or will be referred to Early Steps and/or Child Find based on the developmental and behavioral screening results, and provides list to administrative staff for record keeping with data entry into ChildPlus and reporting to external agencies as applicable.
• Refers children to local community agencies if there is a concern for services if needed.
• Maintains strict confidentiality at all times, including the ability to recognize situations in which confidentiality is required.
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the Child Health and Safety Manager.
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Special Education, ESE, or a behavior-related field. Training or coursework in early childhood education and children with special needs is a plus.
• At least two years of experience working in an ESE/School District, Early Head Start, Head Start, or a social services environment that serves culturally diverse low-income children and families.
• Experience working with comprehensive record-keeping systems.
• Start/Early Head Start experience preferred, as is the ability to identify special needs children.
• Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.
• Working knowledge of Florida’s health care providers and community resources related to ESE or Disabilities services.
• Must possess working knowledge of computer, word processing, spreadsheets, and software (MS Word, MS Access, MS Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Successful completion of a Level II background screening, local criminal record check, and drug screening prior to hiring.

Skills

• Knowledge of human development and health.
• Knowledge of social services and health services available in the area.
• Knowledge of computer data entry processes.
• Knowledge of family-centered practices.
• Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals, such as Committees and Staff meetings.
• Ability to calculate amounts by adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and figuring percentages.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
• Computer skills, including MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Telehealth (24/7 online access to Doctors).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employer-paid life insurance (1X salary).
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday.
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year).
• Note: Head Start employees paid time off and holiday schedule may differ.
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement.
• Tuition reimbursement.