GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK:

Under the supervision of the Director III - Student Support Services, the Coordinator I - Public Health and Wellness is responsible for implementing and monitoring division-wide health programs and processes. The Coordinator is also responsible for staying abreast of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates, guidelines, recommendations, and best practices.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assist in the formation of the division’s wellness and health programs, including but not limited to, nutrition services, health services, health and safe school environment, counseling and mental health services, staff wellness promotion, parent and community involvement, physical education, and health education
• Ensure that division and school leaders are abreast of the latest VDH and CDC guidelines and recommendations
• Evaluate services in the school and division health programs to plan for more comprehensive services to students, families, and staff as necessary
• Create systems and processes to track the schools’ and division’s progress in attaining a culture of wellness utilizing quantifiable and data-driven rubrics, including but not limited to, methods of evaluation that assess the contribution of nursing, psychology and/or social work in school health areas on a continuous basis related to health needs
• Coordinate with other professionals and citizen groups in researching, planning and implementing the division’s wellness and health program
• Collaborate with Child Nutrition Services to provide wellness education opportunities in and out of the kitchen, as well as resources to help students, families and staff incorporate these lessons into their daily lives
• Serve on or chair the school division’s wellness committee and facilitate collaboration among school health program personnel and other school staff in the development of a school culture that supports health, well-being, and educational achievement
• Coordinate activities of service providers with other services in the division; communicate with the Health Department, school system, and other community resources and agencies to develop improved systems of early case findings and prevention
• Assist the superintendent, school principals and other school staff to establish links between student achievement, health, and wellness
• Collaborate with school nurses to maintain and implement the documentation requirements for all state and federally mandated student health records, including physical examinations and immunizations required by law
• Assist division leaders, principals, school nurses, and volunteers in developing an awareness of signs of illness or other health problems
• Provide for technical assistance and professional development opportunities for division personnel that support the division’s health programs
• In collaboration with school nurses, address emergencies to include the following: training and procedures in First Aid and CPR for school and district personnel, use and placement of AEDs, and medication administration, to include Epi-Pen injectors
• Attend state and regional public health and wellness meetings
• Provide assistance as necessary in managing infectious illness outbreaks
• Create and coordinate presentations by various health and wellness agencies on pertinent health care topics for division staff and parents, as applicable
• Encourage nursing and health services staff participation in conferences and workshops at the local and state level, addressing a range of school and public health issues
• Coordinate the collection of data and compile accurate and complete health and wellness reports as required by the school division and state agencies
• Develop, update, and implement written policies and procedures for the clinical services and programs addressing health and mental health issues
• Act as a liaison and promote positive collaboration with community providers for a range of services addressing adult, child, and adolescent health and mental health
• Assume responsibility for professional growth and keep licenses and skills up-to-date
• Manage nurse coverage by assigning substitute nurses as needed
• Coordinate vaccination and testing clinics for staff and students, as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Must be competent and properly prepared professionally to coordinate public health and wellness programs and policies using knowledge of:
• Virginia laws and regulations related to school and public health programs
• FERPA and HIPPA requirements as applied in the school setting
• Oral and written communication skills necessary for communication to school division personnel, parents, and community health personnel
• Universal safety precautions guidelines required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Virginia Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Must be able to locate and mobilize local resources for health services, including but not limited to, the local Health Department, the VDH, school nurses, other division staff, and community professionals in the health services field
• Present reports regarding use of school health services division-wide data relevant to achievement to the Danville School Board as requested
• Ability to work independently with little direction
• Ability to provide guidance in interpretation and implementation of health and safety related regulations and best practices per state and federal laws

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, or a related field
• Master’s degree preferred
• Three (3) to Five (5) years of successful experience in school or public health, preferred

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND WORK CONTACTS:

Work is typically performed throughout the school division. Lifting up to 40 pounds and other limited physical activities are required. Daily contact may include students, teachers, parents and administrators.

EVALUATION:

Performance evaluation will be conducted annually by the Director III - Student Support Services on the effectiveness by which the employee has carried out the above responsibilities.