Education and Outreach Corps Member, National Nursing Centers Consortium

Posted by on March 27, 2011

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CORPS MEMBER

Posted on: March 16, 2011

NNCC – Lead Safe Babies for Families in Transition Program
(Department/Division)

National Nursing Centers Consortium (http://www.nncc.us)

The National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC) advocates for nurses as primary providers of health care with a goal of eliminating health disparities. Because of their training and their community connections, nurses today are able to deliver high quality and cost-effective services to our most vulnerable populations, the poor and the uninsured. Our member health centers, run by nurses, demonstrate this by providing community-based care that is sensitive to patient needs and concerns. The NNCC also takes the lead in developing and implementing health programs which help people lead healthier and safer lives. These programs avert future health problems and keep healthcare costs from rising further.

Childhood lead poisoning causes irreversible health effects including brain damage, learning disabilities and behavior problems. Although childhood lead poisoning is entirely preventable, hundreds of children are poisoned by lead every year in Philadelphia, with several thousands more suffering from low-levels of lead exposure. Homeless families and families in transition with children are among the highest-risk and most underserved populations for lead poisoning prevention services in Philadelphia. According to the Philadelphia Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP), the lack of a systemized approach in reaching homeless families has resulted in very few families receiving services with virtually no follow-up services once they obtain stable housing. Philadelphia CLPPP has highlighted families in transition as a top priority for reducing the number of children impacted by lead. Research reflects that low-income, transient families are more likely to experience a greater number of years in substandard housing, thus increasing their risk of lead poisoning, as well as additional environmental health threats. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, published data on blood lead levels among homeless children are inadequate, however given the known risk factors, such as poverty, poor nutrition, dilapidated housing, and dusty environments, homeless children should be considered high-risk for lead poisoning.

The Lead Safe Babies for Families in Transition (LSB-FIT) program’s goal is to ensure that homeless children never become lead poisoned by providing group and/or one-on-one education with a focus on reducing lead hazards and increasing blood screening for homeless children. The target population is caregivers with babies and pregnant women living in homeless shelters and transitional housing in Philadelphia. LSB-FIT is a pilot-program targeting populations that are traditionally difficult to reach. NNCC has had limited success in providing lead prevention services to homeless families, however, a system has never been in place to ensure all children in Philadelphia’s shelters and transitional housing have access to primary prevention services. The overall goal of LSB-FIT is to ensure that homeless children and their caregivers are connected to lead poisoning prevention resources and services in Philadelphia.

The Outreach and Education Corps Member will provide community service under AmeriCorps U.S. Corporation for National Service’s ClearCorps program (http://www.clearcorps.org) (http://www.nationalservice.gov). ClearCorps is a national 501(c)3 non-profit working to protect the potential of children through education, training, and advocacy. ClearCorps volunteers work with local communities to raise awareness about children’s environmental health issues, identify the issues, and help find solutions. This position is not considered a job and is referred to as a service position. All potential candidates should familiarize themselves with the AmeriCorps Model of Community Service and determine if this position is the right fit.

Individuals will be trained in group workshops and individual education protocol and environmental health issues upon entry into the program. The position is part time (approximately 25 hours per week), lasts nine months (900 hours), and offers an educational stipend after successful completion. The Outreach and Education Corps Member will receive a bi-monthly stipend based on the living wage in Philadelphia. Work hours will be from Monday through Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours.

* RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Outreach and Education Corps Member will primarily conduct educational group workshops focusing on childhood lead poisoning prevention. Workshops will typically be conducted in transitional housing and homeless shelters in Philadelphia, however providing one-on-one education and workshops in additional community settings will be required. The Outreach and Education Corps Member will also assist in building a network of program partners, maintaining contact with partners, and working to develop site specific schedules to reach program goals.

• Help caregivers and pregnant women learn effective techniques to prevent their children from ever being lead poisoned

• Conduct educational workshops and individual education sessions in homeless shelters and transitional housing and develop site specific schedules

• Work with Program Manager to refer clients into Lead Safe Babies (LSB) program upon obtaining stable housing

• Assist in program development, building partner networks, and carry out program goals set forth by program funders and partners.

• Assist in training of shelter / transitional housing staff on controlling lead hazards as well as identifying and controlling additional environmental health threats to children, including asthma triggers, pesticides and poisons, safety and injury prevention, and integrated pest management

• Communicate, collaborate, and report to Program Manager the necessary information for monthly data reporting.

• Maintain accurate records of all interactions with clients through an online database and document files.

• Complete additional responsibilities related to outreach work, such as health fairs and community events, as deemed necessary.

* REQUIREMENTS:

• Local travel is required for the position. Individuals will be reimbursed for mileage or given SEPTA passes or tokens to facilitate travel.

Forward Resume to: Todd Ziegler
Address: 260 S Broad St 18th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Fax#: 215.731.2400
E-mail: tziegler@nncc.us