Registered Dietitian

Venice Family Clinic is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to people in need with compassion, dignity and respect. In November 2021, Venice Family Clinic merged with South Bay Family Health Care, uniting more than a century of experience helping patients regardless of their income, insurance or immigration status. The organization now has more than 500 staff who serve 45,000 people from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay. We have 17 locations plus 2 mobile clinics and an expansive street medicine program for people experiencing homelessness. Read more about us at venicefamilyclinic.org. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are core values of the Venice Family Clinic. We believe the professional and clinical environments are enhanced when diverse groups of people with diverse ideas come together.

This position is responsible for providing content area expertise in the areas of Child Nutrition according to Head Start Performance Standards.  This position is also responsible for prenatal nutrition.  This position consults with families and staff about best practices in breast feeding, infant and toddler nutrition, prenatal and family nutrition.  This position works closely with the Head Services Manager for meal service at play groups and family child care, center and CACFP regulations, trainings for parents and staff and meeting federal guidelines.

RESPONSIBILITIES/HUMAN RELATIONS:

1. Must maintain confidentiality. Use discretion with matters of families and program as appropriate. (Any misuse of confidential information may be basis for disciplinary action.)
2. Communication  techniques and expectations:

1. Model effective communication
2. Use appropriate channels and staff to problem-solve and refer families.
3. Meet problem situations with understanding and diplomacy.
4. Use a professional attitude and approach to working with parents, co-workers and community volunteers.
5. Participate and promote a positive working relationship with all staff and Early Head Start families.

RESPONSIBILITIES/PROFESSIONALISM AND WORK PLACE CONDUCT:

1. Be familiar with and adhere to Children First Early Head Start Program Policies and Procedures.
2. Cooperate with co-workers and respect their opinions and contributions. Share materials and ideas readily with co-workers.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Planning & Implementation

1. Has shared responsibility for the following areas in the Head Start Performance Standards:

                        Child Nutrition:

                                    Identification of Nutritional needs

                                    Nutritional Services

                                    Meal Service

                                    Family Assistance with Nutrition

                                    Food Safety and Sanitation

                                    Services to Pregnant Women

                                    Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

1. Provide content area expertise for development of policies and procedures for the nutrition services plan included in the program health plan.
2. Review, evaluate, and interpret children’s health records to help determine children’s nutritional status.
3. Assisting in developing, implementing and monitoring a system for the following:  identification of nutritional needs for each child; ensuring and documenting/tracking that nutritional intervention has been provided and facilitated for children and families with nutritional problems or concerns.
4. Manage Nutrition Assessments for the program
5. Participate monthly in Board report for Governance groups and PIR data
6. Lead the program’s nutrition needs assessment and revisit annually.
7. Work with other members of the management team and the Health Services Advisory Committee to formulate the nutrition sections of the program’s work plans as well as nutrition related policy and procedure development.
8. Act as a collaborative liaison for the program with other community food and nutrition agencies.
9. Review menus to ensure both USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program and Head Start Performance Standards are met by the meals and snacks served.  The menus will be signed and dated.
10. Modify menus as needed to ensure that the individual nutritional needs of each child are met by meals and snacks.
11. Provide special diets for children with identified needs, provide leadership and compliance on food allergies and substitutions. 
12. Manage the CACFP contract for food service, compliance and reporting to the Board of Directors.
13. Manage Food Service contract with food vendor for Center Base program meals and snacks. 
14. Conduct on-site visits to ensure that food is prepared in a safe and sanitary manner and that Head Start and USDA requirements are being met (including:  family style meal service, all meal components are being provided and children are involved in the meal service).
15. Ensure that nutrition-related training is provided for staff.
16. Monitor that the program conducts business with only licensed food vendors/caterers that all compliance with federal, local, state and migrant food sanitation and safety laws is current and posted.
17. Work with the Early Childhood team to ensure that relevant nutrition activities are part of the curriculum.
18. Counsel families, individually or in groups regarding the specific nutritional needs of their children.
19. Provide input regarding the ordering of materials and supplies related to nutrition.
20. Ensure that breast milk and formula are provided are under proper handling and storage conditions.
21. Registered Dietitian monitors and maintains CACFP records, and trains staff on CACFP responsibility.

Training:

1. Makes necessary recommendations for appropriate training needs to meet program goals and objectives based on working with Children First Early Head Start staff.
2. Designs and develops in-service training for Education staff depending on the specific family situation and Head Start Performance Standards.
3. Provide training around Nutrition policies and procedures.

Train Home Visitors, Center Teachers and the Child Care Education Manager, Site Director regarding how to work with families and to identify nutritional needs.