Curious about NHSA’s Health Service Certification? As part of Head Start’s comprehensive services, every Head Start and Early Head Start program provides services to promote health, behavioral health, and safety for children and families. New and experienced health services staff can use Academy at NHSA courses to learn more about health services and the role of health services staff.

In this one-hour information session, you will meet a course instructor and a certification graduate. We will also share information about the learning platform candidates will use, and the support that is provided to candidates as they work through the competencies. The end result is a certification that meets the qualification requirements laid out in the Head Start Performance Standards for health service professionals, and an achievement of which you can be very proud!

There will be an opportunity for Q&A so interested candidates can better understand the certification requirements and see themselves completing this certification.

Presenters:

Kristina Ellis, Director

Kristina is director of The Academy at NHSA. As a Head Start alum, Kristina’s interest in early childhood stems from a rich background in social services work and her commitment to early childhood education and family engagement. Before NHSA, Kristina worked for CAP Tulsa, one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in Oklahoma and a nationally recognized provider of research-based, high-quality early childhood education for low-income children.

Jackie Rivera, Instructor

Jackie has been a Health Administrator at a Head Start in central Missouri for over 10 years and is a Certified Community Action Professional. Before becoming a nurse, Jackie spent 10 years as an early childhood education teacher. Jackie oversees health and safety at her agency and is project manager for the agency’s Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Project and Women and Infant Relief Program. Jackie is a Licensed Practical Nurse, Child Development Associate, and Lactation Counselor. Jackie is certified to train in many topics, such as Compassion Fatigue, CPR/First Aid Motivational Interviewing, I Am Moving, I Am Learning, Family Wellness, Infant Massage, Mind in The Making, and Experiential Facilitation. Jackie has had the honor of being named for a National Child Plus Community Service Award and received MOCAN Healthcare Profession Award.

Certification Graduate, Adriene Etheridge-Holden, YMCA of  Metro Atlanta Early Learning Health Service Manager

Certification Graduate, Rene Guernsey, Floyd County Head Start Health Assistant