Health Coordinators Join Head Start Staff Navigating the world of health care became both more important and more intimidating in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. LCCAA Head Start has added two new positions to support families and staff in understanding how health and nutrition impact their youngsters.
about the agency.
“There is a lot that goes in to a Head Start program,” Cannon said. “I hope to be a resource to family service assistants and families to better explain how Head Start can be of assistance.”
Cannon is currently based at LCCAA’s Griswold Taylor Cannon and Head Start site and will Melissa Jarvis began also work with staff and serving as the program’s families at Cascade Head first School Health Coordinators at the end of February. Start and some of the agencies collaborative sites. She They are working to bolster the health-related systems was born and raised in Elyria. in place for Head Start families including the variety Lorain Proud! of screenings offered, the need to manage chronic conditions and the ongoing requirements related to the Jarvis spent almost two decades working with adults with disabilities through the Lorain County MRDD pandemic. board. She was born and raised in Lorain and lives “These ladies have been a real blessing,” said Health downtown near where she grew up and where many of and Nutrition Specialist Rebecca Rodriguez. “They are her neighbors have been LCCAA clients, she said. going to help us really expand the health literacy of our families and alleviate some concerns and frustration “The impact this organization has on the community is mind-blowing,” Jarvis said. “It really means a lot to me that are common among parents of young children.” to help people in my community.” Deeper Questions for Deeper Service After leaving her work with the adults she cared for, Head Start students get physicals and parents are Jarvis began working toward her Medical Assistant encouraged to keep up to date with wellness checks. certification at Ohio Business College. She was part of a They are also offered a variety of screenings at their group of OBC students who worked with LCCAA Head centers including vision, dental and lead contamination. Start on some of the screenings offered to families. She Cannon and Jarvis will help with updating forms and is based at Hopkins-Locke Head Start and also works systems to make these processes easier for parents and with staff and families at the Wellington and LaGrange staff. sites. “Coming from a medical background gives both ladies Both coordinators have been part of on-site wellness a different perspective,” Rodriguez said. “They will ask checks for students at morning drop off and are working deeper questions and provide better information to staff to get to know staff and families. Over the summer they while also helping parents learn how to advocate for will work on processes and in the fall plan to add items their children’s health.” such as managing an asthmatic child to their support of From Temp to Permanent
staff.
Cannon has worked as a pediatric medical assistant for seven years, including some experience with lowincome children in Cleveland. She earned her bachelor’s degree in health sciences last May from Cleveland State University and is a Certified Medical Assistant. She worked briefly as a temp in LCCAA’s Energy Services Department last fall, but said she previously knew little
The program also has received some new equipment for conducting screenings. Cannon and Jarvis will be providing training for staff this fall on needleless hemoglobin testers and new, less-invasive devices for hearing screenings. “It’s going to be very beneficial for everyone,” Rodriguez said.
