Specialist, Early Childhood

Job Purpose

The Early Childhood Specialist (ECS) provides direct services for Early Childhood (EC) initiatives which supports families with young Native Hawaiian children aged 0-5. The ECS is responsible for providing comprehensive, individualized and group family support services to families with young Native Hawaiian children aged 0-5. This position provides clinical services to support families in strengthening parent-child attachments, improving emotional well-being, healing from trauma, and fostering cultural connections. The Early Childhood Specialist will also work with the program team to develop, implement and evaluate innovative and impactful programing for our families.

Essential Responsibilities

• Applies a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to conduct comprehensive assessments of families, utilizing the Pua Lili‘u assessment tools and other screens. Co-develops written Hoʻomohala service plans with frequent updates, focusing on strengthening parent-child attachments, healing trauma, and providing social-emotional support to help children meet developmental milestones and for families to achieve stability and independence.
• Identifies potential families who meet the eligibility for and could benefit from EC’s Kīhene Lehua housing support.
• Provides in-depth clinical counseling to assist individuals and families with addressing a variety of complex concerns.
• Co-facilitates programs to support and enhance parent-child relationships, social-emotional learning, parent independence, healing from trauma and increase cultural knowledge. Plans other events or activities as assigned.
• Provides Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) to parents and children.
• Collaborates with the EC ‘Ohana Support Specialist and LT Housing Navigator to meet the various needs of families.
• Assesses family situations to determine the ability of the family to provide a safe, nurturing home for the children and develops plans with the family to strengthen or remediate the situation.
• Makes referrals to needed community services to address family needs and support Hoʻomohala service plan goals.
• Encourages family participation, aims to keep them in the program, and ensures program safety.
• Performs written and electronic recordkeeping functions as required for LT’s internal database on a timely basis.
• Works in tandem with LT teammates to integrate services across the agency.
• Performs crisis prevention as needed.
• Actively participates in agency and program staff meetings, as well as professional group seminars or conferences to enhance professional knowledge and job skills.
  
  

Other Duties

• Participates in program planning, budget development, revision, and evaluation.
• Participates in continuing education and training opportunities for professional development.
• Contributes to the Trust’s success by accepting new assignments, helping team members, learning new skills, and striving to improves team and organization results.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work, early childhood, marriage and family therapy, or other related field required.
• 2 years post-Master’s experience in casework, group work or community level experience required.
• 2 years of professional experience working in the social work field with parents and young children required.
• Currently holds or working towards clinical licensure and wilingness to complete Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) endorsement required.
• Preferred candidates will have experience working with families facing complex challenges, including but not limited to system involvement (child welfare, homelessness, criminal justice), mental health, domestic violence, and substance use.
• Preferred candidates will be able to work independently with minimal guidance while delivering high-quality services in alignment with ethical social work practices.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and occasional holidays as needed. Ability to travel as needed.
• Valid driver license, clean traffic abstract, and access to a privately owned automobile with valid no-fault insurance. 
• TB clearance. 
• First Aid and CPR/AED Certification preferred.
  
  

Job Competencies

• Aloha: awareness and approach to the work with compassion, empathy, and kindness.
• ‘Imi Na’auao: a constant desire for seeking knowledge; lifelong learner.
• Po’okele: desire to perform in excellence.
• Wiwo’ole: maintain a courageous, brave, and fearless mindset.
• Pono: understand the appropriateness of time, place, reason, people, and tools
• Kuleana: bring a deep sense of responsibility and accountability. Ability to work flexible hours when nessary, including nights and weekends.
• Collaboration: Ability to interact effectively with youth, community partners, and multi-disciplinary teams. Knowledge of community resources and services
• Ethical Practice: Model the highest level of ethical behavior, integrity, and social responsibility. Uphold and embody all LT values.
• Communication: Clearly convey and receive information and ideas. Engage the listener and invite response and feedback. Demonstrate strong written, oral, and listening skills.
• Cultural Competence: Respect and relate well to people from varied backgrounds and sensitive to group differences.
• Relationship Management: Experience working with staff at all levels in a collaborative environment; ability to promote and sustain positive workplace values and relationships.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to work well under pressure and to remain calm and controlled when faced with challenging situations.
  
  

Organization Competencies

• Alignment with Queen’s legacy: Understanding and appreciation of Queen Liliuokalani’s story, her legacy and the Hawaiian Culture is foundational to staff’s commitment to working with our Hawaiian children, families and communities. Demonstrates respect for and appreciation of Hawaiian values history, and culture, understanding its implication in one’s work, in fostering meaningful relationships, and in embracing the community served.
• Ho`omau i ka `imi Na`auao (Continuous Learning and Improvement): Committed to creating and reinforcing an environment of continuous learning and improvement.
• Ho`ike i na Mana`o Pono (Effective Communication): Communicates with those we serve and each other in a consistent manner that results in mutual understanding, harmony, and action.
• No'ono'o loi (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving): Actively and skillfully understands, conceptualizes, applies, analyzes, synthesizes, and/or evaluates information and develops and supports fact-based analyses and recommendations
• Ho'o kumu a'e or `Imi hakuhia (Innovation): Identifies and integrates creative ideas into new or existing services and promotes effective problem-solving.
• Pilina Ho`ohana a me ka Hana Hilina`i (Building Relationships and Creating Trust): Manages relationships to create optimal opportunities and move the organization forward.
• Alu Like I ka Hana (Teamwork): Works cooperatively and collaboratively with others throughout the organization in alignment with the organization's objectives.
• Ho`onui I ka `Ike (Capacity Building): Encourages personal growth by exhibiting trust and a belief in the capacity of others.
  
  

Mental And Physical Demands

• Perform light physical work, including climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and lifting weight of up to 25 pounds. Exposed to outdoor climate and diverse terrain.
  
  

Terms and Conditions of Employment

• As a condition of employment, employee will be subject to LT’s policies and procedures.
  
  

SALARY RANGE ADVERTISED IS THE HIRING OR STARTING RANGE FOR THE ROLE.

Job Title: Early Childhood Specialist

Reports to: Manager, Early Childhood

FLSA Status: FT; Exempt

Aligned Executive: Vice President and Chief Program Officer

Kīpuka: Liliʻuonamoku

Department: Kamaliʻi Wellbeing