Early Childhood Ohana Support Specialist

Job Purpose
The ʻOhana Support Specialist (OSS) provides direct services for Early Childhood (EC) initiatives which supports families with young Native Hawaiian children aged 0-5. The OSS is responsible for providing comprehensive, individualized and group family support services to families with young Native Hawaiian children aged 0-5. This position handles case management and coordination to help families reach their goals in education, employment, and economic stability. The ʻOhana Support 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 support families focusing on increasing education, developing life skills, and supporting workforce development to achieve economic stability and maintain stable housing.
• Collaborates with the Early Childhood Specialists (ECS) and LT Housing Navigator (HN) to meet the needs of families by sharing information on available resources and making community referrals. Actively assists families with completing applications and accessing services.
• Serves as the liaison and primary contact between LT and the property management company for EC’s Kīhene Lehua housing support. Handles communication, coordinates applications, move-ins, move-outs, addresses issues, improves processes, and manages other related needs. Regularly provides timely updates and feedback to the leadership team on the partnership.
• Collaborates with the Early Childhood Specialists (ECS) and LT Housing Navigator (HN) to create and monitor Hoʻomohala service plan goals.
• Maintains good and working knowledge of community resources relating but not limited to mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, workforce development, education and housing.
• Meets individually with families as needed to provide case management support and education relating to financial literacy, workforce development, higher education and trades (e.g. budgeting, resume building, interview preparation, GED applications, and career planning).
• Coordinates with partners and community resources to offer programs related to financial literacy, workforce development, higher education and trades.
• Provides program assistance to ECS and HN as needed including but not limited to transportation, program planning and implementation, chaperoning during activities, etc.
• 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

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, early childhood, marriage and family therapy, or other related field required.
• 2 years of professional experience working in the early childhood field with parents and young children preferred.
• 2 years of case management, project management or coordination required.
• Preferred candidates will have strong case management, coordination, and communication skills to effectively collaborate with internal teammates and external partners.
• 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.
• 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: ʻOhana Support Specialist Reports to: Program Manager, Early Childhood
FLSA Status: FT; Exempt Aligned Executive: Vice President and Chief Program Officer
Kipuka: Liliʻuonamoku Department: Kamaliʻi Wellbeing