Early Childhood Specialist I

Job Purpose
The Early Childhood Specialist I provides direct services for Early Childhood (EC) initiatives which supports families with young Native Hawaiian children aged 0-5. The ECS I is responsible for providing comprehensive, individualized and group family support services to families with young Native Hawaiian children aged 0-5. This position provides non-clinical support services, including engagement, screening, care coordination, education and resource connection. The Early Childhood Specialist I will also work with the program team to develop, implement and evaluate innovative and impactful programing for our families. This position provides island-wide support, including the delivery of programs and services across multiple sites.

Essential Responsibilities
• Applies a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to engage families and complete family-centered screenings and assessments using the Pua Liliʻu assessment tools and other approved screens.
• Collaborates with families to meet Hoʻomohala service plans goals that focus on strengthening parent-child relationships, promoting social-emotional development, connecting families to resources, and supporting progress toward family stability and independence.
• Provides counseling and education 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, increase cultural knowledge, and parent independence (e.g. financial literacy, workforce development, higher education and trades). Plans other events or activities as assigned.
• Maintains good and working knowledge of community resources relating but not limited to mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, workforce development, education and housing.
• Collaborate with other EC teammates to meet the various needs of families including eligibility screening, referral, assessment, internvention and evaluation of family needs and providing appropriate interventions to address identified needs. This includes referral to and monitoring of participation in the Hoʻokahua Kīhene Lehua residential program.
• 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
• 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 experience in casework, group work or community level experience preferred.
• 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 bring lived experience that informs their understanding of family systems, community resources, and the challenges faced by families with young children.
• 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.