Early Childhood Specialist

Job Purpose

The Early Childhood Specialist I provides direct services for Early Childhood (EC) initiatives that support families with young Native Hawaiian children aged 0‑5. The ECS I is responsible for providing comprehensive, individualized, and group family support services, including engagement, screening, care coordination, education, and resource connection. The specialist will also work with the program team to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative and impactful programming for our families, delivering services across multiple sites island‑wide.

• 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 plan goals that strengthen parent‑child relationships, promote social‑emotional development, connect families to resources, and support 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 promote parent independence (e.g., financial literacy, workforce development, higher education, and trades). Plans other events or activities as assigned.
• Maintains a good working knowledge of community resources relating to mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, workforce development, education, and housing.
• Collaborates with other EC teammates to address eligibility screening, referral, assessment, intervention, and evaluation of family needs, providing appropriate interventions to meet identified needs, including 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 record‑keeping functions as required for LT’s internal database in a timely manner.
• 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.

• 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 improve team and organization results.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, early childhood, marriage and family therapy, or another 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.

• 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…