ʻOhana Support Specialist II - Kauaʻi

The ʻOhana Support Specialist (OSS) II provides direct services and programs that support Native Hawaiian families and kamalei of all ages, with a focus on families with young children aged 0-5 as staffing and program capacity allow. This position offers comprehensive, individualized, and group family support services that build on families' strengths, relationships, and goals.

Responsibilities

• Apply a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to provide comprehensive case management and individualized support to families, focusing on strengthening family well-being, increasing education and life skills, supporting workforce development, achieving economic stability, and maintaining stable housing.
• Provide individualized coaching and advanced resource navigation, including community referrals, by maintaining strong knowledge of available resources related to mental health, substance use, domestic violence, workforce development, education, housing, and other areas impacting family well-being.
• Deliver ʻohana support through comprehensive assessments, service plans, education, coaching, and information sharing to help families identify strengths, navigate challenges, access resources, and progress toward self-identified goals.
• Provide crisis prevention and intervention support as needed, utilizing appropriate assessment, de-escalation, and referral practices.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation and electronic records in accordance with LT policies and program requirements.
• Facilitate activities, groups, and structured learning experiences, designing and delivering curriculum that integrates LT values, cultural grounding, infant and early childhood mental health principles, early childhood development models, and positive youth development frameworks.
• Coach participants toward individual growth and goal progression in group settings.
• Support program evaluation activities, including data collection, registration and consent form management, and program outcome reporting.
• Lead logistical implementation of programming, including data entry, scheduling, and coordination of program resources (e.g., staffing, facilities, transportation, food, supplies).
• Collaborate with LT teammates to meet the diverse needs of families and adapt group learning accordingly.
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners and service providers to strengthen resource networks and expand opportunities for families.
• Represent LT in community settings to support collaboration, partnership development, and increased access to resources.
• Actively participate in agency and program meetings, professional development opportunities, seminars, and conferences to enhance knowledge, skills, and practice.
• Participate in program planning, budget development, revision, and evaluation.
• Engage in continuing education and training opportunities for professional development.
• Contribute to the Trust’s success by accepting new assignments, helping team members, learning new skills, and striving to improve team and organizational results.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree preferred; Bachelor’s degree required in social work, early childhood, marriage and family therapy, or another related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience providing case management, family support, community engagement, or service coordination.
• Professional experience working in the early childhood field with parents and young children preferred.
• Strong case management, coordination, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to independently navigate complex situations and collaborate effectively with internal teammates, families, and external partners.
• Experience partnering with families facing complex challenges, building on their strengths, resilience, and capacity for change (e.g., child welfare, homelessness, criminal justice, mental health, domestic violence, or substance use).
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as needed.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Valid driver’s 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.

Skills

• Aloha: Awareness and approach to the work with compassion, empathy, and kindness.
• ʻImi Naʻauao: A constant desire for seeking knowledge; lifelong learner.
• Poʻokele: Desire to perform in excellence.
• Wiwoʻole: 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 necessary, 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 remain calm and controlled when faced with challenging situations.

Organization Competencies

• Alignment with Queen’s legacy: Understanding and appreciation of Queen Liliʻuokalani’s story, her legacy, and Hawaiian culture is foundational to staff’s commitment to working with Hawaiian children, families, and communities. Demonstrates respect for and appreciation of Hawaiian values, history, and culture, understanding its implication in one’s work, fostering meaningful relationships, and embracing the community served.
• Hoʻomau i ka ʻimi Naʻauao (Continuous Learning and Improvement): Committed to creating and reinforcing an environment of continuous learning and improvement.
• Hoʻike i na Manaʻo Pono (Effective Communication): Communicates with those we serve and each other in a consistent manner that results in mutual understanding, harmony, and action.
• Noʻonoʻo 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.
• Hoʻokumu aʻe or ʻImi hakuhia (Innovation): Identifies and integrates creative ideas into new or existing services and promotes effective problem-solving.
• Pilina Hoʻohana a me ka Hana Hilinaʻi (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.
• Hoʻonui I ka ʻIke (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.

Reports to: Program Manager, Early Childhood. FLSA Status: Full-time; Exempt.