HCAN is hiring a one year full-time Start Early with Education and Care (SEEC) Fellow for an emerging policy professional who is currently or recently in a graduate-level program in law, public policy, public administration, or public health.
The HCAN Start Early with Education and Care (SEEC) Fellowship Program seeks to build a pipeline of professionals with experience and expertise in early childhood care and education (ECCE) policy. The 2024-2025 SEEC Fellowship will focus on the policies and investments that advance recruitment and retention of a strong and skilled ECCE workforce, a necessary component to building an array of quality, accessible ECCE programs for the children of Hawaii.
The SEEC Fellow will report to the HCAN Director of Early Education and Health Policy, and be a part of a team of HCAN policy professionals with expertise in a range of issues that impact vulnerable children and families, including ECCE, the economic well-being of working families, child abuse and neglect, food security, and oral health. These topics are complex and interconnected, and our holistic approach seeks to address the well-being of the child, their family, and the community around them.
The Fellow will:
- Research barriers, best practices, and opportunities to improve recruitment and retention of ECCE workers.
- Evaluate and monitor relevant federal, state and county laws and regulations and departmental policies.
- Analyze and synthesize ECCE workforce research and data to inform policy
- Write fact sheets, issue briefs, and other materials to educate and inform a variety of audiences regarding ECCE workforce issues.
- Educate policymakers, media, community partners about ECCE issues in Hawaiʻi.
- Develop policy improvements and funding for the ECCE workforce through administrative processes.
- Coordinate engagement of ECCE providers and workers with state agency staff on ECCE policy issues and program improvements that impact the ECCE workforce.
- Develop and maintain relationships with decision makers, such as agency officials and departmental staff.
- Build and sustain relationships with partner organizations and community stakeholders.
- Gather perspectives and data from partners to ground and inform policy goals and develop persuasive messages.
- Support coalition work to advance ECCE policy goals.
- Collaborate with key partners to develop, expand, and enhance their advocacy capacity and identify best practices.
The one year inaugural SEEC Fellowship will focus on researching and developing policy initiatives that improve the recruitment and retention of ECCE workers. There is a dire shortage of individuals willing and able to stay in or enter this sector, due to low wages, challenging working conditions, and high cost of living. HCAN seeks to advance innovative solutions that have been successfully utilized in other areas of the country to strengthen their ECCE workforce, including but not limited to wage supplements and stable compensation for ECCE providers.
View and download the full job description here.
About HCAN: HCAN is an independent, nonpartisan children’s policy and advocacy non-profit organization with both a 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 structure. Our C3 mission is to build a united voice educating and advocating for Hawai‘i’s children and our C4 mission is to ensure Hawaiʻi’s keiki have a bright future by building a powerful movement of families. Together our vision is to have well-funded, family-focused public policies and programs that prioritize keiki and gives families the resources to learn, grow, and thrive in Hawai’i.
HCAN engages, educates, and mobilizes families, community leaders, and policy makers to effect change so that all families can thrive. We work to improve the health, education, safety, economic security and development of Hawaiʻi’s children. We use a multi-faceted approach that comprises advocacy and policy change, coalition-building, community mobilization, data and research, and strategic partnerships.
Salary range: $65,000-$75,000/year. This is an exempt, full-time position.
Applications preferred by: May 31, 2024. We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis with a preferred start date of July 1. Submit your resume and cover letter below.