First of Its Kind in the State of Hawaiʻi: A Major Step Forward for the Early Intervention Workforce

Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)

A core focus of ECAS Team 5 (CSPD) is strengthening relationships across government, higher education, and community partners to break down silos and move work forward collectively. This collaboration is essential because members of ECAS Team 5 serve Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable keiki and families.

Within Team 5, the Preservice Workgroup plays a key role in examining Hawai‘i’s Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs)—reviewing current programs, teaching standards, and identifying gaps in academic preparation. One long-standing challenge has been the absence of a dedicated academic program preparing future professionals for the field of Early Intervention (EI). While Hawai‘i offers Special Education and Early Childhood degrees, there has been no program focused specifically on preparing practitioners to serve infants and toddlers with significant support needs.

Recognizing this gap, Dr. Elizabeth Park of Chaminade University, a former Early Interventionist, approached Team 5 after the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released funding opportunities. She expressed interest in pursuing a personnel preparation grant to develop an Early Intervention program—something that would meaningfully strengthen Hawai‘i’s EI workforce.

Through collaboration between Chaminade University and the CSPD Team, Chaminade successfully submitted a proposal to establish a post-baccalaureate certificate in Early Intervention—and was fully funded. The five-year grant totals $1.25 million.

Over the next five years, Chaminade will develop and validate a culturally responsive curriculum aligned with the Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) standards developed by the Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC). The grant will also fund two cohorts of scholars, covering tuition, providing a book stipend, offering mentorship, and supporting field-based practicum experiences with the Hawai‘i Department of Health, Early Intervention Section. Graduates will commit to working in Hawai‘i’s EI system to fulfill service payback requirements. 

The grant, Project MĀLAMA (Mentoring and Advancing Local Access for Meaningful Achievement), aims to:

  • Address the statewide shortage of qualified Early Intervention professionals

  • Establish and sustain a post-baccalaureate certificate program in Early Intervention at Chaminade University

  • Institutionalize a standards-based, culturally grounded curriculum with applied learning experiences

  • Provide funded pathways, mentorship, and career opportunities for individuals committed to serving young children with developmental concerns

This milestone represents a systems-level change for Hawai‘i’s Early Intervention system. 

By developing a local, sustainable workforce pathway grounded in Hawai‘i’s cultural and community context, we are expanding opportunities for students to enter the EI profession and strengthening the long-term stability of the statewide workforce.

This is the first program of its kind in Hawai‘i—a significant accomplishment for the Early Childhood Intervention system and a hopeful sign for the future. 

Most importantly, increasing the number of well-prepared professionals ultimately ensures that more keiki and families receive timely, high-quality support during the most critical years of development.

Juliane Richter