Cultural Integration Specialist

Who we are

St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawai‘i uplifts families through compassionate care and a strong commitment to community. Guided by our mission to provide excellent, ‘ohana-centered hospice and supportive services, we remain rooted in our core values of grace, peace, unity, and legacy. Every team member plays a vital role in living this mission with heart, dedication, and a spirit of service. We cultivate a supportive environment where excellence is nurtured, teamwork is celebrated, and each person's contribution is valued. At St. Francis, healthcare is more than a profession—it's a calling. We welcome you to join our team and help carry forward our legacy of caring for Hawai‘i's people with purpose and aloha.

About the role

The Cultural Integration Specialist is responsible for designing, stewarding, and sustaining culturally grounded hospice care pathways that align with cultural values, practices, and community expectations. This role places a strong emphasis on advancing health equity and improving access to culturally responsive end-of-life care for underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized populations.

The position serves as a trusted bridge between the hospice organization and diverse communities, actively addressing barriers to care, disparities in end-of-life services, and gaps in culturally appropriate support. The Cultural Integration Specialist ensures care is delivered with cultural humility, authenticity, and integrity while fostering inclusive, community-informed models of care that honor each patient’s lived experience, beliefs, and traditions.

Partnership & Trust-Building

• Build and sustain trusted relationships with underserved communities, including Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, immigrant, rural, low-income, and linguistically diverse populations.
• Identify and address systemic barriers to hospice access, such as mistrust of healthcare systems, cultural stigma, financial constraints, and language access needs.
• Engage community leaders, kupuna, faith-based organizations, grassroots groups, and non-traditional partners to co-create culturally responsive care approaches.
• Facilitate listening sessions, outreach events, and culturally safe spaces to elevate community voice and inform program development.
• Serve as a primary liaison between St. Francis hospice and community groups.

Cultural Care Program Design & Stewardship

• Lead the development and stewardship of culturally grounded hospice care practices that are responsive to the unique needs of underserved populations, including adaptations for language, literacy, cultural beliefs, and family structure.
• Identify, vet, and maintain ethical partnerships with culturally specific end-of-life care practitioners.
• Define appropriate use, timing, consent, and boundaries for cultural practices in hospice settings.
• Ensure cultural practices are not misused, commodified, or applied performatively.
• Integrate traditional healing practices, spiritual care approaches, and culturally meaningful rituals into hospice care in ethically appropriate ways.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure care plans reflect social determinants of health and equity considerations.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness in reducing disparities in hospice utilization and patient/family experience.
• Researches and identifies opportunities for grant funding to support Cultural Care Program initiatives.

Internal Education & Cultural Competency Support

• Serve as a cultural advisor and resource to clinical leadership and interdisciplinary teams.
• Support internal education focused on cultural humility and values in end-of-life care.
• Provide guidance in culturally sensitive situations.
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational initiatives related to health equity, cultural responsiveness, and community engagement.

Quality and Data C ollection

• Track and analyze program metrics related to hospice access, utilization, patient satisfaction, and health equity outcomes among underserved populations.
• Maintain accurate CRM records for contacts, outreach activities, events, and referral source attribution.
• Coordinate partner agreements related to cultural care programs.

Education/Training

• Master’s degree in social work, public health, or healthcare administration.

Licensure and Certifications

• Valid Hawaii driver’s license, with personal vehicle available for business use with current registration and insurance, and good driving record as evidenced by clean traffic abstract.
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or other relevant clinical licensure. Relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of clinical licensure.

• Experience and Other Qualifications
• • Minimum of 5 years of experience in a healthcare or social services environment, with a demonstrated focus on culturally responsive or equity-centered care.
  • Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.
  • Strong understanding of social determinants of health and barriers to care access.
  • Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse professional and nonprofessional staff.
  • Demonstrated computer literacy, including proficiency with common office software and systems.

Benefits Overview

At St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaiʻi, we believe in sharing the same heart and level of care for our team members as we do for the clients we serve. Our comprehensive benefits are designed with the whole employee in mind. From resources for Professional and Educational development opportunities to an employer matching 403(B) retirement plan, we seek to provide a workplace which helps our team members be their best. Below is a summary of just a few of our employee benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Drug & Vision Coverage
• Flexible Spending Account (for Health and Dependent Care)
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Extended Sick Leave benefits
• Educational Reimbursement and Professional Leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Much more!