Advocate vs foster care worker

The differences between advocates and foster care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an advocate, becoming a foster care worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a foster care worker has an average salary of $46,037, which is higher than the $39,497 average annual salary of an advocate.

The top three skills for an advocate include CPR, customer service and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for a foster care worker are foster care, social work, and child abuse.

Advocate vs foster care worker overview

	Advocate	Foster Care Worker
Yearly salary	$39,497	$46,037
Hourly rate	$18.99	$22.13
Growth rate	12%	9%
Number of jobs	74,970	151,625
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	43	42
Years of experience	12	4

What does an advocate do?

An advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause. Most of the duties will vary depending on the line of organization or duty involved; however, an advocate must have extensive knowledge or background on the subject matter. Furthermore, an advocate must be present at gatherings regarding the cause, assist in the negotiation and mediation processes involving contracts and legal documentation, provide or convey accurate information, and defend what they represent.

What does a foster care worker do?

A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.

Advocate vs foster care worker salary

Advocates and foster care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Advocate	Foster Care Worker
Average salary	$39,497	$46,037
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $58,000	Between $32,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Baltimore, MD
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	Microsoft	Riverview Health
Best paying industry	Government	Construction

Differences between advocate and foster care worker education

There are a few differences between an advocate and a foster care worker in terms of educational background:

	Advocate	Foster Care Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Psychology	Social Work
Most common college	SUNY at Binghamton	Boston University

Advocate vs foster care worker demographics

Here are the differences between advocates' and foster care workers' demographics:

	Advocate	Foster Care Worker
Average age	43	42
Gender ratio	Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3%	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%	Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	11%	10%

Differences between advocate and foster care worker duties and responsibilities

Advocate example responsibilities.

Develop and maintain communication and contact with community services organizations and other agencies concern with veterans and public service programs.
Perform CPR and a as needed.
Administer first aid and CPR in emergency situations.
Record daily efforts make into an ETO software system.
Perform basic counseling, basic interviewing, conflict mediation, and advocacy for batter women.
Identify and provide emergency crisis service as needed, often through mediation or phone calls.

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Foster care worker example responsibilities.

Conduct unscheduled regular school visits to attain records of attendance, suspensions, IEP, and treatment plans.
Manage to write progress note, complete FASP's and input information on PROMIS on a timely manner.
Manage caseload of 18 23 children and adolescents in DSS custody due to abuse, neglect and criminal activity.
Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.

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Advocate vs foster care worker skills

Common advocate skills

CPR, 12%
Customer Service, 11%
Developmental Disabilities, 11%
Cleanliness, 10%
Patients, 8%
Crisis Intervention, 6%

Common foster care worker skills

Foster Care, 26%
Social Work, 19%
Child Abuse, 7%
Social Services, 6%
Foster Children, 5%
Community Resources, 4%

Advocate vs. similar jobs

Advocate related careers

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Advocate jobs by location

Updated January 8, 2025

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