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Case planner vs counselor/case manager

The differences between case planners and counselor/case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a case planner and a counselor/case manager. Additionally, a case planner has an average salary of $43,496, which is higher than the $39,562 average annual salary of a counselor/case manager.

The top three skills for a case planner include social work, foster care and NYC. The most important skills for a counselor/case manager are crisis intervention, patients, and social work.

Case planner vs counselor/case manager overview

Case PlannerCounselor/Case Manager
Yearly salary$43,496$39,562
Hourly rate$20.91$19.02
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs36,06588,285
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

What does a case planner do?

Case planners are social workers who provide assistance to children and their families to improve their social and psychological functioning as well as maximize the well-being of families. These planners are required to design service plans that address the safety, behavioral, education, and permanency needs of families and adolescents. They must identify potential child abuse and report any suspected abuses to the appropriate authorities. Case planners must also facilitate counseling to domestic violence victims and assist families in obtaining protection orders from victim service nonprofit organizations.

What does a counselor/case manager do?

A Counselor provides advice for coping with everyday situations, relationships, health challenges, or disabilities of patients. Case Managers develop, monitor, and evaluate treatment plans and the progress of patients within the social service departments, healthcare companies, hospital networks, etc.

Case planner vs counselor/case manager salary

Case planners and counselor/case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Case PlannerCounselor/Case Manager
Average salary$43,496$39,562
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $57,000Between $32,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityIslandia, NYDenver, CO
Highest paying stateNew JerseyConnecticut
Best paying companyThe New York FoundlingParkland Hospital
Best paying industryProfessionalEducation

Differences between case planner and counselor/case manager education

There are a few differences between a case planner and a counselor/case manager in terms of educational background:

Case PlannerCounselor/Case Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Case planner vs counselor/case manager demographics

Here are the differences between case planners' and counselor/case managers' demographics:

Case PlannerCounselor/Case Manager
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 19.2% Female, 80.8%Male, 30.8% Female, 69.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 25.9% Asian, 6.1% White, 48.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.7% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between case planner and counselor/case manager duties and responsibilities

Case planner example responsibilities.

  • Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
  • Keep current on Medicaid rates/services they will reimburse for Medicaid recipients.
  • Sign patients up for all Medicare and Medicaid benefits that are offer to them.
  • Perform concurrent review to assure appropriateness of admission, inpatient/acute care, rehabilitation/SNF status, and discharge using establish InterQual guidelines.
  • Make referrals to home care and/or DME vendors using Medicare/Medicaid criteria/eligibility.

Counselor/case manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
  • Provide individual therapy for addict patients with depression, bipolar, anxiety, attention deficit, antisocial/borderline/obsessive compulsive/narcissistic tendencies.
  • Collaborate with patients to develop individualize treatment plans and assist patients with updating their goals according to their progress.
  • Perform concurrent review to assure appropriateness of admission, inpatient/acute care, rehabilitation/SNF status, and discharge using establish InterQual guidelines.
  • Prepare documentation for HOPWA applications.

Case planner vs counselor/case manager skills

Common case planner skills
  • Social Work, 18%
  • Foster Care, 16%
  • NYC, 5%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
  • NYS, 4%
Common counselor/case manager skills
  • Crisis Intervention, 13%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Intake Assessments, 6%
  • Substance Abuse Issues, 6%

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