Case planner vs crisis counselor

The differences between case planners and crisis counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a case planner, becoming a crisis counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $43,496 average annual salary of a case planner.

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

Case planner vs crisis counselor overview

	Case Planner	Crisis Counselor
Yearly salary	$43,496	$51,142
Hourly rate	$20.91	$24.59
Growth rate	12%	12%
Number of jobs	36,065	76,255
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	43	41
Years of experience	12	4

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 crisis counselor do?

A crisis counselor is responsible for providing assistance and emotional support to clients under crises or mental health emergencies caused by stress, trauma, grief, and other factors. Most crisis counselors work at clinics or counseling centers, and there are instances where they can be at schools and organizations. Aside from diagnosing and providing specific treatments, a crisis counselor must also build rapport with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way, and serving as a positive influence in their journey to recovery.

Case planner vs crisis counselor salary

Case planners and crisis counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Case Planner	Crisis Counselor
Average salary	$43,496	$51,142
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $57,000	Between $37,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Islandia, NY	-
Highest paying state	New Jersey	-
Best paying company	The New York Foundling	-
Best paying industry	Professional	-

Differences between case planner and crisis counselor education

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

	Case Planner	Crisis Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Case planner vs crisis counselor demographics

Here are the differences between case planners' and crisis counselors' demographics:

	Case Planner	Crisis Counselor
Average age	43	41
Gender ratio	Male, 19.2% Female, 80.8%	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%
Race ratio	Black 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	11%	15%

Differences between case planner and crisis counselor 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.

Crisis counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Conduct mental health evaluations and behavioral health crisis assessments for determination of functioning and mental status of patients.
Provide education to patients about relevant aspects of mental illness and/or chemical dependency to support maximum utilization of treatment.
Train to use CPI, MOAB, and CPR as needed.
Aid callers/chatters suffering from various life crises by use of strong listening skills, empathy, and compassion.
Make patient referrals to outpatient medical clinics, community services, or rehabilitation facilities.

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Case planner vs crisis counselor skills

Common case planner skills

Social Work, 18%
Foster Care, 16%
NYC, 5%
Substance Abuse, 5%
Crisis Intervention, 5%
NYS, 4%

Common crisis counselor skills

Social Work, 21%
Patients, 8%
Mental Health Crisis, 6%
Social Services, 5%
Crisis Management, 4%
Suicide Prevention, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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