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Child advocate vs child support specialist

The differences between child advocates and child support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a child advocate and a child support specialist. Additionally, a child support specialist has an average salary of $38,271, which is higher than the $37,885 average annual salary of a child advocate.

The top three skills for a child advocate include social work, safety planning and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a child support specialist are customer service, social work, and child support cases.

Child advocate vs child support specialist overview

Child AdvocateChild Support Specialist
Yearly salary$37,885$38,271
Hourly rate$18.21$18.40
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs88,678143,623
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Child advocate vs child support specialist salary

Child advocates and child support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Child AdvocateChild Support Specialist
Average salary$37,885$38,271
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $46,000Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityPasadena, TXRockville, MD
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companySuncoast CenterUniversity of Rochester
Best paying industryNon ProfitsGovernment

Differences between child advocate and child support specialist education

There are a few differences between a child advocate and a child support specialist in terms of educational background:

Child AdvocateChild Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeHunter College of the City University of New YorkUniversity of Pennsylvania

Child advocate vs child support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between child advocates' and child support specialists' demographics:

Child AdvocateChild Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 13.1% Female, 86.9%Male, 19.9% Female, 80.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage10%10%

Differences between child advocate and child support specialist duties and responsibilities

Child advocate example responsibilities.

  • Offer immediate practical assistance to the family in obtaining Medicaid coverage, financial assistance or help with housing.
  • Assist patients in securing medical coverage by screening refer patients and coordinating the application process through successful approval.
  • Complete risk assessments and develop comprehensive intervention plans to address safety, communication, and problem solving abilities.

Child support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage project SharePoint site for the purpose of supporting ongoing collaboration
  • Train in CPR and child restraint.
  • Represent clients during mediation proceedings in court.
  • Process summons, subpoenas, appeals and motions.
  • Change diapers, clean and disinfect center to meet DHS standars.
  • Used mediation skills to dissolve disputes between custodial and non custodial parents.
  • Show more

Child advocate vs child support specialist skills

Common child advocate skills
  • Social Work, 16%
  • Safety Planning, 11%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Child Abuse, 5%
  • Child Advocacy, 5%
Common child support specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Child Support Cases, 8%
  • Court Orders, 6%
  • Child Support Orders, 6%
  • Child Support Enforcement, 5%

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