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Connector vs family support specialist

The differences between connectors and family support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a connector, becoming a family support specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a connector has an average salary of $49,110, which is higher than the $37,343 average annual salary of a family support specialist.

The top three skills for a connector include community resources, care management and social work. The most important skills for a family support specialist are social work, child abuse, and patients.

Connector vs family support specialist overview

ConnectorFamily Support Specialist
Yearly salary$49,110$37,343
Hourly rate$23.61$17.95
Growth rate-4%9%
Number of jobs5,774143,739
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4042
Years of experience124

What does a connector do?

Connectors work with individuals to integrate them into the community. They help these people build skills and develop goals. Their job is to engage people to serve in community activities that are meaningful to them. They meet with their supervisors and other team members for new techniques and activities they can use in different cases. Ensuring that the goals they set for these individuals are appropriate, met, and implemented is also part of their job.

What does a family support specialist do?

A family support specialist is an individual who provides counseling and rehabilitation services to families who are facing crises so that their lives can be improved. Family support specialists conduct interviews with members of a family to determine areas that need support such as anti-social behavior, bullying, or domestic violence. They collaborate with healthcare and social professionals to evaluate caseload needs. In cases of relevant child protection, family support specialists are also required to attend court sessions.

Connector vs family support specialist salary

Connectors and family support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

ConnectorFamily Support Specialist
Average salary$49,110$37,343
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $79,000Between $24,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCTrenton, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyBP America IncCatholic Health East
Best paying industryEnergyProfessional

Differences between connector and family support specialist education

There are a few differences between a connector and a family support specialist in terms of educational background:

ConnectorFamily Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaHunter College of the City University of New York

Connector vs family support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between connectors' and family support specialists' demographics:

ConnectorFamily Support Specialist
Average age4042
Gender ratioMale, 55.8% Female, 44.2%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage7%10%

Differences between connector and family support specialist duties and responsibilities

Connector example responsibilities.

  • Require to analyze unusual incidents and determine whether there has been neglect and/or abuse by Medicaid residential providers and/or family members.
  • Signale worker operating hoisting equipment to lift and place steel member.
  • Operate pneumatic, power, hand tools, cutting torches, grinders, and demolition saws.
  • Conduct routine monitoring/review of HIV/AIDS cases, medical treatments/progress and clinical trials participation.

Family support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage RSP curriculum for wide spectrum of needs including LD and autism.
  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Provide first aid or CPR.
  • Provide intensive services to families that are DHS who are determine to be reunify with their families.
  • Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings, individual supervision, and other meetings require by DCF.
  • Provide activities supervision and individual counseling to DCFS wards of the state within a therapeutic milieu setting.
  • Show more

Connector vs family support specialist skills

Common connector skills
  • Community Resources, 20%
  • Care Management, 11%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Educational Materials, 10%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Social Services, 7%
Common family support specialist skills
  • Social Work, 23%
  • Child Abuse, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Child Development, 4%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
  • Foster Care, 4%

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