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Crisis worker vs intervention specialist

The differences between crisis workers and intervention 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 crisis worker and an intervention specialist. Additionally, an intervention specialist has an average salary of $50,180, which is higher than the $33,805 average annual salary of a crisis worker.

The top three skills for a crisis worker include patients, social work and mental health crisis. The most important skills for an intervention specialist are mental health, social work, and crisis intervention.

Crisis worker vs intervention specialist overview

Crisis WorkerIntervention Specialist
Yearly salary$33,805$50,180
Hourly rate$16.25$24.12
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs99,20169,156
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

What does a crisis worker do?

A crisis worker is a mental health professional specializing in providing counseling and support services to individuals under emotional distress often caused by mental and behavioral issues, conducting interventions as needed. They are usually assigned in institutions or medical facilities, sometimes working for crisis hotlines where they must answer phone calls from clients, remain calm and rational during conversations, offer advice, and refer them to other support agencies to prevent them from taking drastic measures. A crisis worker engages with clients of all ages, requiring them to be proactive at all times.

What does an intervention specialist do?

An intervention specialist is responsible for assisting children with special education and social adjustment needs in schools and other educational settings. You will be responsible for designing, executing, and assessing programs based on different factors, including gender, cultural background, and age. Other tasks that you will likely perform include working closely with teachers to discuss the subject matter with students, ensuring children and occupied and safe, and maintaining records of children's performance and lesson plans. An intervention specialist is also responsible for adhering to individualized education programs.

Crisis worker vs intervention specialist salary

Crisis workers and intervention specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Crisis WorkerIntervention Specialist
Average salary$33,805$50,180
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $49,000Between $35,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityPortland, MEAlameda, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyNorthwestern MedicineBirch
Best paying industryHospitalityGovernment

Differences between crisis worker and intervention specialist education

There are a few differences between a crisis worker and an intervention specialist in terms of educational background:

Crisis WorkerIntervention Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Crisis worker vs intervention specialist demographics

Here are the differences between crisis workers' and intervention specialists' demographics:

Crisis WorkerIntervention Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 25.4% Female, 74.6%Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between crisis worker and intervention specialist duties and responsibilities

Crisis worker example responsibilities.

  • Find placements for patients needing inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, and provide community referrals to those requiring lower levels of care.
  • Conduct psychiatric screenings in hospital settings to determine if patients meet the criteria for involuntary/voluntary commitment as mandated by state laws.
  • Coordinate care with community providers for follow up if patient are discharged, prepare documentation for admission to inpatient psychiatry unit.
  • Complete MDS assessments to determine mood and cognitive functioning, relaying information to interdisciplinary team and families.

Intervention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Conduct mental health triage; make appropriate dispositions to other inpatient units with the local area.
  • Coordinate with parents, general education teachers, service providers in all aspects of the IEP and ETR annual review process.
  • Assist families with children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
  • Track students' GPA, college and career goals.
  • Supervise employees and train for EIS certification through DARS and state of Texas.
  • Perform crisis phone triage, mobile face to face assessments and arrange for respite services.
  • Show more

Crisis worker vs intervention specialist skills

Common crisis worker skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Social Work, 18%
  • Mental Health Crisis, 5%
  • Compassion, 5%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Rehabilitation, 3%
Common intervention specialist skills
  • Mental Health, 13%
  • Social Work, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Group Sessions, 5%
  • IEP, 4%

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