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Detention worker vs family service worker

The differences between detention workers and family service workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a detention worker and a family service worker. Additionally, a family service worker has an average salary of $37,674, which is higher than the $35,072 average annual salary of a detention worker.

The top three skills for a detention worker include crisis intervention, perform intake and incident reports. The most important skills for a family service worker are social work, foster care, and child abuse.

Detention worker vs family service worker overview

Detention WorkerFamily Service Worker
Yearly salary$35,072$37,674
Hourly rate$16.86$18.11
Growth rate10%9%
Number of jobs21,863111,599
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Detention worker vs family service worker salary

Detention workers and family service workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Detention WorkerFamily Service Worker
Average salary$35,072$37,674
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $55,000Between $28,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City-Chicago, IL
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Washington County
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between detention worker and family service worker education

There are a few differences between a detention worker and a family service worker in terms of educational background:

Detention WorkerFamily Service Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaHunter College of the City University of New York

Detention worker vs family service worker demographics

Here are the differences between detention workers' and family service workers' demographics:

Detention WorkerFamily Service Worker
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 55.1% Female, 44.9%Male, 14.8% Female, 85.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage8%10%

Differences between detention worker and family service worker duties and responsibilities

Detention worker example responsibilities.

  • Lead support groups with an emphasis on recovery and strength base techniques, DBT, CBT, self-care and coping skills.
  • Recognize risk factors quickly, collaborate with interdisciplinary team, nurture positive relationships with patients through consistency and modeling healthy boundaries.
  • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Family service worker example responsibilities.

  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Practice motivational interviewing techniques to assist individuals in identifying personal hurdles in order to set goals and work towards rehabilitation.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholder (DSS staff, schools and community partners).
  • Integrate the individual support plan (ISP) objective into the individuals' daily schedule.
  • Provide courtesy interviews or conflict investigations for other county DSS.
  • Determine participants' eligibility for program by gathering data and maintaining information to ensure clients are compliant for TANF program regulations.

Detention worker vs family service worker skills

Common detention worker skills
  • Crisis Intervention, 22%
  • Perform Intake, 13%
  • Incident Reports, 13%
  • Emergency Situations, 12%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Juvenile Programs, 5%
Common family service worker skills
  • Social Work, 18%
  • Foster Care, 10%
  • Child Abuse, 9%
  • Protective Services, 5%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Court Reports, 4%

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