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Early intervention specialist vs family counselor

The differences between early intervention specialists and family counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an early intervention specialist and a family counselor. Additionally, an early intervention specialist has an average salary of $46,103, which is higher than the $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.

The top three skills for an early intervention specialist include early intervention, developmental disabilities and applied behavior analysis. The most important skills for a family counselor are social work, community resources, and POC.

Early intervention specialist vs family counselor overview

Early Intervention SpecialistFamily Counselor
Yearly salary$46,103$41,510
Hourly rate$22.16$19.96
Growth rate9%14%
Number of jobs22,03393,253
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4241
Years of experience44

What does an early intervention specialist do?

Early intervention specialists are responsible for determining and helping youth who are manifesting deficiencies in the fundamental areas of learning. They are trained teachers who work with youngsters between birth and age four to direct developmental impediments. Also, they have an essential role in bridging children and their families with other social service workers. Their jobs include carefully evaluating the child, establishing developmental goals, creating medication plans, recommending learning activities, and keeping track of the child's progress.

What does a family counselor do?

A Family Counselor treats married couples or family members in order to help them overcome mental or emotional problems. They provide effective treatment measures to help the family members resolve their issues.

Early intervention specialist vs family counselor salary

Early intervention specialists and family counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Early Intervention SpecialistFamily Counselor
Average salary$46,103$41,510
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $70,000Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew York
Best paying companyChildren's Hospital Los AngelesShirley Ryan AbilityLab
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between early intervention specialist and family counselor education

There are a few differences between an early intervention specialist and a family counselor in terms of educational background:

Early Intervention SpecialistFamily Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Early intervention specialist vs family counselor demographics

Here are the differences between early intervention specialists' and family counselors' demographics:

Early Intervention SpecialistFamily Counselor
Average age4241
Gender ratioMale, 13.0% Female, 87.0%Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7%
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, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%6%

Differences between early intervention specialist and family counselor duties and responsibilities

Early intervention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Experience training new staff on basic ABA principles and new cases.
  • Strive to reduce symptoms of specify developmental disorder, usually an autism spectrum disorder.
  • Train paraprofessionals to work with children on the autism spectrum and implement picture schedules for optimal learning.
  • Instruct families on how to use adaptive equipment or help them use the tool in their environment.
  • Coordinate services for child base on recommendations specific educational needs, including specialize adaptive equipment and individual therapies.
  • Coordinate with local special education preschool child find teams evaluations and IEP meetings.
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Family counselor example responsibilities.

  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Assist the clients in completing their DCF case plan, helping to remove any hindrances they may encounter.
  • Counsele and test patients who requesting confidential HIV testing services
  • Collaborate and coordinate patient care with resident/faculty physicians to provide appropriate levels of care to patients.
  • Receive and process referrals from DCF and community-base case managers for individuals suspect as substance abusers.
  • Utilize PowerPoint presentations to facilitate ongoing new student orientation, ensuring students understand rules and regulations.
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Early intervention specialist vs family counselor skills

Common early intervention specialist skills
  • Early Intervention, 17%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 11%
  • Applied Behavior Analysis, 9%
  • Child Development, 7%
  • Social Development, 7%
  • Emotional Development, 7%
Common family counselor skills
  • Social Work, 22%
  • Community Resources, 13%
  • POC, 7%
  • Family Support, 5%
  • Family Therapy, 5%
  • DOD, 4%

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