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Job outlook for family case coordinators in the United States
Are family case coordinator jobs in demand?
Family case coordinator job and salary trends over time
Family case coordinator jobs over time
Family case coordinator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,782 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,705 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,709 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,643 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,540 | 0.00% |
Average family case coordinator salary over time
Family case coordinator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,896 | $20.62 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $41,975 | $20.18 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $40,983 | $19.70 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $39,309 | $18.90 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $38,308 | $18.42 | +2.1% |
Family case coordinator jobs by state
Most common states for family case coordinators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 712 | 24% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 168 | 24% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 171 | 23% |
| 4 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 433 | 21% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 206 | 21% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 157 | 21% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,342 | 20% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 169 | 19% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 296 | 17% |
| 10 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 708 | 15% |
| 11 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 604 | 15% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 190 | 14% |
| 13 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 183 | 14% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 136 | 13% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 80 | 13% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 808 | 11% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 695 | 11% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 599 | 11% |
| 19 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 348 | 11% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 112 | 11% |
Most common cities for family case coordinators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockledge | 1 | 4% | $31,266 |
| 2 | Holyoke | 1 | 2% | $46,027 |
Family Case Coordinator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of family case coordinator experts
Texas Southern University
Heidelberg University
Brigham Young University
Wichita State University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Maryland
Georgia State University
Francis Marion University
Arkansas State University
Marshall University
Rocky Mountain Prep
Seattle University
East Tennessee State University
Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy - CSWA
The USA Hockey Foundation
University of Kansas
Pacific Lutheran University
Hartwick College
Nancy Shepherd PhD., CFCS
Assistant ProfessorTexas Southern University
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
What Family Case Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nancy Shepherd PhD., CFCS: In general, employers stress the need for individuals that are good communicators, both verbally and in writing. Specifically in the field, the positions are varied in skill requirements. Good listening and empathy skills are important when dealing with families and young children. Business owners and workers will benefit from soft skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, work ethic, professional attitude, and organization.
Paige Atterholt
Adjunct ProfessorHeidelberg University
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Family Case Coordinators?
Paige Atterholt: I think now, being in year 2 of the pandemic, I think if anything there will be more jobs for graduates. Just looking through the jobs online, there are many opportunities for graduates to get a job. I think the older community retired when things got bad, which opened the door for the younger generation.
What soft skills should all Family Case Coordinators possess?
Dr. Stephen Duncan Ph.D.: Graduates should know how to get along collaboratively, having strong interpersonal skills, empathy for others' circumstances. In the School of Family Life, we not only stress thinking, writing, and numeracy skills and data organization, but interpersonal skills of clear speaking and listening, engaging with others, and working collaboratively on a team.
How have salaries changed over time for Family Case Coordinators?
Dr. Stephen Duncan Ph.D.: The human sciences continue to be at the lower salary ranges of professional positions. Never will they rival our friends in engineering and other technical fields. Starting salaries at the bachelor's level are similar to elementary and secondary school teachers, and have followed their pattern over a number of years.
Sonja Armbruster
Health Sciences EducatorWichita State University
Department of Public Health Sciences
What's a day at work look like for a Family Case Coordinator?
Sonja Armbruster: The pandemic has re-defined what it even means to have a "day at work". I'm writing this response from my home office. Work in public health jobs can involve so many kinds of roles and responsibilities. The only thing I can guarantee is that the successful person seeking a career in public will be constantly curious and constantly learning. There are many public health jobs that are clearly defined with a set of protocols and software and office time that is scripted. Many more public health jobs require learning something new about community members, community partners, the system (including the department/organization one works for), the latest science and political realities that enable and constrain public health work. A day at work will involve continuously learning and seeking to understand new connections.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Family Case Coordinators?
Dr. Manoj Pardasani Ph.D.: I believe that the pandemic has somewhat changed our ideas of what constitutes effective practice. As many agencies transitioned to remote services, professionals and recipients of services had to learn how to integrate technology and "distance" into their daily lives. Therefore, when we return to the "new normal," many social work agencies will integrate remote service opportunities into their regular practices. This does not mean that in-person services are going away anytime, but utilizing technology would allow social services to be accessible to a larger (and more diverse) group of consumers. From an educational perspective, we believe that schools of social work will have to integrate technology-assisted practices (intakes, diagnostic assessments, care planning, interventions, etc.) into their curricula. Preparing students to effectively practice in multiple modalities will be critical to the future of our profession. Those social workers already in the field might need to engage with additional training or continuing education opportunities in order to enhance their skills to meet these emerging practice needs.
What type of skills will young Family Case Coordinators need?
Dr. Manoj Pardasani Ph.D.: Some of the skills that social work graduates need in order to successfully enter the workforce haven't changed since the inception of social work education. Social work graduates need to be able to think critically, possess analytical and strategic problem solving skills, be able to engage and work with diverse populations, and be impactful advocates for their clients and programs. But as the world around us evolves, we need to examine what additional skills and knowledge should social workers possess. We believe that social workers need to learn how to be social justice advocates, fighting for equity and equality. They need to be able to work productively in interdisciplinary settings and integrate technology more intensively in their daily practice. As they advance in their careers, many social workers will be presented with opportunities for leadership in organizations and communities. They need skills in transformative leadership, effective management, governance, fiscal planning, board development, and community planning. These will be critical in ensuring social workers retain their leadership role on social service agencies and in governmental organizations.
What experience really stands out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Dr. Manoj Pardasani Ph.D.: I believe that employers are looking for different strengths, skills, and knowledge depending on the length of time in practice. For instance, in the case of recent graduates, employers look for internship experiences, fellowships, or specializations taken while obtaining their social work degree. Past volunteer experiences are helpful as well. Employers are interested in candidates who show initiative, are passionate about social work practice, are able to adapt to diverse work environments, and are eager to learn and grow. With experienced social workers, employers are looking at the trajectory of one's career: how have the various employment experiences contributed to the growth and development of this professional? What skills, knowledge and insights have they developed? They are hoping to see a commitment to continued learning and examples of having taken initiative in previous jobs. Overall, for both new and experienced social workers, possessing a social work license is critical. Most positions now require the social worker to be licensed by the state in which they practice, however, social workers have not always been quick to pursue licensure. I believe that is changing and the expectations for social work professionals to be licensed will only grow further.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Family Case Coordinators?
Livia Polise: The pandemic has also had a deep and personal impact on the lives of social work students, mirroring the impact on communities and clients served in social work settings. Our students have learned to be resilient in the face of uncertainty as well as the importance of seeking out and cultivating support and community. These experiences will enhance the ability of our students to engage in client-centered and empathy-driven social work practices.
What type of skills will young Family Case Coordinators need?
Livia Polise: The pandemic has heightened the realities of systemic disparities and the importance of "case-to-cause" social work practice. New graduates will be called to engage in practice that fully encompasses the social justice mission of the social work profession, addressing the needs of individuals, families and communities, while simultaneously reimagining and rebuilding systems and structures to promote greater equity.
What experience really stands out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Livia Polise: The profession's signature pedagogy, field education, provides opportunities for students to develop a foundational skill set that can be transferred to many different practice contexts. Resumes for new graduates may highlight tasks in different settings, the application of skills across diverse domains of practice, and a skill set that encompasses micro, mezzo, and macro levels of experience. Community engagement and social justice actions are activities that demonstrate a commitment to the core values of the profession.
Dr. Susan Reay
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha
Grace Abbott School of Social Work
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Family Case Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Susan Reay: There is always a need for social work. As an essential worker, individuals who hold social work degrees are positioned for job opportunities in multiple health care sectors to include medical, mental health, corrections, policy, and other vital areas of practice. One of the lessons learned from the pandemic is that social work is here to stay. As a recession proof job, social work is more vital than ever with job opportunities readily available.
What Family Case Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Susan Reay: The year after high school students are growing and changing. This year is about self-exploration, regardless of whether or not you are enrolled in an institution of higher learning. I recommend that individuals who decide not to enroll in higher education directly after high school take time to reflect on what they are learning, who they are, and learn from the world around them. Journaling is a great way to do this, or photography or other creative means of reflection.
What general advice would you give to a Family Case Coordinator?
Dr. Susan Reay: It is essential for graduating seniors to develop a lifespan career plan that includes identifying experiences they want, ones they might want to seek out, and the identification of ones they are not interested in exploring. Central to the plan is obtaining quality supervision. I tell all my graduating seniors that no matter what job you take, make sure that you have a quality supervisor. Start looking for mentors and people you can trust. Keep those folks close to you and hold on to them over the life of your career.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Family Case Coordinators?
Richard Shin Ph.D.: Like most situations, there are challenges and opportunities. As a counselor preparation program, we are concerned that our students are not able to get the experiences associated with physically engaging in their internship sites. There's really no replacement for the range of experiences and situations that interns are required to respond to when they're at their internship sites. On the other hand, the pandemic has provided opportunities for students to learn how to be counselors in the virtual environment. This is priceless because no matter what the world looks like when we reach a more stable place with the virus, we know that professional interactions in the virtual environment are here to stay. Students have honed their technological skills, learned to be creative, and become more comfortable working in this environment. They've also enhanced their resiliency traits by navigating these extremely stressful times, while also studying for their graduate degrees in counseling.
What type of skills will young Family Case Coordinators need?
Richard Shin Ph.D.: Related to above, there have inevitably been some gaps in counselor training over the past year. Our students have not been able to engage in face-to-face, individual or group, counseling. They've not had the opportunity to develop relationships and work collaboratively with colleagues in person. Our graduates will have developed a great set of skills in terms of working in the online environment, but many will need to focus on developing their interpersonal communication, counseling, advocacy, etc. skills that are required of professional counselors.
What experience really stands out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Richard Shin Ph.D.: In the most basic sense, graduates who have experiences and skills on their resumes that set them apart from their cohort tend to stand out to employers. What sorts of extra leadership, advocacy, skill development, etc. opportunities have the applicant pursued outside of the program requirements of a counseling program? Everyone will have internship experiences because those are required. However, not everyone will have an example of a brief intervention that you developed and executed, which was focused on addressing the lack of representation of Black and Indigenous students in AP classes in your local high school. Initiating impactful efforts like this will definitely make you stand out.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Family Case Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Susan Snyder Ph.D.: Although the pandemic has brought a lot of challenges, we saw our graduating students excel in the job market, but most had to adapt to virtual interviews and remote work environments.
What skills stand out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Dr. Susan Snyder Ph.D.: Being able to clearly demonstrate experience is helpful. Students should not include passive activities, like attending meetings, or menial tasks, like making copies, but skills that show what they are qualified to do. Good activities could be community organizing, event planning, grant writing, program evaluation, or facilitating groups. Additionally, students who demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, including social media skills, tend to do well. Working collaboratively, including across organizations, is important for a lot of different positions our students seek. If students' resumes show that they can also analyze data, they can have even more options.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Family Case Coordinators to find work opportunities?
Dr. Susan Snyder Ph.D.: We have had students find jobs in the South and across the country. While the job market is more challenging than in years past, our graduating students have been very successful. Job searches should be approached like full-time jobs, which require you to have good time-management skills, organizational skills, and to be a hard worker.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Family Case Coordinators?
Dr. Jessica Burke: Yes, there will be an enduring impact on college graduates, as there is an impact on all of us. The job interviewing process will be very different, as I'd expect there to be more Zoom interviews and now wearing a mask during face-to-face interviews. We've been taught to shake hands during interviews, and now that has changed. Once starting a job, all social interactions will be very different with social distancing, more Zoom meetings, and adhering to other CDC guidelines. There will also be more work-from-home jobs available to new graduates than in the past, which it seems some recent graduates would want that opportunity, but others may not.
It seemed many of our students would prefer this type of employment in order to protect their families and themselves from COVID-19. Although a vaccine has been approved, it is uncertain when we will return to normalcy. I also expect an increased demand in the healthcare field and other service sectors. However, students at Francis Marion University will be pretty well-adjusted to these types of changes at their jobs given they have been exposed to distance learning, attending classes through Zoom, and following CDC guidelines on campus.
What type of skills will young Family Case Coordinators need?
Dr. Jessica Burke: Here are the skills I think graduates will need in the coming years: Technological skills and communication skills. The ability to work via the Internet and using video conferencing software will be very important, and along with this very important skill, graduates will need to be able to construct a professionally written e-mail and have really good verbal communication skills. Finally, being able to manage one's time will be extremely important, especially for those who are working from home to ensure deadlines are met, etc.
What experience really stands out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Dr. Jessica Burke: The skills that would really stand out on resumes include experience with distance learning; Zoom; and other technological skills, such as creating and editing videos; exceptional written and oral communication skills; and research skills, such as conducting data analysis and being able to correctly interpret the data would not hurt during a time when facts are often distorted.
What skills stand out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Dr. Amy Pearce Ph.D.: Typically, I recommend that all psychology majors gain research experience and communicate their findings via conference presentations, or peer-reviewed publications. Highlighting analytical and quantitative skills, plus software training is recommended. Graduates who know how to collect, enter, analyze, interpret, and report data will be desired. If a student plans to directly enter the workforce in a psychology-related field, then picking up courses to complete undergraduate certificate programs, such as neuropsychological testing or statistics, will be beneficial. As will be any internships or applicable job experiences.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Family Case Coordinators to find work opportunities?
Dr. Amy Pearce Ph.D.: A great thing about psychology is the number of options available to degree-earners! Psychology majors aren't confined to one job title or geographical locale. Work opportunities will be largely dictated by the experience and skills acquired along the path of earning a bachelor's degree. This is why, in addition to the requisite coursework, it's important to gain relevant applicable experiences and acquire additional training and skills. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, or their O*NET Online, are good places to start searching for projections on specific careers and factors related to employability in psychology. Although a bachelor's degree in psychology doesn't make someone a psychologist, a myriad of opportunities exist in business, academic, and human service settings, which are in every city.
What general advice would you give to a Family Case Coordinator?
Peggy Proudfoot Harman Ph.D.: There are several levels of social work education, and each provides essential qualifications for a variety of professional roles. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program provides professionals with the skills to deliver case management, home health social services, and child welfare social services, to name a few. An important point to remember is that all BSW and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs must be accredited by CSWE.
There are approximately 255 CSWE accredited MSW programs in the United States. Not all MSW programs are alike with regard to specializations and program options. MSW program options range from face-to-face classes that are held once or twice weekly, to virtual courses offered through remote learning platforms such as Blackboard featuring synchronous and asynchronous sessions, and finally, totally online courses and programs.
There is a wide range of social work specializations in MSW programs. For example, behavioral health services administration, policy practice, behavioral health services, substance use disorders practice, military social work, and school social work. Many programs that are focused on behavioral health have responded to the fallout from the recent pandemic, taking into consideration client travel and health issues, and are offering courses in tele-behavioral health. These courses prepare students to provide services remotely and will continue to be needed in the future.
The field of social work is always growing, and actually, thrives when the environment is experiencing a crisis. Social workers are experienced in crisis intervention and are highly-trained to conduct assessments and interventions. Both BSW and MSW graduates entering the workforce this year will find that they are in high demand, and employers in this working environment will find social workers who are prepared to provide quality assessments and interventions in the most difficult situations.
Abby Worland
Managing Director of People Rocky Mountain Prep Network Support TeamRocky Mountain Prep
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Family Case Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Abby Worland: The pandemic has made job security an increasingly important factor given rising unemployment rates. I think we will see an increase in the retention of currently employed workers in their positions.
I'm curious to see how much of the virtual world we've built will carry over once the pandemic ends. Will more positions convert to remote work permanently? Will schools continue to offer virtual learning as an option? Regardless of what carries over, I feel confident saying that tech literacy and the ability to self-manage your work and your time will be increasingly important skills in the job market.
What Family Case Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Abby Worland: At the most basic level, all jobs and careers depend on your ability to do two things: solve problems and communicate with others. Spend your gap year developing those skills.
Many people recommend "following your passion" in your work. I would adjust that and recommend instead that you pursue work that has a purpose and mission that align with your personal values. Spend your gap year identifying what those values are. All jobs are going to have tough moments, that is the nature of work, but if the work is meaningful to you, it is far easier to be resilient.
What general advice would you give to a Family Case Coordinator?
Abby Worland: Below are four pieces of advice that I give to early career professionals (and I still tell myself these things on a daily basis!):
- Work very, very hard, and pay attention to detail.
- You will change as a person, so your hopes and plans for your career will also change. Be okay with that.
- Pay attention to the people around you: know them, care about them, and help them.
- Take initiative.
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.
Professor of History, Director, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies ProgramSeattle University
History Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Family Case Coordinators?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: As a historian of the European Middle Ages, I'm struck by how students this past year have acquired something scarce: historical empathy. The past can seem so remote, so very different from our lived experiences today, and this can make history seem irrelevant. But this fall, I was teaching a section on the bubonic plague, which historians of medicine now know was a global pandemic, not just an epidemic in Europe. Usually, students are fascinated by the gruesome medical details, but not this group.
They did not need or want to look death in the eyes. They wanted to know how did people react? How did they get back to normal? When we ticked off the list of reactions--fear, distrust of science (such as it was in 1348), xenophobia, scapegoating, economic collapse, hoarding supplies, turn to religion, gallows humor about worms crawling about corpses--they got it. When we talked about the aftermath--eat, drink, be merry, and protest the inequality--they got it. That is historical empathy, and I'm sad that this was how it had to be learned, but it will give them broader compassion that can encompass people alive today.
What type of skills will young Family Case Coordinators need?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: Science. They will need to learn and trust scientific knowledge-social work. We have a lot of work to do to repair the social fabric. Art. We need to know to express our pain in creative ways.
What experience really stands out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: Altruism. Anyone who reaches out and does work that repairs the shredded world and does not ask for an avalanche of cash. And an understanding of how privilege works and a desire to work to rein in the harm of unchecked privilege.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Family Case Coordinators?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Graduate students will need to refocus on the changing institutional role, being both remote and in-person, and impacting agency goals and performance.
What type of skills will young Family Case Coordinators need?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Budgeting skills are essential, as well as apparent, logical written ability.
What experience really stands out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Program concentration and meaningful internship experience.
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA)
ChairCommittee on the Status of Women in Astronomy - CSWA
What type of skills will young Family Case Coordinators need?
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA): I believe (hope) that the effects of the pandemic will be short-lived and that there will be a surge in job opportunities once a vaccine is available. Nevertheless, greater flexibility and versatility in skills are always useful. For example, astronomers who have analyzed large data sets or worked with machine learning algorithms will be in significant demand.
Interdisciplinary studies are also on the rise. New fields like astrobiology are rapidly growing, and there are ripe potentials for researchers with unique combinations of expertise or who can work with broad collaborations spanning disciplines.
With the growth of data, especially from large astronomical surveys, technical skills like computer programming and experience with data science tools and machine learning is increasingly useful. The ability to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences is a necessity in most fields, and astronomers generally have great relevant experience with community outreach.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Family Case Coordinators to find work opportunities?
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA): I think that permanent and what might be considered more "traditional" astronomy research positions like tenured professorships are more difficult to attain, primarily because of a short supply in the availability of those positions compared to the number of qualified candidates. Looking more broadly, there's a wide range of relevant positions for which many astronomers have very useful and increasingly more recognized skillsets - outreach/education positions for a variety of age groups in STEM, technical program/project management, scientific writing, and data science in industry, as examples.
How do you envision technology impacting Family Case Coordinators in the next 5 years?
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA): Advances in optics technology (laser frequency combs, for example) have already impacted high precision radial velocity measurements that the exoplanet community has been using to search for Earth-sized exoplanets. In the next five years, this technology will continue to be developed and used by other sub-fields in astronomy, including cosmology and Galactic dynamicists.
In planetary science, there are a number of advances that are rapidly changing how we do an exploration of our solar system. For example, NASA is strongly pushing for commercial partnerships that may facilitate delivering scientific payloads to the Moon, and small satellites (e.g., CubeSats) are opening up a lot of new options for both scientists, technologists, and engineers to get more involved in solar system missions.
Computational and algorithmic advances make it easier to aggregate and analyze large datasets, especially with the increasing prevalence of astronomical sky surveys. The increasing popularity of open-source tools and cloud usage for sharing data, I think, is and will be pushing reproducibility of research to be a more heavily emphasized expectation of the standard research process and evaluation metric of a researcher's work.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Family Case Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Tamara Tranter: Remote, remote, remote. I also believe we will see more people trying to enter different fields than the fields they were in pre-pandemic. Our norms have shifted, and almost everyone has had to pivot in some way to show their value. People with experience in different areas will be able to add more value to a company that has had to downsize.
What Family Case Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tamara Tranter: Communication skills. Take a communications course. Read books on communication and leadership. You may not want to be the leader, but learning about leadership will help you understand what type of leader you want to work for and learn from. Pick up the phone and call people you think you want to work for or learn from, don't just email them; making cold calls teaches you character. Learn to stand out. What can you do during that year that will add value to your life and career buckets? Read and learn about emotional intelligence - understand who you are and how to best interact with others.
Companies who are hiring are going to want to know you were doing something to grow and learn during the year if you were not employed or going to class during that time. Don't fake it. Tell us that you were taking an online class in a different program you wanted to learn about or that you were a stay at home parent that had to help your child/children with remote learning. Talk about the things you were motivated to do each day and the things that challenged you. Tell us if you had a family member that was ill. We want to know that you did things to help you grow and add value to yourself - reading books, taking up running, helping out your neighbors. We know everyone faced some type of struggle during this, but how did you manage it?
What general advice would you give to a Family Case Coordinator?
Tamara Tranter: Take risks, go outside of your comfort zone, and don't go into interviews with big expectations. Many qualified people have been impacted and are going to get many of the jobs because they have past experience. So be realistic, be positive, and be a team player.
Dr. Florence DiGennaro Reed Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chairperson, Director of the Performance Management LaboratoryUniversity of Kansas
Department of Applied Behavioral Science
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Family Case Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Florence DiGennaro Reed Ph.D.: This remains to be seen. Given unemployment rates and job options last May, I suspect there will be fewer jobs available when students graduate.
What skills stand out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Dr. Florence DiGennaro Reed Ph.D.: In my experience, employers appreciate real-world experience where students/recent graduates can apply the knowledge they learned in their courses to actual work settings. Thus, graduates who have had service-learning practicum courses, internships, or other relevant experiences have resumes that tend to stand out to future employers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Family Case Coordinators to find work opportunities?
Dr. Florence DiGennaro Reed Ph.D.: Human-service settings desperately need employees right now. These settings generally have high turnover, and the pandemic has made it challenging to recruit highly-skilled employees. Locations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (clinics, schools, educational centers, group homes, etc.) are getting creative to appeal to graduates. They offer unique and exciting professional development and growth opportunities and may pay for graduate education under certain circumstances.
Jordan Levy Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AnthropologyPacific Lutheran University
Anthropology Department
What experience really stands out on Family Case Coordinator resumes?
Jordan Levy Ph.D.: Any research project where students develop independent research skills. This can be part of the coursework, or part of an internship, or through a summer research assistantship. Anthropology is known for its holistic and comparative perspective and our ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Our qualitative research methods, in particular, have a range of applications. If students can develop interview skills and their capacity to make sense of human behavior, while also pursuing their undergraduate degrees, this knowledge and skill set will be attractive to a range of employers. As the U.S. becomes more diverse, our society will demand a workforce to better understand and interact with people from a range of cultural backgrounds.
What Family Case Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jordan Levy Ph.D.: Some students enter college having taken a "gap year" between high school and university. Any kind of volunteer or work experience that further develops their interpersonal communication skills is beneficial for the range of discussion and small group work that university-level classes require. Some students do service projects in other countries, which is great because they also gain international experiences that contribute to their overall formation as informed global citizens. These experiences can then tell what kinds of classes they take in university and can remain a source of inspiration for what careers they pursue.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Family Case Coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Jordan Levy Ph.D.: Most of the students I work with are, fortunately, very quick to learn new communication technologies. This is so important because, as the COVID pandemic has shown us, the ability to work remotely is crucial. Communicating in a range of formats (writing emails, recording videos, participating in group discussions via Zoom, etc.) while also making your arguments and content clear to a range of audiences is essential, now more than ever.
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of AnthropologyHartwick College
Anthropology Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Family Case Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.: Historically, pandemics have created significant shifts in both the social and economic conditions of life, and this one is no different. The most influential trends that I expect in the job market are tighter hiring practices that will require candidates to have multiple skillsets, pushing many workers into increasingly unsafe and unfair positions. An unfortunate mantra of gratitude developed amongst the employed, early in the pandemic, was, "At least I still have a job." I think that sentiment still exists for people. Many employers know this and will continue to use it to their advantage. They pressure their employees to work under conditions that are increasingly unhealthy and untenable for themselves and their families. This will exacerbate many of the existing inequalities that this pandemic has already highlighted. In addition to becoming more ruthless and exploitative, I think future hiring patterns will highly value a candidates' ability to demonstrate resilience and innovation during the pandemic. A candidate's technological prowess - even for a non-technical job - will also be much more visible and impact standards and expectations of professionalism in the job market.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Family Case Coordinators in the next 3-5 years?
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.: Documentation and public engagement will remain crucial parts of Anthropological work, and technology that allows us to record, analyze, and share data will continue to be necessary. Over the next several years, it will be essential to find new and innovative ways of connecting virtually to audiences' broader network. This will require the ability to think out-of-the-box and adapt to unique circumstances and new technologies. Technologies that allow people to build relationships across space will continue to transform how we experience social life. Those who are new to the job market will have to master these new virtual strategies of communication and self-promotion and need to understand and navigate the impact of this pandemic on the non-virtual world.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Family Case Coordinators in the next 5 years?
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.: There is an absolute need for employees who can think anthropologically, but this is probably not where most jobs will lie in the next five years. There is no perceived "demand" for Anthropology graduates in most circumstances; this is not new, but it is to our detriment as a society when most people no longer have the capacity to critically understand the social and historical circumstances of the labor market. This will continue to erode at safe and fair conditions for many working people in America and worldwide. That being said, new candidates will have to be adept at doing new things in new ways - not just replicating the same old things in new ways. I do not think the training for this will come from the professional fields of medicine, law, or business, which are traditionally more conservative. I suspect there will continue to be a declining demand for professional Anthropologists but increasing demand for skilled graduates with an anthropology background. They can apply the social and historical insights of these subjects to whatever field they practice.