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Family consultant vs child support specialist

The differences between family consultants and child support 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 family consultant and a child support specialist. Additionally, a child support specialist has an average salary of $38,271, which is higher than the $35,172 average annual salary of a family consultant.

The top three skills for a family consultant include social work, crisis intervention and social services. The most important skills for a child support specialist are customer service, social work, and child support cases.

Family consultant vs child support specialist overview

Family ConsultantChild Support Specialist
Yearly salary$35,172$38,271
Hourly rate$16.91$18.40
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs75,651143,623
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Family consultant vs child support specialist salary

Family consultants and child support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family ConsultantChild Support Specialist
Average salary$35,172$38,271
Salary rangeBetween $16,000 And $74,000Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityBaltimore, MDRockville, MD
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyInternational Rescue CommitteeUniversity of Rochester
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between family consultant and child support specialist education

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

Family ConsultantChild Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeBoston UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Family consultant vs child support specialist demographics

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

Family ConsultantChild Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 24.4% Female, 75.6%Male, 19.9% Female, 80.1%
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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between family consultant and child support specialist duties and responsibilities

Family consultant example responsibilities.

  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Work closing with DCS, CASA members, and group home managers to provide appropriate services.
  • Interview recipients to determine AFDC (TANF), Foodstamps, and Medicaid eligibility on an ongoing basis.
  • Work directly with DCS, children & families to promote, strengthen and develop the potential for positive parenting.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.
  • Screen and assess homeless veterans during initial interview to determine program eligibility.
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Child support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage project SharePoint site for the purpose of supporting ongoing collaboration
  • Train in CPR and child restraint.
  • Represent clients during mediation proceedings in court.
  • Process summons, subpoenas, appeals and motions.
  • Change diapers, clean and disinfect center to meet DHS standars.
  • Used mediation skills to dissolve disputes between custodial and non custodial parents.
  • Show more

Family consultant vs child support specialist skills

Common family consultant skills
  • Social Work, 22%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Social Services, 8%
  • Foster Care, 7%
  • Child Development, 5%
  • Kids, 5%
Common child support specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Child Support Cases, 8%
  • Court Orders, 6%
  • Child Support Orders, 6%
  • Child Support Enforcement, 5%

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