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What does a family consultant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
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Family consultant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real family consultant resumes:

  • 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.
  • Screen veterans for program eligibility base on living conditions and military service criteria.
  • Administer AFDC relate Medicaid assistance programs.
  • Determine eligibility of AFDC households and relate food stamps.
  • Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.

Family consultant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 22% of Family Consultants are proficient in Social Work, Crisis Intervention, and Social Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Emotional skills, Communication skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Family Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Social Work, 22%

    Collaborated with educators, social workers and counselors to monitor safety, attendance, conduct and performance of students.

  • Crisis Intervention, 9%

    Participated in agency on-call rotation and provided crisis intervention for foster children with mental health diagnosis and their families.

  • Social Services, 8%

    Served as a responsible liaison and advocate between the foster child, foster parents, and department of social services.

  • Foster Care, 7%

    Facilitated weekly educational and socially supportive practicum series to children, youth and families engaged in the Mobile foster care system.

  • Child Development, 5%

    Provided support to all staff of the Child Development Center and School -Age Program.

  • Kids, 5%

    Support Operation Military Kids Camp and Youth Summit by providing emotional support for over 100 military adolescents.

Most family consultants use their skills in "social work," "crisis intervention," and "social services" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential family consultant responsibilities here:

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling family consultant duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives." According to a family consultant resume, here's how family consultants can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "teach particular skill such as parenting education, behavior management, communication, and other life skills. "

Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of family consultants is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday family consultant duties, as "social workers must analyze their clients’ complex situations and develop practical solutions." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provided counseling and crisis management to individuals and couples in a brief, solution-focused treatment model. "

Interpersonal skills. For certain family consultant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a family consultant rely on this skill, as "social workers must be able to work with different groups of people." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what family consultants do: "focus on repairing relationships, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and problem solving. "

Organizational skills. A commonly-found skill in family consultant job descriptions, "organizational skills" is essential to what family consultants do. Family consultant responsibilities rely on this skill because "social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment." You can also see how family consultant duties rely on organizational skills in this resume example: "develop an understanding and awareness of community agencies/organizations that provide services to children/families; and participate in community service organizational meetings. "

All family consultant skills

The three companies that hire the most family consultants are:

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Compare different family consultants

Family consultant vs. Youth advocate

Youth advocates are individuals who responsible for maintaining the human rights of youth while assisting them in developing their skills in all areas of life, such as education, health, employment, and relationships. These advocates are required to discuss youth development and involvement with various leaders in the community. They must provide crisis interventions by performing one-on-one and group meetings with young adults. Youth advocates must also work with mental health professionals within the community so that they can guide teenagers with drug or alcohol problems and mental health issues.

The annual salary of youth advocates is $1,248 lower than the average salary of family consultants.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both family consultant and youth advocate positions are skilled in social work, crisis intervention, and social services.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between family consultants and youth advocate. For instance, family consultant responsibilities require skills such as "child development," "kids," "skill building," and "conflict situations." Whereas a youth advocate is skilled in "mental health," "youth development," "life training," and "community outreach." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Youth advocates really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $31,171. Comparatively, family consultants tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $47,247.On average, youth advocates reach lower levels of education than family consultants. Youth advocates are 16.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Family consultant vs. Youth worker

Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.

On average, youth workers earn a $2,930 lower salary than family consultants a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Family consultants and youth workers both require similar skills like "crisis intervention," "substance abuse," and "child care" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real family consultant resumes. While family consultant responsibilities can utilize skills like "social work," "social services," "foster care," and "child development," youth workers use skills like "direct supervision," "cpr," "at-risk youth," and "youth development."

On average, youth workers earn a lower salary than family consultants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, youth workers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $32,651. Whereas family consultants have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $47,247.In general, youth workers achieve lower levels of education than family consultants. They're 21.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 2.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for family consultants in the next 3-5 years?

Lesley Casarez Ph.D.Lesley Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, Angelo State University

Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.

Family consultant vs. Student worker

Student workers are students who are employed while also enrolled at the university. They usually work in a department or college where they handle different tasks. Most of the time, student workers are assigned to do administrative activities. Their tasks include sorting mail, sending outgoing mail, manning telephone lines, filing documents, updating records, liaising with other departments, and documenting meetings, among others. Student-workers may also be assigned to handle or assist in university-wide events and activities. They are expected to be technologically savvy so that they can really help out in the department they are assigned to. Student-workers should be responsible, trustworthy, and diligent.

On average, student workers earn lower salaries than family consultants, with a $9,437 difference per year.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, family consultants are more likely to have skills like "social work," "crisis intervention," "social services," and "foster care." But a student worker is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "front desk," "twitter," and "financial aid."

Student workers make a very good living in the retail industry with an average annual salary of $26,351. On the other hand, family consultants are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $47,247.student workers typically earn lower educational levels compared to family consultants. Specifically, they're 22.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Family consultant vs. Youth development professional

Youth Development Professionals are specialists in implementing and overseeing programs to help adolescents discover their abilities and interests. They are responsible for coordinating career days and field trips, organizing mentorship sessions, create youth outreach projects, and assisting community organizations in youth provision development. Other duties include supporting the training of volunteer youth workers as well as ensuring service provided adheres to professional standards and current regulations. A Youth Development Professional may specialize in a specific development sector, such as healthy living, experiential learning, or public service.

Youth development professionals typically earn higher pay than family consultants. On average, youth development professionals earn a $8,586 higher salary per year.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "social work," "crisis intervention," "social services," and "foster care" are skills that commonly show up on family consultant resumes. On the other hand, youth development professionals use skills like youth development, direct care, productive relationships, and restraints on their resumes.In general, youth development professionals hold lower degree levels compared to family consultants. Youth development professionals are 15.6% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of family consultant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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