Post job

Family intervention specialist vs mental health specialist

The differences between family intervention specialists and mental health 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 intervention specialist and a mental health specialist. Additionally, a mental health specialist has an average salary of $47,321, which is higher than the $42,045 average annual salary of a family intervention specialist.

The top three skills for a family intervention specialist include social work, family therapy and at-risk youth. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.

Family intervention specialist vs mental health specialist overview

Family Intervention SpecialistMental Health Specialist
Yearly salary$42,045$47,321
Hourly rate$20.21$22.75
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs76,990131,449
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4245
Years of experience44

What does a family intervention specialist do?

A family intervention specialist provides family-centered care by visiting children and youth with alcohol addiction, substance abuse, and mental or behavioral health disorders. Typical duties include providing assessment and counseling using evidence-based practices, coordinating with treatment providers to implement services for children and their families. Additionally, as a family intervention specialist, you will be responsible for maintaining up-to-date and accurate reporting, clinical charts, and billing records.

What does a mental health specialist do?

A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.

Family intervention specialist vs mental health specialist salary

Family intervention specialists and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family Intervention SpecialistMental Health Specialist
Average salary$42,045$47,321
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $49,000Between $31,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between family intervention specialist and mental health specialist education

There are a few differences between a family intervention specialist and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:

Family Intervention SpecialistMental Health Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeHunter College of the City University of New YorkCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Family intervention specialist vs mental health specialist demographics

Here are the differences between family intervention specialists' and mental health specialists' demographics:

Family Intervention SpecialistMental Health Specialist
Average age4245
Gender ratioMale, 22.4% Female, 77.6%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%15%

Differences between family intervention specialist and mental health specialist duties and responsibilities

Family intervention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Provide information and support to transitioning foster youth during assessment, case planning or other permanency and transition-relate activities.
  • case file review and Medicaid authorizations.
  • Attend school meetings, including disciplinary meetings, IEP meetings, and conferences for clients.
  • Complete risk assessments and develop comprehensive intervention plans to address safety, communication, and problem solving abilities.

Mental health specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
  • Assist and encourage patients with ADL's including feeding, ambulating, and hygiene to promote patient care.
  • Utilize rehabilitation principles to support individuals, families and communities in developing effective strategies to improve client mental health functioning.
  • Provide psychological care to patients in an in-patient psych unit, including facilitating group activities, crisis intervention, implementing therapeutic approaches
  • Meet physical requirements to complete SAMA and CPR training.
  • Provide kindness and compassion to the deceased and their families.
  • Show more

Family intervention specialist vs mental health specialist skills

Common family intervention specialist skills
  • Social Work, 28%
  • Family Therapy, 13%
  • at-Risk Youth, 7%
  • On-Call Availability, 5%
  • Child Welfare, 5%
  • Villages, 5%
Common mental health specialist skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Vital Signs, 4%

Browse community and social services jobs