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Family intervention specialist vs service counselor

The differences between family intervention specialists and service counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a family intervention specialist, becoming a service counselor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a family intervention specialist has an average salary of $42,045, which is higher than the $35,402 average annual salary of a service counselor.

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

Family intervention specialist vs service counselor overview

Family Intervention SpecialistService Counselor
Yearly salary$42,045$35,402
Hourly rate$20.21$17.02
Growth rate9%12%
Number of jobs76,99044,284
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4243
Years of experience412

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 service counselor do?

Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.

Family intervention specialist vs service counselor salary

Family intervention specialists and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family Intervention SpecialistService Counselor
Average salary$42,045$35,402
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $49,000Between $24,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City-Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between family intervention specialist and service counselor education

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

Family Intervention SpecialistService Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeHunter College of the City University of New YorkSUNY at Binghamton

Family intervention specialist vs service counselor demographics

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

Family Intervention SpecialistService Counselor
Average age4243
Gender ratioMale, 22.4% Female, 77.6%Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7%
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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage10%11%

Differences between family intervention specialist and service counselor 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.

Service counselor example responsibilities.

  • Develop contracting strategy to build capacity and achieve ongoing compliance with Medicare and Medicaid provider network adequacy requirements.
  • Implement patient financial services department to assist patients and family members to ensure successful patient representation and expeditious benefit recovery.
  • Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Family intervention specialist vs service counselor 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 service counselor skills
  • Social Work, 16%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Support Services, 6%
  • Social Services, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%

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