Family intervention specialist vs social worker

The differences between family intervention specialists and social workers 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 social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a social worker has an average salary of $50,102, 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 social worker are social work, patients, and patient care.

Family intervention specialist vs social worker overview

	Family Intervention Specialist	Social Worker
Yearly salary	$42,045	$50,102
Hourly rate	$20.21	$24.09
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	76,990	77,340
Job satisfaction	-	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	42	45
Years of experience	4	2

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 social worker do?

Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.

Family intervention specialist vs social worker salary

Family intervention specialists and social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Family Intervention Specialist	Social Worker
Average salary	$42,045	$50,102
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $49,000	Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	-	Portland, OR
Highest paying state	-	Oregon
Best paying company	-	Health Advocates
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between family intervention specialist and social worker education

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

	Family Intervention Specialist	Social Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Psychology	Social Work
Most common college	Hunter College of the City University of New York	University of Pennsylvania

Family intervention specialist vs social worker demographics

Here are the differences between family intervention specialists' and social workers' demographics:

	Family Intervention Specialist	Social Worker
Average age	42	45
Gender ratio	Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6%	Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	10%	13%

Differences between family intervention specialist and social worker 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.

Social worker example responsibilities.

Assist clients in achieving treatment goals such as anger, ADHD, grief, social skills, and manners.
Lead and co-le CBT and DBT skills-base groups with participants, as well as relapse prevention, mindfulness and process groups.
Support patient questions and issues regarding Medicare ESRD entitlement and Medicaid and assist in the completion of the appropriate documentation.
Coordinate IPU discharge planning patients to SNF, ALF, PCH or in-home care with necessary support for care.
Facilitate relationships with AKF and other patient assistance programs, VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
Complete Medicaid and Medicare applications as needed.

Family intervention specialist vs social worker 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 social worker skills

Social Work, 30%
Patients, 15%
Patient Care, 5%
MSW, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Home Health, 4%

Family Intervention Specialist vs. similar jobs

Family Intervention Specialist related careers

Family Intervention Specialist related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Community and Social Services Industry
Family Intervention Specialist
Family Intervention Specialist vs Social Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs