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Family preservation worker vs family therapist

The differences between family preservation workers and family therapists 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 preservation worker and a family therapist. Additionally, a family therapist has an average salary of $50,774, which is higher than the $43,208 average annual salary of a family preservation worker.

The top three skills for a family preservation worker include social work, crisis intervention and child welfare. The most important skills for a family therapist are social work, patients, and rehabilitation.

Family preservation worker vs family therapist overview

Family Preservation WorkerFamily Therapist
Yearly salary$43,208$50,774
Hourly rate$20.77$24.41
Growth rate9%14%
Number of jobs41,993106,982
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4241
Years of experience44

Family preservation worker vs family therapist salary

Family preservation workers and family therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family Preservation WorkerFamily Therapist
Average salary$43,208$50,774
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $60,000Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City-Rochester, NY
Highest paying state-Oregon
Best paying company-Dignity Health
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between family preservation worker and family therapist education

There are a few differences between a family preservation worker and a family therapist in terms of educational background:

Family Preservation WorkerFamily Therapist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorSocial WorkPsychology
Most common collegeHunter College of the City University of New YorkCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Family preservation worker vs family therapist demographics

Here are the differences between family preservation workers' and family therapists' demographics:

Family Preservation WorkerFamily Therapist
Average age4241
Gender ratioMale, 23.7% Female, 76.3%Male, 25.8% Female, 74.2%
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, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%6%

Differences between family preservation worker and family therapist duties and responsibilities

Family preservation worker 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.
  • Perform related adoptions and supervisory visits for state adoptions.

Family therapist example responsibilities.

  • Complete documentation to medicaid standards.
  • Create maximum billable Medicaid hours and submitting necessary paperwork for Medicaid billing.
  • Apply behavioral analysis instruction for a student with autism concentrating on communication, socialization, self-help skills and community skills.
  • Receive and process referrals from DCF and community-base case managers for individuals suspect as substance abusers.

Family preservation worker vs family therapist skills

Common family preservation worker skills
  • Social Work, 25%
  • Crisis Intervention, 12%
  • Child Welfare, 9%
  • Child Protective, 5%
  • Community Resources, 5%
  • Court Hearings, 5%
Common family therapist skills
  • Social Work, 27%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • Mental Health Issues, 4%
  • Group Therapy, 3%

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