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What is a family service caseworker and how to become one
A family service caseworker provides social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children.
Some of tasks that they perform include assisting parents, arranging adoptions, and finding foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. They may also advise teachers. Furthermore, they ensure that case reports are kept up to date and make referrals or introductions to other agencies. Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in social work; although, a master's degree may be more desirable. Some states may also require a license or professional registration with a government body.
The average hourly salary for the position is $19.93, which equates to $41,453 annually. The career is expected to grow substantially in the near future and create new opportunities all across the United States.
What general advice would you give to a family service caseworker?
Virginia Schwindt
MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University
Avg. Salary $49,645
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 9%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.51%
Asian 2.67%
Black or African American 13.37%
Hispanic or Latino 15.12%
Unknown 4.19%
White 63.14%
Genderfemale 81.61%
male 18.39%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Family service caseworker career paths
Key steps to become a family service caseworker
Explore family service caseworker education requirements
Start to develop specific family service caseworker skills
Skills Percentages Social Work 33.49% Direct Services 8.48% Family Services 6.90% DHS 6.53% Mental Health 5.66% Complete relevant family service caseworker training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New family service caseworkers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a family service caseworker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real family service caseworker resumes.Research family service caseworker duties and responsibilities
- Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
- Collect client data and determine eligibility for medicaid, daycare, food assistance and emergency services programs.
- Complete documentation for clients to obtain Medicaid waivers.
- Provide information and support to transitioning foster youth during assessment, case planning or other permanency and transition-relate activities.
Prepare your family service caseworker resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your family service caseworker resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a family service caseworker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable family service caseworker resume templates
Build a professional family service caseworker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your family service caseworker resume.
Apply for family service caseworker jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a family service caseworker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first family service caseworker job
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Average family service caseworker salary
The average family service caseworker salary in the United States is $49,645 per year or $24 per hour. Family service caseworker salaries range between $33,000 and $72,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do family service caseworkers rate their job?
Family service caseworker reviews
The children are always worth it.
Stressful, dangerous neighborhoods, sometimes parents are dangerous as well. Work life balance isn't good. Documentation is very time consuming and you will bring that home to finish. If your agency requires that you do your app recorded time sheets then that will prove ardously time consuming constaint that cuts right into your work/home life balance...it's terrible. Wear and tear on your car, no shows from parents upsetting children and paid mileage is horrible. Get ready to barely have a life.
Working collaboratively with clients to help them understand themselves and experience their authentic selves. Learning from my clients.
Low pay
Serving people, impacting change in communities, never boring
pay is low for what you need to do
Updated January 8, 2025
