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Family specialist vs living specialist

The differences between family specialists and living specialists 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 specialist, becoming a living specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a family specialist has an average salary of $40,115, which is higher than the $36,759 average annual salary of a living specialist.

The top three skills for a family specialist include social work, foster care and substance abuse. The most important skills for a living specialist are independent living, community resources, and autism.

Family specialist vs living specialist overview

Family SpecialistLiving Specialist
Yearly salary$40,115$36,759
Hourly rate$19.29$17.67
Growth rate9%12%
Number of jobs81,14849,916
Job satisfaction2-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4243
Years of experience412

What does a family specialist do?

A Family Specialist performs social work for families in need. They are focused on helping individuals and families to improve their lives.

What does a living specialist do?

A living specialist is a person who is responsible for assisting and guiding individuals that have difficulties caring for themselves. They are the person who helps them in doing household chores and guiding them throughout the cleaning process. This career is an important position in society because it provides care for those who are in need.

Family specialist vs living specialist salary

Family specialists and living specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family SpecialistLiving Specialist
Average salary$40,115$36,759
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $51,000Between $28,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WANew York, NY
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew York
Best paying companyBrigham and Women's HospitalTerros Health
Best paying industryTechnologyNon Profits

Differences between family specialist and living specialist education

There are a few differences between a family specialist and a living specialist in terms of educational background:

Family SpecialistLiving Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at AlbanySUNY at Binghamton

Family specialist vs living specialist demographics

Here are the differences between family specialists' and living specialists' demographics:

Family SpecialistLiving Specialist
Average age4243
Gender ratioMale, 32.4% Female, 67.6%Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5%
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, 10.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.8% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage10%11%

Differences between family specialist and living specialist duties and responsibilities

Family specialist example responsibilities.

  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Complete family assessments and supervise visit documentation for family DHS worker and also for court hearing purposes.
  • Co-Facilitate state require GPS: MAPP training for prospective adoptive parents.
  • Do MAPP trainings with potential foster and adoptive parents to assist them to make an inform decision.
  • Assess the families' capacity to protect their children, and ensure compliance with the DHS safety plan.
  • Develop deep trust and credibility through empathy, integrity, compassion and consistently providing sound advice and helpful support.
  • Show more

Living specialist example responsibilities.

  • Ensure the facilities' mission are achieved by effectively supervising the mental health rehabilitative efforts of severely and chronically ill patients.
  • Conduct comprehensive care assessments to determine client eligibility for Medicaid fund home health assistance.
  • Provide education and vocational counseling for the individual and/or their family members and significant others to ensure healthy lifestyles and rehabilitation.
  • Collaborate with community health councils and other community agencies to provide programs that enhance community awareness of health and safety.

Family specialist vs living specialist skills

Common family specialist skills
  • Social Work, 22%
  • Foster Care, 11%
  • Substance Abuse, 7%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Child Abuse, 6%
  • Community Resources, 5%
Common living specialist skills
  • Independent Living, 13%
  • Community Resources, 9%
  • Autism, 8%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Foster Care, 7%

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