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Family specialist vs prevention specialist

The differences between family specialists and prevention specialists 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 specialist and a prevention specialist. Additionally, a prevention specialist has an average salary of $49,353, which is higher than the $40,115 average annual salary of a family specialist.

The top three skills for a family specialist include social work, foster care and substance abuse. The most important skills for a prevention specialist are social work, patients, and mental health.

Family specialist vs prevention specialist overview

Family SpecialistPrevention Specialist
Yearly salary$40,115$49,353
Hourly rate$19.29$23.73
Growth rate9%6%
Number of jobs81,14821,954
Job satisfaction2-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4249
Years of experience44

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 prevention specialist do?

Prevention specialists are professionals who are work with at-risk youth by conducting education about substance abuse and other high-risk activities. These specialists must plan and implement programs in schools or communities to encourage young adults to have a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. They are required to work with families who are involved with child abuse and domestic violence while facilitating training for rape crisis workers. Prevention specialists must also provide education on mental health promotion by conducting assessments to individuals and families.

Family specialist vs prevention specialist salary

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

Family SpecialistPrevention Specialist
Average salary$40,115$49,353
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $51,000Between $33,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAMentor, OH
Highest paying stateWashingtonMaine
Best paying companyBrigham and Women's HospitalAbbVie
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between family specialist and prevention specialist education

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

Family SpecialistPrevention Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at AlbanyCalifornia State University - Bakersfield

Family specialist vs prevention specialist demographics

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

Family SpecialistPrevention Specialist
Average age4249
Gender ratioMale, 32.4% Female, 67.6%Male, 33.1% Female, 66.9%
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, 5.8% Unknown, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 1.2% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%
LGBT Percentage10%18%

Differences between family specialist and prevention 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

Prevention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Complete basic plumbing, electrical, carpentry and HVAC duties.
  • Train in CPR and respond to any emergency calls.
  • Schedule job routes using personal GPS and map books.
  • Monitor, identify and evaluate risk factors on wires and ACH transfers
  • Perform ink and electronic fingerprinting to meet DCJS and/or DoD requirements.
  • Maintain roof, parking lot, lighting, plumbing, and electrical equipment.
  • Show more

Family specialist vs prevention 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 prevention specialist skills
  • Social Work, 12%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Substance Abuse Prevention, 5%
  • Community Outreach, 4%
  • Prevention Programs, 4%

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