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Family support coordinator vs family support specialist

The differences between family support coordinators and family support 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 support coordinator and a family support specialist. Additionally, a family support coordinator has an average salary of $42,177, which is higher than the $37,343 average annual salary of a family support specialist.

The top three skills for a family support coordinator include social work, post deployment and social services. The most important skills for a family support specialist are social work, child abuse, and patients.

Family support coordinator vs family support specialist overview

Family Support CoordinatorFamily Support Specialist
Yearly salary$42,177$37,343
Hourly rate$20.28$17.95
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs116,163143,739
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a family support coordinator do?

A family support coordinator acts as the primary contact for families in need of welfare, emotional guidance, or other support. Their job is to serve as a bridge between a family and any relevant support agencies. Their main goal is to reduce the time that families in trouble have to wait for care. Family support coordinators are often social workers or welfare coordinators. They typically conduct regular outreach programs in areas with high cases of unemployment, family problems, and poverty.

What does a family support specialist do?

A family support specialist is an individual who provides counseling and rehabilitation services to families who are facing crises so that their lives can be improved. Family support specialists conduct interviews with members of a family to determine areas that need support such as anti-social behavior, bullying, or domestic violence. They collaborate with healthcare and social professionals to evaluate caseload needs. In cases of relevant child protection, family support specialists are also required to attend court sessions.

Family support coordinator vs family support specialist salary

Family support coordinators and family support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family Support CoordinatorFamily Support Specialist
Average salary$42,177$37,343
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $55,000Between $24,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityBaltimore, MDTrenton, NJ
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyBoston Public SchoolsCatholic Health East
Best paying industryGovernmentProfessional

Differences between family support coordinator and family support specialist education

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

Family Support CoordinatorFamily Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonHunter College of the City University of New York

Family support coordinator vs family support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between family support coordinators' and family support specialists' demographics:

Family Support CoordinatorFamily Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 17.7% Female, 82.3%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between family support coordinator and family support specialist duties and responsibilities

Family support coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage SharePoint inventory repository and assign access levels to new hires as needed.
  • Collaborate effectively with peers/hospital staff and develop positive relationships with patients' families, ensuring a level of trust and respect.
  • Complete data entering/gathering tasks in WebCM and MFP websites.

Family support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage RSP curriculum for wide spectrum of needs including LD and autism.
  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Provide first aid or CPR.
  • Provide intensive services to families that are DHS who are determine to be reunify with their families.
  • Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings, individual supervision, and other meetings require by DCF.
  • Provide activities supervision and individual counseling to DCFS wards of the state within a therapeutic milieu setting.
  • Show more

Family support coordinator vs family support specialist skills

Common family support coordinator skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Post Deployment, 10%
  • Social Services, 10%
  • Child Care, 7%
  • Community Outreach, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
Common family support specialist skills
  • Social Work, 23%
  • Child Abuse, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Child Development, 4%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
  • Foster Care, 4%

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