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What is a family support worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Virginia Schwindt
introduction image

A family support worker works in governmental or social service agencies to assist at-risk clients. He/She assesses the needs of the family and develops programs to address them. He/She resolves issues and promotes wellbeing, human rights, and social justice. Asides from that, he/she may offer counseling and mediation services. Additionally, he/she refers clients to appropriate social services as needed. Likewise, he/she helps families navigate the protocols of the social system. Furthermore, he/she provides education, appropriate modeling techniques, and several other supportive services to support clients. Moreover, he/she collaborates with case managers, social workers, and so on.

Most family support workers hold a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field. Candidates must have prior work experience in a similar role. You must possess communication, problem-solving, attention to detail, organization, and listening skills. Family support workers earn an average salary of $35,930 per year. This varies between $27,000 and $49,000.

What general advice would you give to a Family Support Worker?

Virginia SchwindtVirginia Schwindt LinkedIn Profile

MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University

Take the licensing test as soon as you are able to, and be open to where you work. It is great to want a specific population or employer, but being open to other experiences may be where God wants you to be. Don't limit yourself because, as a social worker, you can do so many different things.
ScoreFamily Support WorkerUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,207

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 9%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.3
Race

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%

Gender

female 85.99%

male 14.01%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Family Support Worker career paths

Key steps to become a family support worker

  1. Explore family support worker education requirements

    Most common family support worker degrees

    Bachelor's

    65.8 %

    Associate

    15.2 %

    Master's

    12.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific family support worker skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Social Work19.65%
    Foster Care8.60%
    Family Support6.91%
    Community Resources6.51%
    Family Services6.50%
  3. Complete relevant family support worker training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New family support workers 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 support worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real family support worker resumes.
  4. Research family support worker duties and responsibilities

    • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
    • Interview clients and/or their representatives and complete appropriate paperwork for filing claims for Medicaid.
    • Determine eligibility of food stamps, medicaid, and welfare benefits including supportive services.
    • Mediate conflicts between patients, handle medical emergencies, assist patients in developing and implementing positive and cooperative living skills.
  5. Prepare your family support worker resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your family support worker 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 support worker 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 Support Worker Resume templates

    Build a professional Family Support Worker 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 Support Worker resume.
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    Family Support Worker Resume
  6. Apply for family support worker jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a family support worker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Family Support Worker Job

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Average family support worker salary

The average Family Support Worker salary in the United States is $38,207 per year or $18 per hour. Family support worker salaries range between $26,000 and $54,000 per year.

Average Family Support Worker Salary
$38,207 Yearly
$18.37 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do family support workers rate their job?

-/5

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1 Star

Family Support Worker reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2024
Pros

The children are always worth it.

Cons

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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

Working collaboratively with clients to help them understand themselves and experience their authentic selves. Learning from my clients.

Cons

Low pay


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Being able to help and serve the public


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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