Family support worker vs case worker

The differences between family support workers and case workers 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 worker and a case worker. Additionally, a case worker has an average salary of $41,459, which is higher than the $38,207 average annual salary of a family support worker.

The top three skills for a family support worker include social work, foster care and family support. The most important skills for a case worker are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.

Family support worker vs case worker overview

	Family Support Worker	Case Worker
Yearly salary	$38,207	$41,459
Hourly rate	$18.37	$19.93
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	159,875	107,329
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a family support worker do?

A family service worker is a social service agent who assesses the needs of family and promotes wellbeing, social justice, and human rights through governmental and social service agencies. Family service workers offer services that can include counseling and mediation to families that will help them navigate the protocols of the social system. They act as liaisons between families facing problems and different government organizations. Family service workers also ensure that families in need are getting the benefits they are entitled to, as well as help them access various community resources.

What does a case worker do?

Caseworkers are social workers who watch over the welfare of underprivileged individuals and at-risk families by counseling and providing them with assistance. Usually employed under the government or a local non-profit organization, a caseworker must conduct a thorough interview and house visits to determine the needs of the family. They then refer them to any programs or agencies that can give them the specific care and help needed. Furthermore, it is crucial to identify neglect and abuse signs, reporting them to the authorities right away.

Family support worker vs case worker salary

Family support workers and case workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Family Support Worker	Case Worker
Average salary	$38,207	$41,459
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $54,000	Between $30,000 And $55,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	New York, NY
Highest paying state	New York	New Jersey
Best paying company	St. Elizabeth's Health Center	Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between family support worker and case worker education

There are a few differences between a family support worker and a case worker in terms of educational background:

	Family Support Worker	Case Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	Hunter College of the City University of New York	University of Pennsylvania

Family support worker vs case worker demographics

Here are the differences between family support workers' and case workers' demographics:

	Family Support Worker	Case Worker
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%	Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%
Race ratio	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%	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 Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between family support worker and case worker duties and responsibilities

Family support worker example 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.
Initiate and maintain regular contact with families and establishing a trust relationship, primarily with DCF families.
Prepare petitions on cases which include a summary of allegations and DCF s findings to request judicial action when require.

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Case worker example responsibilities.

Establish collaborative relationships with patients within a supportive atmosphere to assist in confronting drug relate behavior and achieving sobriety.
Review and research leads regarding personal injury cases by obtaining information from the Medicaid recipient's attorney and insurance adjuster
File, close and maintain records in either physical case file or on ETO.
Train new employees and assign tasks in driving and all responsibilities in DCS documentations.
Provide weekly face to face updates to youth and telephonic updates to family members/sponsor with documentation find in ETO.
Facilitate DCS court order supervised visitation during the reunification process.

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Family support worker vs case worker skills

Common family support worker skills

Social Work, 20%
Foster Care, 9%
Family Support, 7%
Community Resources, 7%
Family Services, 6%
Mental Health, 6%

Common case worker skills

Social Work, 20%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Patients, 7%
Substance Abuse, 6%
Community Resources, 6%
Child Abuse, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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