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Family support worker vs family service worker

The differences between family support workers and family service 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 family service worker. Additionally, a family support worker has an average salary of $38,207, which is higher than the $37,674 average annual salary of a family service worker.

The top three skills for a family support worker include social work, foster care and family support. The most important skills for a family service worker are social work, foster care, and child abuse.

Family support worker vs family service worker overview

Family Support WorkerFamily Service Worker
Yearly salary$38,207$37,674
Hourly rate$18.37$18.11
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs159,875111,599
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

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 family service worker do?

A family service worker is in charge of providing support services to families in a community, referring them to other agencies or programs as needed. They serve as the primary point of contact of family members, ensuring they maintain an active line of communication. Their responsibilities typically revolve around enrolling family members into social services programs, gathering and verifying information, maintaining databases, and assisting in all procedures, all while updating families for any progress. Furthermore, a family service worker needs to coordinate with other social workers to provide the most effective service.

Family support worker vs family service worker salary

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

Family Support WorkerFamily Service Worker
Average salary$38,207$37,674
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $54,000Between $28,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYChicago, IL
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Jersey
Best paying companySt. Elizabeth's Health CenterWashington County
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between family support worker and family service worker education

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

Family Support WorkerFamily Service Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorPsychologySocial Work
Most common collegeHunter College of the City University of New YorkHunter College of the City University of New York

Family support worker vs family service worker demographics

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

Family Support WorkerFamily Service Worker
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 14.0% Female, 86.0%Male, 14.8% Female, 85.2%
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 worker and family service 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.
  • Show more

Family service worker example responsibilities.

  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Practice motivational interviewing techniques to assist individuals in identifying personal hurdles in order to set goals and work towards rehabilitation.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholder (DSS staff, schools and community partners).
  • Integrate the individual support plan (ISP) objective into the individuals' daily schedule.
  • Provide courtesy interviews or conflict investigations for other county DSS.
  • Determine participants' eligibility for program by gathering data and maintaining information to ensure clients are compliant for TANF program regulations.

Family support worker vs family service 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 family service worker skills
  • Social Work, 18%
  • Foster Care, 10%
  • Child Abuse, 9%
  • Protective Services, 5%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Court Reports, 4%

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