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.
Family support worker responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real family support worker resumes:
- 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.
- Attend IEP and treatment team meetings to ensure services for children and their families are meet.
- Correspond with partner agencies to link clients to resources, attend court and IEP hearings on behalf of clients.
- Used DoD software to enter data daily.
- Gain full knowledge of DoD principals, initiatives, goals and objectives in relation to services render among members and families.
- Coordinate service plan meetings with the family, IFP staff, and any additional individuals the family requests.
- Testify in court as subpoenaed or request by DCS.
- Conduct record keeping, documentation and daily computer input to federal record system: HSFIS, CHILDPLUS & COPA.
- Collect and analyze information from COPA and child outcomes as part of ongoing monitoring and in order to continuously improve services.
- Perform initial client assessments on HIV infected/affect families.
Family support worker skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Family Support Workers are proficient in Social Work, Foster Care, and Family Support. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Emotional skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Family Support Workers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Social Work, 20%
Used my critical thinking skills to evaluate complex problems/alternatives and employed sound judgment consistent with various social work principles/practices when appropriate.
- Foster Care, 9%
Developed and implemented individualized service plans involving the application of casework methods in Foster Care and Adoptions.
- Family Support, 7%
Organized family support through home visits and developed family partnership agreements to assist each family in accomplishing their goals.
- Community Resources, 7%
Identified community resources that assist families and build working relationship with these agencies/organizations and other formal and informal providers of support.
- Family Services, 6%
Worked in collaboration with all staff and treatment team members* Received monthly clinical supervision from Family Services Clinical Supervisor.
- Mental Health, 6%
Managed a Residential Placement Caseload including discharge planning of children and adolescents from psychiatric hospitals and other mental health facilities.
Most family support workers use their skills in "social work," "foster care," and "family support" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential family support worker responsibilities here:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a family support worker to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what family support workers do because "clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives." Additionally, a family support worker resume shows how family support workers use communication skills: "developed a trusting relationship with over-burdened families; utilizing communication skills that promoted growth and greater independence of families. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of family support workers is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday family support worker duties, as "social workers must analyze their clients’ complex situations and develop practical solutions." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "foster care) the center for youth and family solutions is a child welfare agency. "
Interpersonal skills. For certain family support worker responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a family support worker rely on this skill, as "social workers must be able to work with different groups of people." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what family support workers do: "utilized exceptional communicative and interpersonal abilities to establish and maintain positive rapport with patients through crisis intervention and counseling. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a family support worker to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what family support workers relies on this skill, since "social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment." How this skill relates to family support worker duties can be seen in an example from a family support worker resume snippet: "maintain full accountability for handling all aspects of family services operations in accordance with organizational goals. "
Compassion. Another skill commonly found on family support worker job descriptions is "compassion." It can come up quite often in family support worker duties, since "social workers often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day family support worker responsibilities: "be sensitive to any medical and/or mental health issues present to provide compassionate and quality care. "
The three companies that hire the most family support workers are:
- Children's Home Society of Florida13 family support workers jobs
- My Florida Regional Mls12 family support workers jobs
- St. Francis Community Services
9 family support workers jobs
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Compare different family support workers
Family support worker vs. Service counselor
Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, family support worker responsibilities require skills like "foster care," "family support," "family services," and "behavior management." Meanwhile a typical service counselor has skills in areas such as "patients," "social services," "rehabilitation," and "customer service." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Service counselors earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $43,030. On the other hand, family support workers are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $40,316.The education levels that service counselors earn slightly differ from family support workers. In particular, service counselors are 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a family support worker. Additionally, they're 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Family support worker vs. Social services specialist
A Social Services Specialist provides social services to children and adults in communities, facilities, institutions, or hospitals. They develop and implement specialized treatment programs.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real family support worker resumes. While family support worker responsibilities can utilize skills like "family support," "family services," "mental health," and "behavior management," social services specialists use skills like "patients," "discharge planning," "term care," and "mds."
On average, social services specialists earn a higher salary than family support workers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, social services specialists earn the most pay in the insurance industry with an average salary of $64,884. Whereas family support workers have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $40,316.In general, social services specialists achieve higher levels of education than family support workers. They're 10.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for family support workers in the next 3-5 years?
Virginia Schwindt
MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University
Family support worker vs. Child welfare specialist
Child welfare specialists are professionals who are responsible for protecting children and youngsters from harm by visiting their homes and other residential facilities to investigate their living conditions. These specialists are required to determine the suitability of the homes and resources of foster and adoptive parents for child placement. They must serve as child advocates by attending court proceedings to provide inclusive court proceedings. Child welfare specialists must also work closely with local enforcement to ensure the safety of children.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a family support worker is likely to be skilled in "family support," "support services," "behavior management," and "excellent organizational," while a typical child welfare specialist is skilled in "adoptive parents," "law enforcement entities," "dcfs," and "supportive services."
Child welfare specialists earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $48,390. Family support workers earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $40,316.When it comes to education, child welfare specialists tend to earn higher degree levels compared to family support workers. In fact, they're 5.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Family support worker vs. Outreach worker
An outreach worker is responsible for supporting community events and relief efforts to assist citizens with their needs, providing them resources, and facilitating lifestyle programs. Outreach workers coordinate with participants, suppliers, and sponsors for funding and promotions. They also manage the budgeting and allocation of resources for the programs, ensuring that the activities adhere to the state regulations and community benefits. An outreach worker must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing progress reports and transactions.
Types of family support worker
Updated January 8, 2025
