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Family worker vs licensed social worker

The differences between family workers and licensed social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a family worker, becoming a licensed social worker takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a licensed social worker has an average salary of $57,005, which is higher than the $36,992 average annual salary of a family worker.

The top three skills for a family worker include social work, foster care and child care. The most important skills for a licensed social worker are social work, patients, and home health.

Family worker vs licensed social worker overview

Family WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Yearly salary$36,992$57,005
Hourly rate$17.78$27.41
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs101,55266,130
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4245
Years of experience42

What does a family worker do?

A family worker's role is to provide an intervention with parents, children, and young persons to help improve outcomes for families and children. The job they do includes working with parents to help strengthen family relationships and their ability to provide support and be community involved closely. They implement a program that helps parents recognize a child's needs, encouraging child self-esteem development, and positive behavior. Moreover, other duties include giving referrals to other community services as required and to assess family progress.

What does a licensed social worker do?

Licensed Social Workers are duly and legally recognized to carry out activities related to social work. They identify individuals or groups of people in need and assess what kind of help they require. They may assist these people in connecting to agencies that would cater to their needs. Licensed Social Workers also help people cope with their challenges. They are responsible for crafting treatment plans or well-being improvement plans for the individuals they help. They may also be called on during times of crisis to provide emotional support to the individuals involved.

Family worker vs licensed social worker salary

Family workers and licensed social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Average salary$36,992$57,005
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $48,000Between $41,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between family worker and licensed social worker education

There are a few differences between a family worker and a licensed social worker in terms of educational background:

Family WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorPsychologySocial Work
Most common collegeHunter College of the City University of New YorkUniversity of Pennsylvania

Family worker vs licensed social worker demographics

Here are the differences between family workers' and licensed social workers' demographics:

Family WorkerLicensed Social Worker
Average age4245
Gender ratioMale, 15.1% Female, 84.9%Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9%
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, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%13%

Differences between family worker and licensed social worker duties and responsibilities

Family worker example responsibilities.

  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Create service plans and attend administrative case reviews at the DCFS office.
  • Work with families developing and implementing permanent plan in accordance with DCFS policy, procedures, and accreditation standards.
  • Mediate conflicts between patients, handle medical emergencies, assist patients in developing and implementing positive and cooperative living skills.
  • Accompany the families to the IEP meeting and help them deal with any issues or concerns that arise.
  • Assess and evaluate all refer students and make plans to implement any need social services such as following IEP plans.
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Licensed social worker example responsibilities.

  • Foster self-determination of patients by evaluating for vocational rehabilitation that includes employment, volunteering, or education opportunities.
  • Evaluate and provide psychotherapy services to patients diagnose with serious and persistent mental illness and/or chemical dependency within an inpatient setting.
  • Provide clinical supervision to MSW students.
  • Supervise and train MSW students during their final concentration practicum.
  • Plan and facilitate trainings that address trauma exposure and the impact of compassion fatigue on administrative staff.
  • Provide medically relate social services to residents in a sub-acute, short term rehabilitation unit.
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Family worker vs licensed social worker skills

Common family worker skills
  • Social Work, 22%
  • Foster Care, 11%
  • Child Care, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Community Resources, 5%
  • Substance Abuse, 3%
Common licensed social worker skills
  • Social Work, 29%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Home Health, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%

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