Foster care worker vs foster care case manager

The differences between foster care workers and foster care case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a foster care worker, becoming a foster care case manager takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a foster care worker has an average salary of $46,037, which is higher than the $39,279 average annual salary of a foster care case manager.

The top three skills for a foster care worker include foster care, social work and child abuse. The most important skills for a foster care case manager are foster care, social work, and foster children.

Foster care worker vs foster care case manager overview

	Foster Care Worker	Foster Care Case Manager
Yearly salary	$46,037	$39,279
Hourly rate	$22.13	$18.88
Growth rate	9%	12%
Number of jobs	151,625	134,853
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age	42	43
Years of experience	4	12

What does a foster care worker do?

A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.

What does a foster care case manager do?

A Foster Care Case Manager provides social work counseling to foster children, families, and foster parents. They plan and coordinate treatments for the required children in accordance with specified requirements.

Foster care worker vs foster care case manager salary

Foster care workers and foster care case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Foster Care Worker	Foster Care Case Manager
Average salary	$46,037	$39,279
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $65,000	Between $30,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	Chicago, IL
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New York
Best paying company	Riverview Health	Scripps Health
Best paying industry	Construction	Professional

Differences between foster care worker and foster care case manager education

There are a few differences between a foster care worker and a foster care case manager in terms of educational background:

	Foster Care Worker	Foster Care Case Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	Boston University	California State University - Long Beach

Foster care worker vs foster care case manager demographics

Here are the differences between foster care workers' and foster care case managers' demographics:

	Foster Care Worker	Foster Care Case Manager
Average age	42	43
Gender ratio	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%
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, 12.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%
LGBT Percentage	10%	11%

Differences between foster care worker and foster care case manager duties and responsibilities

Foster care worker example responsibilities.

Conduct unscheduled regular school visits to attain records of attendance, suspensions, IEP, and treatment plans.
Manage to write progress note, complete FASP's and input information on PROMIS on a timely manner.
Manage caseload of 18 23 children and adolescents in DSS custody due to abuse, neglect and criminal activity.
Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.

Foster care case manager example responsibilities.

Manage caseloads for Medicaid; interviewing and instructing clients in proper preparation of documentation.
Prepare court reports, petitions and provide testimony to support case management as required by DHS contract and court mandates.
Assure that DCFS policies and procedures, and all applicable laws, rules, and policies are follow.
Supervise visitation between DCFS wards and their parents and siblings in order to observe parent-child interaction and ensure safety.
Provide services to and on behalf of the consumers, natural families and foster families refer to the agency from DHS.
Perform concurrent review to assure appropriateness of admission, inpatient/acute care, rehabilitation/SNF status, and discharge using establish InterQual guidelines.

Foster care worker vs foster care case manager skills

Common foster care worker skills

Foster Care, 26%
Social Work, 19%
Child Abuse, 7%
Social Services, 6%
Foster Children, 5%
Community Resources, 4%

Common foster care case manager skills

Foster Care, 23%
Social Work, 20%
Foster Children, 6%
Community Resources, 6%
Child Abuse, 5%
Management Services, 5%

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Foster Care Worker
Foster Care Worker vs Foster Care Case Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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