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.
Foster care worker responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real foster care worker resumes:
- 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.
- Background check certify in CPR for children services
- Supervise MSW intern, training of new hires to the agency.
- Provide care and compassion, while addressing deep hurt and psychological harm.
- Participate in and testify at family court proceedings within the five NYC boroughs.
- Facilitate FTC's base on supervisor's assignment and agency's need basis.
- Collaborate with other service providers, court and DHS to work for permanency for children/families.
- Maintain case records and casework contacts including home visits in accordance with ACS and NYS regulations.
- Work along with foster parents, DCFS, school administrators, and other entities to ensure compliance.
- Provide counseling, case management, and mediation services to children, caretakers, and biological parents.
Foster care worker skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Foster Care Workers are proficient in Foster Care, Social Work, and Child Abuse. They’re also known for soft skills such as Emotional skills, Communication skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Foster Care Workers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Foster Care, 26%
Performed data management activities, formulated service plans, delivered case management, foster care coordination and counseling.
- Social Work, 19%
Facilitated continuous interactions with social workers, health care professionals, lawyers, educational professionals, and family members.
- Child Abuse, 7%
Participated in regular rotation of 24-hour on-call beeper coverage to respond to emergency allegations of child abuse or neglect.
- Social Services, 6%
Developed and monitored individualized service plans in conjunction with referring agencies, and other social services professionals.
- Foster Children, 5%
Provided home-based counseling and crisis intervention for foster children, biological parents and foster/adoptive parents during casework contacts.
- Community Resources, 4%
Referred client and parental figures to community resources to assist in recovery from developmental, emotional, psychological and physical illness.
Most foster care workers use their skills in "foster care," "social work," and "child abuse" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential foster care worker responsibilities here:
Communication skills. Many foster care worker duties rely on communication skills. "clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives," so a foster care worker will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways foster care worker responsibilities rely on communication skills: "participate in home visitations as well as constant communication with foster and biological families. "
Organizational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of foster care workers is organizational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday foster care worker duties, as "social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintain full accountability for handling all aspects of family services operations in accordance with organizational goals. "
Problem-solving skills. foster care worker responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "social workers must analyze their clients’ complex situations and develop practical solutions." This resume example shows what foster care workers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "led group therapy meetings and resolved escalated issues. "
Compassion. Another common skill required for foster care worker responsibilities is "compassion." This skill comes up in the duties of foster care workers all the time, as "social workers often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations." An excerpt from a real foster care worker resume shows how this skill is central to what a foster care worker does: "foster parents and clients understood that my compassion was genuine. "
The three companies that hire the most foster care workers are:
- Chrysalis20 foster care workers jobs
- Centene13 foster care workers jobs
- Access Family Services11 foster care workers jobs
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Compare different foster care workers
Foster care worker vs. Behavioral health specialist
Typically working for clinics and learning institutions, a behavioral health specialist is in charge of counseling and treating patients with behavioral issues. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial assessment through interview and observation, maintaining records and data, developing treatment plans, and referring patients to other support services when necessary. Moreover, a behavioral health specialist must communicate with the patient's families or guardians, discuss conditions, and provide advice on taking care of them. Aside from treating patients, it is also essential to continuously monitor their behavior while building positive relationships with them.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a foster care worker are more likely to require skills like "child abuse," "social services," "foster children," and "court reports." On the other hand, a job as a behavioral health specialist requires skills like "patients," "rehabilitation," "patient care," and "mental illness." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Behavioral health specialists really shine in the insurance industry with an average salary of $53,632. Comparatively, foster care workers tend to make the most money in the construction industry with an average salary of $50,830.behavioral health specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than foster care workers. In fact, behavioral health specialists are 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Foster care 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.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that foster care worker responsibilities requires skills like "social services," "mental health," "state regulations," and "dcfs." But a social services specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "discharge planning," "term care," and "mds."
Social services specialists earn a higher average salary than foster care workers. But social services specialists earn the highest pay in the insurance industry, with an average salary of $64,884. Additionally, foster care workers earn the highest salaries in the construction with average pay of $50,830 annually.social services specialists earn similar levels of education than foster care workers in general. They're 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for foster care workers in the next 3-5 years?
Virginia Schwindt
MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University
Foster care worker vs. Case planner
Case planners are social workers who provide assistance to children and their families to improve their social and psychological functioning as well as maximize the well-being of families. These planners are required to design service plans that address the safety, behavioral, education, and permanency needs of families and adolescents. They must identify potential child abuse and report any suspected abuses to the appropriate authorities. Case planners must also facilitate counseling to domestic violence victims and assist families in obtaining protection orders from victim service nonprofit organizations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a foster care worker is likely to be skilled in "compassion," "state regulations," "dcfs," and "cpr," while a typical case planner is skilled in "nyc," "nys," "collateral contacts," and "address safety."
Case planners earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $42,477. Foster care workers earn the highest pay from the construction industry, with an average salary of $50,830.case planners typically earn similar educational levels compared to foster care workers. Specifically, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Foster care 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.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between foster care workers and child welfare specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a foster care worker might have more use for skills like "child abuse," "compassion," "state regulations," and "cpr." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of child welfare specialists require skills like "child safety," "child welfare," "court hearings," and "law enforcement entities. "
Child welfare specialists enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $48,390. For comparison, foster care workers earn the highest salary in the construction industry.child welfare specialists reach lower levels of education compared to foster care workers, in general. The difference is that they're 7.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of foster care worker
Updated January 8, 2025
