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What does an outreach counselor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Virginia Schwindt

The outreach counselor seeks people that need help and care. It is the main task of an outreach counselor to assist people experiencing hardships and difficulties in life. Many areas in society need the skills of an outreach counselor; foremost is schools and welfare organizations. The outreach counselor requests assistance, determines eligibility, and facilitates various outreach programs and events. The outreach counselor is expected to provide assistance to clients and guide them through all the processes in getting benefits from outreach organizations.

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Outreach counselor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real outreach counselor resumes:

  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Deliver direct services to children with autism by executing individualize plans, completing necessary documentation and communication effectively with team.
  • Validate entitlement and process customer claims for reimbursement for submission to DFAS for payment.
  • Process claims for reimbursement, determine entitlements and prepare documents for submission to DFAS for payment.
  • Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

Outreach counselor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Outreach Counselors are proficient in Social Work, Rehabilitation, and Mental Illness. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Speaking skills, and Analytical skills.

We break down the percentage of Outreach Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Social Work, 15%

    Participated in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings with social workers and therapists to provide comprehensive treatment planning.

  • Rehabilitation, 7%

    Provided individual student planning to assist expulsion students in fulfilling their rehabilitation plan and re-entering the comprehensive school setting.

  • Mental Illness, 6%

    Provided crisis counseling and intervention for individuals with severe mental illness.

  • Community Agencies, 6%

    Worked with businesses and community agencies to collaborate services for community clients.

  • Outreach Program, 6%

    Execute behind-the-scenes tours, outreach programs, animal encounters, and teach educational material regarding marine animals and conservation

  • Community Resources, 5%

    Completed psycho-social assessments in order to provide appropriate referrals to community resources and/or provided efficient short term counseling.

"social work," "rehabilitation," and "mental illness" are among the most common skills that outreach counselors use at work. You can find even more outreach counselor responsibilities below, including:

Listening skills. One of the key soft skills for an outreach counselor to have is listening skills. You can see how this relates to what outreach counselors do because "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems." Additionally, an outreach counselor resume shows how outreach counselors use listening skills: "provided emotional support through active listening and providing public education and information to individuals, groups, and families. "

Speaking skills. Many outreach counselor duties rely on speaking skills. "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students," so an outreach counselor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways outreach counselor responsibilities rely on speaking skills: "addressed legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline. "

Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of outreach counselors is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday outreach counselor duties, as "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "collect demographic and baseline health data on all activities of community outreach appointments. "

Compassion. A big part of what outreach counselors do relies on "compassion." You can see how essential it is to outreach counselor responsibilities because "school and career counselors and advisors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be able to empathize with their clients and students." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical outreach counselor tasks: "listened and demonstrated compassion to clients as they shared their concerns about depression, suicide, and other mental illnesses. "

Interpersonal skills. Another crucial skill for an outreach counselor to carry out their responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." A big part of what outreach counselors relies on this skill, since "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." How this skill relates to outreach counselor duties can be seen in an example from an outreach counselor resume snippet: "trained in interpersonal skills in workshops regarding suicide prevention, social justice training, and leadership. "

All outreach counselor skills

The three companies that hire the most outreach counselors are:

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Compare different outreach counselors

Outreach counselor vs. Counselor internship

When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision. It is also essential to track the information gathered and coordinate with assigned personnel to adhere to the company's regulations and policies.

If we compare the average outreach counselor annual salary with that of a counselor internship, we find that counselor interns typically earn a $446 lower salary than outreach counselors make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both outreach counselor and counselor internship positions are skilled in mental illness, community agencies, and community resources.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between outreach counselors and counselor internship. For instance, outreach counselor responsibilities require skills such as "social work," "rehabilitation," "outreach program," and "substance abuse." Whereas a counselor internship is skilled in "intake assessments," "substance abuse issues," "mental health issues," and "group therapy sessions." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Counselor interns really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $51,629. Comparatively, outreach counselors tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $51,815.On average, counselor interns reach similar levels of education than outreach counselors. Counselor interns are 0.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Outreach counselor vs. Intensive in-home counselor

An Intensive In-Home Counselor conducts individual counseling sessions for parents and deals with delicate issues like sexual addiction. They also prepare progress reports for clients.

Intensive in-home counselor positions earn higher pay than outreach counselor roles. They earn a $5,482 higher salary than outreach counselors per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both outreach counselors and intensives in-home counselor have skills such as "mental illness," "community agencies," and "community resources. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, outreach counselor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "social work," "rehabilitation," "outreach program," and "substance abuse." Meanwhile, an intensive in-home counselor has duties that require skills in areas such as "mental health issues," "intensive in-home," "therapeutic interventions," and "discharge planning." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Intensives in-home counselor may earn a higher salary than outreach counselors, but intensives in-home counselor earn the most pay in the utilities industry with an average salary of $56,398. On the other hand, outreach counselors receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $51,815.In general, intensives in-home counselor achieve similar levels of education than outreach counselors. They're 4.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for outreach counselors in the next 3-5 years?

Virginia SchwindtVirginia Schwindt LinkedIn profile

MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University

Telehealth and the internet. Suppose the Pandemic has taught us one thing, that is that we can still meet people and their needs through the online environment. In my opinion, it is not the best way, but it is a way to meet with people and to be able to assist them, rather than people sitting alone and without assistance.

Outreach counselor vs. Outreach specialist

An outreach specialist is primarily responsible for organizing and managing social service programs that promote health and wellness within a community. They typically conduct research and assessments to determine the community's needs, thoroughly plan events and programs, participate in hiring staff and volunteers, and liaise with sponsors and suppliers. Often reporting to a manager or supervisor, an outreach specialist must also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports, preparing necessary documentation, managing schedules, arranging appointments, and even responding to inquiries and concerns.

An average outreach specialist eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of outreach counselors. The difference in salaries amounts to outreach specialists earning a $4,083 lower average salary than outreach counselors.Using the responsibilities included on outreach counselors and outreach specialists resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "social work," "rehabilitation," and "mental illness.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an outreach counselor is likely to be skilled in "money management," "flyers," "child abuse," and "financial aid," while a typical outreach specialist is skilled in "customer service," "patients," "scheduling appointments," and "phone calls."

Outreach specialists earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $47,346. Outreach counselors earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $51,815.Most outreach specialists achieve a lower degree level compared to outreach counselors. For example, they're 7.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Outreach counselor vs. Substance abuse counselor

Substance abuse counselors act as a support system for people with drug and alcohol problems and other behavioral issues. They help the patients control their behavior until they achieve a full recovery. The mental health counselors aid patients to overcome their chemical dependencies and become self-sufficient individuals. Part of their duty includes meeting clients to evaluate their health and substance issues while creating goals and treatment plans. They teach clients coping mechanisms, refer them to support groups, and engage them in group therapy sessions. Once the patient is stable, they help them re-establish their careers and give updates and reports of progress to the courts. Requirements for the job include a master's degree in counseling and social work.

Substance abuse counselors typically earn lower pay than outreach counselors. On average, substance abuse counselors earn a $2,877 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, outreach counselors and substance abuse counselors both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "social work," "rehabilitation," and "mental illness. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between outreach counselors and substance abuse counselors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an outreach counselor might have more use for skills like "outreach program," "substance abuse," "money management," and "social services." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of substance abuse counselors require skills like "patients," "substance abuse treatment," "intake assessments," and "excellent interpersonal. "

Substance abuse counselors enjoy the best pay in the non profits industry, with an average salary of $41,273. For comparison, outreach counselors earn the highest salary in the education industry.The average resume of substance abuse counselors showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to outreach counselors. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 5.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of outreach counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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