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Outreach worker vs family support specialist

The differences between outreach workers and family support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an outreach worker, becoming a family support specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an outreach worker has an average salary of $37,639, which is higher than the $37,343 average annual salary of a family support specialist.

The top three skills for an outreach worker include social work, autism and patients. The most important skills for a family support specialist are social work, child abuse, and patients.

Outreach worker vs family support specialist overview

Outreach WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Yearly salary$37,639$37,343
Hourly rate$18.10$17.95
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs65,822143,739
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4342
Years of experience124

What does an outreach worker do?

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.

What does a family support specialist do?

A family support specialist is an individual who provides counseling and rehabilitation services to families who are facing crises so that their lives can be improved. Family support specialists conduct interviews with members of a family to determine areas that need support such as anti-social behavior, bullying, or domestic violence. They collaborate with healthcare and social professionals to evaluate caseload needs. In cases of relevant child protection, family support specialists are also required to attend court sessions.

Outreach worker vs family support specialist salary

Outreach workers and family support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Outreach WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Average salary$37,639$37,343
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $49,000Between $24,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CATrenton, NJ
Highest paying stateNorth DakotaNew Jersey
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkCatholic Health East
Best paying industryFinanceProfessional

Differences between outreach worker and family support specialist education

There are a few differences between an outreach worker and a family support specialist in terms of educational background:

Outreach WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonHunter College of the City University of New York

Outreach worker vs family support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between outreach workers' and family support specialists' demographics:

Outreach WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 30.8% Female, 69.2%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 23.5% Asian, 6.2% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%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%
LGBT Percentage11%10%

Differences between outreach worker and family support specialist duties and responsibilities

Outreach worker example responsibilities.

  • Review and research leads regarding personal injury cases by obtaining information from the Medicaid recipient's attorney and insurance adjuster
  • Provide information and referral to patients regarding community resources and needs indicate, and advocate eliminating barriers to care.
  • Provide resources for the community regarding health care issues and rehabilitation.
  • Conduct client interviews clients to gather information, assess need, and determine appropriate Medicaid category of eligibility.
  • Assist patients in application process for medical programs and screen for appropriate medical coverage eligibility available through state programs.
  • Deliver direct services to children with autism by executing individualize plans, completing necessary documentation and communication effectively with team.
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Family support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage RSP curriculum for wide spectrum of needs including LD and autism.
  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Provide first aid or CPR.
  • Provide intensive services to families that are DHS who are determine to be reunify with their families.
  • Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings, individual supervision, and other meetings require by DCF.
  • Provide activities supervision and individual counseling to DCFS wards of the state within a therapeutic milieu setting.
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Outreach worker vs family support specialist skills

Common outreach worker skills
  • Social Work, 13%
  • Autism, 9%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 8%
  • Substance Abuse, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
Common family support specialist skills
  • Social Work, 23%
  • Child Abuse, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Child Development, 4%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
  • Foster Care, 4%

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