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Social staff worker vs family support specialist

The differences between social staff workers and family support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a social staff worker and a family support specialist. Additionally, a social staff worker has an average salary of $57,877, which is higher than the $37,343 average annual salary of a family support specialist.

The top three skills for a social staff worker include social work, home health and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a family support specialist are social work, child abuse, and patients.

Social staff worker vs family support specialist overview

Social Staff WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Yearly salary$57,877$37,343
Hourly rate$27.83$17.95
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs112,494143,739
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Social staff worker vs family support specialist salary

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

Social Staff WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Average salary$57,877$37,343
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $78,000Between $24,000 And $55,000
Highest paying City-Trenton, NJ
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Catholic Health East
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between social staff worker and family support specialist education

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

Social Staff WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorSocial WorkPsychology
Most common collegeBoston CollegeHunter College of the City University of New York

Social staff worker vs family support specialist demographics

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

Social Staff WorkerFamily Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 22.9% Female, 77.1%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between social staff worker and family support specialist duties and responsibilities

Social staff worker example responsibilities.

  • Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
  • Coordinate care with community providers for follow up if patient are discharged, prepare documentation for admission to inpatient psychiatry unit.
  • Determine eligibility for program, monitor and track program requirements, and review Medicaid eligibility.

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.
  • Show more

Social staff worker vs family support specialist skills

Common social staff worker skills
  • Social Work, 36%
  • Home Health, 10%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Discharge Planning, 6%
  • Family Therapy, 4%
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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