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Transition specialist vs family support specialist

The differences between transition specialists 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 a transition specialist, becoming a family support specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a transition specialist has an average salary of $42,506, which is higher than the $37,343 average annual salary of a family support specialist.

The top three skills for a transition specialist include patients, customer service and social work. The most important skills for a family support specialist are social work, child abuse, and patients.

Transition specialist vs family support specialist overview

Transition SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Yearly salary$42,506$37,343
Hourly rate$20.44$17.95
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs39,829143,739
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4342
Years of experience124

What does a transition specialist do?

In learning institutions, a transition specialist is primarily in charge of providing career advice to students, guiding them in their journey for career growth. It is their duty to conduct interviews to identify the students' career goals, conduct skills assessments, research career opportunities for students, and refer them to programs or services, assisting them in the documentation procedures. Furthermore, as a transition specialist, it is essential to build rapport with students and other clients, encouraging them to pursue their short and long-term goals.

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.

Transition specialist vs family support specialist salary

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

Transition SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Average salary$42,506$37,343
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $74,000Between $24,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CATrenton, NJ
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyA.T. KearneyCatholic Health East
Best paying industryFinanceProfessional

Differences between transition specialist and family support specialist education

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

Transition SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonHunter College of the City University of New York

Transition specialist vs family support specialist demographics

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

Transition SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 29.7% Female, 70.3%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%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 transition specialist and family support specialist duties and responsibilities

Transition specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage incoming/outgoing referrals and some ICD-9 medical coding.
  • Provide job site assessment and training in collaboration with vocational rehabilitation counselor for follow-up.
  • Refer students to community resources for financial, medical, educational, and rehabilitation services.
  • Complete daily progress notes in medical record per ISP and pertinent events.
  • Collaborate with clinicians to ensure patients receive recommended products prior to discharge.
  • Support patients residing in psychiatric hospital settings to successfully transition into the community.
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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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Transition specialist vs family support specialist skills

Common transition specialist skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Social Work, 9%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Community Resources, 5%
  • Community Agencies, 5%
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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