Occupation · SOC 21-1021
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
Median wage
$58,570
$40,580–$94,030
Projected growth
+3.4%
Average growth
Annual openings
1,340
per year
Employed (US)
382,960
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
501 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingService OrientationReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingWritingTime ManagementPersuasionNegotiationCoordinationActive LearningSystems AnalysisLearning StrategiesInstructingSystems EvaluationManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisScienceOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlMathematicsQuality Control AnalysisTroubleshootingTechnology DesignProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingPsychologyEnglish LanguageAdministrativeSociology and AnthropologyEducation and TrainingLaw and GovernmentAdministration and ManagementComputers and ElectronicsPublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesCommunications and MediaPhilosophy and TheologyForeign LanguageSales and MarketingMedicine and DentistryMathematicsEconomics and AccountingTelecommunicationsBiologyProduction and ProcessingTransportationHistory and ArcheologyGeographyFine ArtsChemistryEngineering and TechnologyMechanicalDesignPhysicsFood ProductionBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
EasyCBMMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPatient electronic medical record EMR softwareStudent information systems SIS softwareWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesGetting InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicAssisting and Caring for OthersWorking with ComputersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsDeveloping and Building TeamsThinking CreativelyDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoaching and Developing OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesTraining and Teaching OthersProcessing InformationSelling or Influencing OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationStaffing Organizational UnitsHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Case history records — compile and maintain under supervisor guidance using office suite and word processing software in a community services agency.Client intake interviews — conduct structured individual assessments following established protocols to identify presenting needs in a supervised field placement.Service referral networks — identify relevant agencies, schools, clinics, and courts by reviewing resource directories under direct supervision.Service plans — assist in drafting initial client service plans using agency templates in consultation with an assigned supervisor.Legal documentation — gather and organize case materials related to child abuse or custody matters under the direction of a licensed social worker.Parent communication — participate in structured meetings with parents to document child-rearing concerns as directed by a supervising clinician.School-based problem identification — observe and record behavioral and attendance data for referred students using agency database software.Referral coordination — schedule medical, psychiatric, or diagnostic evaluations for clients by following established referral procedures.Active listening skills — apply foundational techniques during client interactions to demonstrate empathy and build initial rapport in a supervised setting.Report writing — prepare draft case notes and summary reports using prescribed formats for supervisor review in a social services office.
developing
Case records — maintain accurate and timely case history documentation with minimal oversight using database and word processing tools in a family services agency.Multi-context client assessments — conduct interviews with individuals, families, and groups to evaluate situations, capabilities, and needs with routine supervision.Interagency liaison activities — coordinate communication between schools, courts, protective services, and healthcare providers to support children experiencing disabilities, abuse, or poverty.Service plan reviews — develop, update, and monitor client service plans in consultation with clients and track service quality through structured follow-up contacts.Court preparation support — compile case evidence and assist licensed practitioners in preparing testimony related to child abuse, discipline, or custody proceedings.Parental guidance sessions — conduct structured counseling interviews with parents experiencing child-rearing difficulties to assess family dynamics and recommend next steps.School consultation — collaborate with teachers and school administrators to analyze causes of truancy or behavioral problems and co-develop practical intervention strategies.Diagnostic referral management — identify the need for and arrange medical or psychiatric testing to clarify client challenges and support treatment planning.Caseload time management — prioritize competing client obligations and administrative deadlines using calendar and electronic mail tools in a high-volume social services environment.Data system utilization — query and update client records in agency database platforms to monitor service delivery progress and generate routine status reports.
proficient
Complex case documentation — independently design and maintain comprehensive case histories that satisfy legal, clinical, and agency standards across a full caseload.Holistic client assessments — lead in-depth interviews with diverse individuals, families, and groups to synthesize multi-dimensional needs and formulate evidence-based service recommendations.Cross-system coordination — serve as the primary liaison among schools, courts, child guidance clinics, protective services, and medical providers to resolve complex child and family challenges.Individualized service planning — autonomously develop, implement, and evaluate tailored service plans for clients with multifaceted needs, adjusting strategies based on outcome data.Legal proceedings participation — provide expert testimony and professional consultation in custody, abuse, and child discipline hearings, interpreting case evidence for judicial and administrative bodies.Family counseling — independently facilitate parent and family counseling sessions to address entrenched child-rearing concerns and determine the need for escalated intervention.School system problem-solving — lead consultative processes with school personnel to diagnose systemic causes of truancy and misconduct and design sustainable, school-wide solutions.Comprehensive referral orchestration — evaluate clinical indicators and arrange appropriate medical, psychiatric, and psychological testing, interpreting results to guide interdisciplinary treatment planning.Critical judgment in crisis situations — apply advanced problem sensitivity and deductive reasoning to identify and respond to child safety risks within complex family and community environments.Persuasion and negotiation — advocate effectively on behalf of clients with resistant stakeholders — including courts, schools, and service agencies — to secure needed resources and protections.
advanced
Agency case record standards — establish and enforce documentation policies and quality-assurance protocols that ensure legal compliance and clinical integrity across the entire organization.Assessment framework development — design evidence-based intake and needs-assessment tools adopted agency-wide to improve the consistency and accuracy of client evaluations.Interagency partnership leadership — build and sustain formal collaboration agreements between child welfare agencies, judicial systems, schools, and healthcare networks to address community-level service gaps.Service delivery systems design — lead organizational planning to create, evaluate, and continuously improve service delivery models that achieve measurable outcomes for children and families.Policy and legal advocacy — represent the organization in legislative, regulatory, and judicial arenas, shaping child welfare and family law policy through expert testimony and stakeholder engagement.Staff mentorship and clinical supervision — provide advanced clinical supervision, professional development, and performance coaching to emerging and developing social workers across program units.Organizational consultation strategy — direct school district and community partnerships, guiding systemic responses to truancy, behavioral health crises, and educational inequity at a population level.Interdisciplinary diagnostic protocols — lead the design of interdisciplinary referral and diagnostic processes — integrating medical, psychiatric, and social findings — to drive comprehensive client care.Workforce competency frameworks — develop and implement training curricula and competency standards that elevate ethical practice, cultural responsiveness, and critical decision-making across the social work team.Organizational technology strategy — oversee the selection, implementation, and optimization of case management database, medical software, and presentation platforms to enhance service delivery and reporting capabilities.
Also known as
71 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adolescent CounselorAdoption AgentAdoption CoordinatorAdoption CounselorAdoption Social WorkerAdoption SpecialistAdoption WorkerCase ManagerCase WorkerCasework SupervisorCaseworkerCertified Child, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-CYFSW)Certified Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-CYFSW)Child Abuse WorkerChild AdvocateChild and Family Services WorkerChild and Family SpecialistChild Care CounselorChild Development ConsultantChild Protection SpecialistChild Protective InvestigatorChild Protective Services Social Worker (CPS Social Worker)Child Protective Services SpecialistChild Welfare CaseworkerChild Welfare ConsultantChild Welfare CounselorChild Welfare Social WorkerChild Welfare SpecialistChild Welfare WorkerChildren's CounselorCommunity Organization WorkerDelinquency Prevention Social WorkerEarly Intervention SpecialistEarly InterventionistFamily AdvocateFamily CaseworkerFamily Intervention SpecialistFamily ManagerFamily Preservation CaseworkerFamily Preservation Worker