Education Requirements for Family Support Worker

The Family Support Worker’s primary duty is to help families gain access to federal aid programs through the gathering of relevant information in an interview process to determine eligibility. They also will help families to connect with non-governmental supplemental programs in the non-profit community in order to provide further support for families.

The process of interviewing clients and determining eligibility is somewhat complex and requires excellent organizational, communication, detail orientation and math skills. It is also helpful to have a strong understanding of human behavior and socio-economic realities that impact those in need of government services in order to have insight into and rapport with clients. These skills are best learned in a Bachelor’s degree program in Social Sciences. While many employers do not strictly require a Bachelor’s degree, they usually are far more likely to hire those with degrees in a related field of study as opposed to those without a four-year degree. Some example degrees that are excellent for this position include:

• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Human Services
• Counseling

All of these degrees will give you a strong background in understanding human behavior that will help you to have the appropriate level of understanding and rapport with your clients which will facilitate you complete the tasks required of you. It is also an excellent idea to have a minor in a foreign language as many states have bi-lingual only positions and often offer a language differential salary increase for those who speak two or more languages fluently.