Gateway Foundation has understood and addressed the connection between criminal activity and substance use since it began providing services in 1968. In Florida, Gateway partners with the Florida Department of Corrections to provide in-prison substance use disorder treatment services to incarcerated adults. Gateway also provides outpatient substance use disorder services to criminal justice-involved adults in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. A pilot Day Reporting Center has recently opened in Polk County, Florida, serving criminal justice-involved adults. Gateway has programs located in multiple locations throughout the state of Florida, most of which are located in Correctional Institutions. As of December 2024, the only active programs not located in Correctional Institutions are in the Leon and Polk County areas. Gateway Foundation continues to expand; therefore, additional opportunities for student/intern placement may continue to become available, including out-of-state opportunities. Our substance use disorder programs would allow students/interns to learn more about assessment, treatment planning, and individual and group counseling
Special placement information:
The agency accepts BSW Full-Time Students, MSW first-year students, MSW second-year students, and Advanced Standing Clinical Students, as well as Part-Time BSW and Part-time MSW students. Please note: Generalist internships (BSW/MSW I) opportunities are only offered at the Polk Co. Day Reporting CentStudents/interns are expected to provide their own transportation, and Gateway does not reimburse travel expenses. Students would need to carry liability insurance during their internship. Video or audio taping is not permitted in the correctional environment; this may be allowed in outpatient settings. Hours of operation vary by program location; some locations would be able to accommodate evening and/or weekend hours. If a student is placed in the prison environment, no cell phones are allowed behind the gate in Lakeland. The majority of opportunities are clinical MSW II-focused.