The Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) provides law enforcement and corrections for Manatee County, Florida. The Resource Assistance Program (RAP unit) within MCSO provides social services to those that the sheriff's office comes into contact with. RAP serves a variety of populations, including the elderly, homeless, families, and those struggling with substance use and mental health. Clients of all ages are eligible for services, but most range from 18 to 75 years old. Social work of the RAP unit entails case management, advocacy, and crisis intervention. The unit also manages a dormitory at the local Salvation Army, where homeless individuals can stay as they work with case managers to address their needs and become stabilized. Stabilization tasks include the acquisition of state ID cards, social security cards, birth certificates, food stamps, health insurance, housing, and employment. Case managers also respond to active calls pertaining to mental health, providing crisis intervention to clients and insight to patrol deputies regarding client care. The unit also works closely with residential treatment centers, including local, statewide, and out-of-state facilities, where clients struggling with substance use can swiftly be accepted into treatment.
Special Placement Information:
The Agency is accepting MSW 1st year students and Part-time MSW students. The agency's working hours for the internship are Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Transportation is provided by the sheriff's office. No liability insurance is needed, and video and/or audio taping is not permitted.