The Dietetic Internship Program is on hold for the 22-23 school year. Please email Sara Dan at sara.dan@sarasotacountyschools.net

The Program
Our program is based upon the Standards of Practice and Education requirements from The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).  The program's emphasis is in the area of school district based Food Service Management.  Interns who successfully complete this Dietetic Internship Program are eligible to write the Registration Examination for Dietitians with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Accreditation Status
Sarasota County Schools Food and Nutrition Services Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext 5400. eatright.org/ACEND

Program Mission
The mission of the Sarasota County Schools Dietetic Internship Program is to prepare dietetic interns to become successful entry-level dietitians and to achieve the highest learning standards through supervised practice and didactic training.  The program's primary focus is in the area of school-based nutrition management and education, but interns will also gain experiences in clinical and community nutrition.  Interns will develop the expertise and skills necessary to apply the nutrition knowledge and theory of their education to the work environment.  This knowledge will prepare program graduates to seek employment and successfully work in the school nutrition environment or school nutrition support fields.

Program Goals 
Goal 1- The Sarasota District Schools Dietetic Internship will produce competent entry-level practitioners who obtain employment in a dietetics-related field.
(1) 90% of students who start the internship will complete it.  Interns will complete the program within 150% of the program length (10 months), which is 15 months.
(2) Over a five year period, 80% of first-time test-takers will pass the Dietetic Registration exam. 
(3) 80% of graduates will obtain dietetics related employment within one year of graduation.
(4) Employer surveys will reflect a score of 80% satisfactory rating or higher in all areas surveyed regarding graduates performance.
Goal 2- The Sarasota District Schools Dietetic Internship will continue to foster a commitment for professional service and lifelong learning to the dietetics profession. 
(1) One year following graduation, 60% of respondents to post-graduation survey will be members of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the graduates employed in the school nutrition field will be members of the School Nutrition Association (SNA).
(2) Five years following graduation, 50% of graduates will assume leadership roles in their chosen profession based on respondents to the post-graduate survey.
(3) One year following graduation, 90% of graduates who are registered will have submitted a learning plan to Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
(4) Five years following graduation, 20% of graduates will be pursuing advanced education i.e., masters degree, Academy specialty credentials, or School Nutrition Specialists.
Goal 3- The program will produce dietetic practitioners who will help meet the need for nutrition professionals in the school nutrition environment.
(1) 50% of graduates will assume positions within the school nutrition field throughout the United States.  

Food & Nutrition Services
Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) of the Sarasota County School District provides food service and nutrition education to 42,000 students in 54 elementary, secondary, charter schools and programs throughout Sarasota County.  With the motto "We Feed the Future", the mission of FNS is for well-trained employees, as part of a financially responsible and stable department, to serve attractive and tasty meals in a pleasant environment.  Nutritional integrity of meals and nutrition education are the focal points of the department. 

Program Schedule & Components
The Dietetic Internship Program begins each July and continues on a full-time basis for ten months. Five weeks of vacation are scheduled during the 10-month program. The 44-week program of supervised practice and didactic training consists of:

• One week of orientation
• Seventeen weeks of foodservice management (school food service) in three school districts (includes four weeks of staff experience);
• Five weeks of school nutrition education activities (includes two weeks of staff experience);
• Ten weeks of nutrition therapy in community hospitals;
• Six weeks of community nutrition in a county health department, a food bank, and a diabetes treatment service.

Requirements for Completion
Satisfactory performance on all required assignments, projects, curricula, rotation objectives, case studies, presentations, exams, and compliance with policies and procedures are required for completion of the Dietetic Internship Program. In addition, interns must demonstrate behaviors consistent with the "Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics," communication, customer service, and employability skills.

Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nutrition and/or dietetics required from an accredited university or college.

The program is using the on-line centralized internship application, DICAS, which may be accessed at dicas.org, email is  DICASinfo@DICAS.org.  The fee to use DICAS is $50 for the first application submitted and $20 for each additional application.

When completing the application form, applicants must include the name and contact information (specifically an email address) for each reference.  This will trigger an e-mail message requesting the completion of a reference form.  The form will be completed online.  Students submitting more than one application will need to use the same individuals as references for each application.

Applicants who apply to internship using DICAS will be asked to complete a personal statement.  Questions to be addressed in the personal statement include:

• Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
• Given the variety of dietetic internships, why are you applying to this specific internship?
• Discuss experiences that have helped to prepare you for your career.
• What are your short and long-term goals?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses or areas needing improvement?
• 1500 word limit.

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent to-
                    DICAS - Transcript Dept.
                    PO Box 9118
                    Watertown  MA  02472 

• Minimum overall GPA of 2.75,
• Computer matching process (see Computer Matching below).
• Telephone interview as requested and arranged (March) by Food and Nutrition Services, Sarasota District Schools
• Successful completion of fingerprinting and background check  
• Verification of health status and immunizations, upon acceptance into the program

Applicants must complete the following to be considered for the program
        1)  Application Processing Fee of $50.00 (make payable to Sarasota District Schools)
        2)  Provide a reference from your Food Service Management Instructor if not on DICAS
        3)  Complete the Sarasota District Schools Security Background check form 
             (click here for Security Background Check  form) 
                  Mail these 3 documents to:
                           Sara Dan, M.B.A., R.D.
                            Internship Director
                            101 Old Venice Road
                            Osprey  FL  34229

Student Costs
The following costs are expected to be covered by the dietetic intern upon acceptance into the program:

• $3,500 tuition fee;
• physical exam including TB test and titers ($100-$200);
• fingerprinting fee and background check ($90) and drug testing fee ($32.00); separate checks either cashier's check or money order only (made payable to Sarasota County School Board) Appointment Only: Please call 941-927-9000 X31132 (after admission to the program).
• professional and medical insurance coverage ($35/varies);
• membership in professional organizations ($100);
• travel to, and attendance at, Florida School Food Nutrition Association’s Annual Conference ($300);
• textbooks ($200-$250);
• white laboratory coat and food service uniforms ($250);
• food and housing ($5,000-$10,000); and
• transportation and expenses for travel to rotation sites throughout Sarasota, Lee, Hillsborough and other assigned counties (varies).
  Total costs, including food and housing, are estimated to be between $9,000 and $13,000.

Additional Information
The program has placed itself on hold for 2019-2020 intern class. We will be accepting interns for the July 2020 class in the spring match. Inquiries concerning the Sarasota Schools' Dietetic Internship Program.

Sara S. Dan, M.B.A., R.D.
Dietetic Internship Program Director
Food and Nutrition Services
School Board of Sarasota County
101 Old Venice Road
Osprey, Florida 34229
(941) 486-2199
Fax: (941) 486-2021
email dietetic.internship@sarasotacountyschools.net

If you do not receive a response to your e-mail, please call 941-486-2199 with your e-mail address so that we may contact you.

Computer Matching
All applicants to this Dietetic Internship Program must participate in computer matching. Applicants should request instructions and ACEND prioritize their internship preferences. Additional information may be obtained from any ACEND-approved Didactic Program in Dietetics or from D & D Digital Systems. There is a $50 charge for computer matching that is due with the applicant’s prioritized ranking.

Please telephone or write for complete computer matching instructions to:

D & D Digital Systems
304 Main Street, Suite 301
Ames, Iowa 50010-6148
Phone: (515) 292-0490
Fax: (515) 663-9427
e-mail: dnd@netins.net

Computer matching forms must be completed by each applicant and postmarked on or before the D & D Digital Systems' stated deadline date for spring appointments.

Please refer to www.eatright.org for a complete description of Applicant Responsibilities in the computer matching process (as delineated by ACEND of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics).

Outcome data available upon request by emailing dietetic.internship@sarasotacountyschools.net