Dubois County Sheriff’s Office creates Deputy Social Worker position

JASPER, Ind. (WEHT) – For the newest sheriff’s deputy Emily Haas, it may be the same badge and the same uniform as her counterparts, but her role with the Dubois County Sheriff’s Office is unlike anything the department has seen. Haas was recently sworn in as Deputy Social Worker, a newly-created position for the department. But initially, Haas had other plans.

“I thought I was going to be a therapist when I was going through college,” explains Deputy Haas. “I thought that I wanted to do private practice psychotherapy. Then I started, during an internship, I was doing that, and it was not hands-on enough for me. Like, I wanted to be out and doing things and meeting with people.”

Haas later got that opportunity, working as a probation officer in Dubois County for three years. But Haas felt a pull to do more. “I just noticed there are a lot of families that don’t know where to go for help as far as ongoing therapy services or if they’re struggling with housing, or food insecurity, things like that,” explains Deputy Haas. “You know, I learned in school these are things that, as a social worker, you can help with.”

Haas holds a masters degree in social work from Arizona State. While working as a probation officer, she built a rapport with Dubois County sheriff’s deputies. Those conversations ultimately led to her swearing in as Deputy Social Worker, where she will be equipped to handle mental health calls, crisis situations, or other crimes where social workers are needed.

“In probation, every day was different, and I loved that,” says Deputy Haas. “I loved getting to be down in court, I loved getting to meet people in the office, doing home visits and things like that. This is kind of a next step where I’m really out in the community.”

Haas will also work on expanding resources for crime victims, help those with mental health needs and improve the overall crisis response within the county. “It’s just a different position where I can go straight there and I can follow them through the entire process of making sure they get to where they need to go,” says Deputy Haas.

Haas will complete her academy training in December. She expects to be on her own in her new role by the start of February 2025.

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