WHY AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)?

Today's rapid pace of living, changes in society, and the impact of high technology have made stress a very common concern to most people. Stress can often cause health disorders, family disruptions, unsatisfactory job performance, and other personal problems.

The Board of Trustees of the I.A.T.S.E. Local 857 Welfare Fund has purchased an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for its participants. The EAP is designed to help you and your eligible dependents deal with difficult situations that cause stress and can result in challenges to your mental health and well-being. The EAP provides professional consultation and referral services for personal, mental health, and chemical dependency related problems. The Program is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to get help with personal problems.

Health Management Center, Inc. (HMC), a well-respected national provider of health services, administers this Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is based on a private, professional relationship between you (or your eligible dependent) and a counselor. Advice given to anyone who uses the EAP is strictly confidential. No information can be released without written permission, unless required by court order or subpoena.

The Trustees cannot take responsibility for the results of the counseling received nor interfere in the professional relationship. We care about all participants covered by our Trust Fund, and for this reason we urge you to read this information carefully and share it with your family.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
I.A.T.S.E. Local 857 Welfare Fund

WHAT IS THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)?

The EAP is a professional consultation and referral program established by the Trust Fund for you and your family. It is geared to address personal problems such as marital and family, child or adolescent, legal, financial, childcare, eldercare, drug and alcohol abuse, and other types of emotional or mental health related problems in their early stages. These are “human problems”, the kind of problems that anyone may experience at any time.

The EAP has been established to help you identify and deal with personal problems in their early stages By acting promptly, the chances of solving your problem are increased substantially.

HOW DOES THE EAP WORK?

There are two different ways for you to get involved with the EAP:

1. A member or eligible dependent may call the EAP Office's nation-wide toll free Hotline directly at (800) 327-4103 twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A specially trained EAP staff member will always be there to take your call.

2. Your employer and/or business agent may suggest or direct you to contact the EAP Office and may offer assistance in arranging an appointment.

During the initial call, an EAP counselor will discuss the nature of the problem and outline a plan of action for you to consider. This plan may include referral to a clinical specialist or facility in your area for an EAP outpatient assessment in the case of mental health or chemical dependency problems or to appropriate community support services in the case of personal problems such as child care, elder care, financial and legal problems.

Many people will find the help they need in this EAP counseling relationship. However, if more specialized or extensive treatment or assistance is needed for a mental health or chemical dependency problem, the EAP counselor may suggest an alternative referral to a high quality specialist or facility for treatment or assistance that meets your specific medical needs.

Whenever a referral is necessary, the EAP counselor stays personally involved and monitors the individual's progress and the quality of care received.

To access this benefit, you must call your EAP first so their professional staff can coordinate everything for you to make sure you receive the quality of care that you and your family deserve.

WHAT IF CARE OR TREATMENT IS NEEDED BEYOND THAT PROVIDED BY THE EAP?

In the case of mental health or chemical dependency problems that require more specialized or extensive treatment or assistance than that available under the EAP, the EAP counselor will assist you in accessing the needed care. The nature of this assistance will vary depending upon the Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Benefits available under your Medical Plan. In cases in which the needed treatment or services is not available under your Medical Plan, you will be referred to appropriate community support services.

HOW IS PRIVACY PROTECTED?

No information regarding a personal problem is given to anyone, except for the claims office, without the written permission of the person receiving the help, except by a court order or a subpoena. Your employer, business agent, or steward will not be informed unless you grant written permission.

If you seek help, the EAP staff cannot contact anyone unless you request it or agree to it in writing. If you are referred by your employer or business agent, you may request that the Employee Assistance Program staff supply general information that will help the business agent or employer understand what they can do to be of help. This information is only released with your written permission.

The EAP provides the following services at no cost to you:

Telephone consultations with an EAP counselor. Up to a maximum of five (5) outpatient assessment sessions with an EAP Contracted Network clinical specialist per eligible participant per calendar year.
Assistance in accessing more specialized or extensive mental health or chemical dependency treatment than that available under the EAP.
Referrals to community support services.

HOW DO I KNOW I'LL GET QUALITY HELP?

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is managed by Health Management Center, Inc. (HMC). HMC is a national provider of health services specializing in administering programs like ours.

The EAP staff consists of certified health professionals, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. HMC has also selected an exclusive contracted panel of providers located throughout your area, ready to offer a complete continuum of care. These health care providers were chosen based on their ability to demonstrate a commitment to providing and maintaining the highest quality of care.

WHERE ARE THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) OFFICES LOCATED?

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) network includes professional providers throughout your area and other areas of the country.

No matter where you live, you're only a phone call away from caring people who can help.

REMEMBER

ACT EARLY.

Don't wait. Problems rarely go away by themselves. Self-referral is encouraged and the earlier the better. The success rate is directly affected by how soon you get help.

SIZE.

Don't think your problem has to be large or complex. Contacting the EAP for an evaluation is wise. It could make a very big difference in your health and well-being.

RISK.

Your job is not jeopardized in any way by using the EAP. In fact, it can only be enhanced.

CONVENIENCE.

Your appointments are scheduled to meet your needs. Appointments can be made after work or before work and on Saturdays.

GUIDANCE.

The EAP professional will help you map out a course of action.

PRIVACY.

Confidentiality is absolutely assured, unless otherwise compelled by law (court orders) or released in writing by you.