EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Behavioral health assistance, treatment
and therapy should be provided through
the individual's health insurance plan
or through the department's Employee
Assistance Program (EAP).
Counseling services can help promote a
well balanced life to uniformed
personnel on a wide variety of issues.
Having resources and a program available
to uniformed personnel will help to
establish a holistic approach to
establishing and maintaining a healthy
mind-body connection, which will assist
in having a well-balanced,
high-performing individual in the work
place. Having access to
comprehensive counseling services is an
integral part of the Wellness-Fitness
Initiative, as well as many of the
performance-based issues that exist in
the fire service.
An EAP is essentially a cost effective,
humanitarian, job-based strategy to help
individuals whose personal problems
impact their work performance.
Such programs are designed to assist
with identifying and resolving problems
that are associated with an individual's
occupation. The EAP should be
incorporated into the concept of total
wellness and address potential concerns
specific to the fire service. An
effective EAP can restore the uniformed
personnel to a healthy and fully
productive life, improve employee
morale, and increase the productivity of
the entire department.
Assistance programs can address a wide
range of issues pertaining to the health
and well-being of active and retired
uniformed personnel, as well as their
families. The scope of problems an
EAP deals with may include areas such
as: substance abuse issues;
addictive behaviors; stress; marital
concerns; family and child issues;
domestic violence; anger managment;
legal and financial problems; critical
incident stress (including
post-traumatic stress disorder);
cumulative stress; workplace violence;
and dealth/grief counseling.
The table below includes a brief summary
of each department's EAP program.
Right-click on
the table to export this information to
an Excel spreadsheet.
|
DEPARTMENT |
EAP PROGRAM |
METHOD |
|
Austin |
Yes |
In-house Psychologist |
|
Calgary |
Yes |
Contracted Facility and
Physician - Dr. of Psychology |
|
Charlotte |
Yes |
In-house Psychologist |
|
Fairfax Co. |
Yes |
External program; self and
supervisor-suggested referral,
or supervisor-performance
referral |
|
Indianapolis |
Yes |
Contracted - White River
Psychology |
|
Los Angeles Co. |
Yes |
Fire Fighter on own |
|
Metro Dade Co. |
N/A |
N/A |
|
New York City |
Yes |
In
house Counseling Services Unit
(CSU) |
|
Phoenix |
Yes |
Family counseling
Alcohol and drug abuse
counseling
Friends helping Friends Program |
|
Seattle |
Yes |
City EAP
24
hour access to two SFD Chaplains
for emergency support |
|
Beckley |
Yes |
N/A |
|
Carrollton |
Yes |
Provided by Workforce Services
Employee Assistance Program
(EAP) |
|
Council Bluffs |
Yes |
City has an EAP program that
members can be referred to or
contact on their own |
|
Lewiston |
Yes |
Contracted Mental Health
Provider |
|
Mesa |
Yes |
Department Chaplain, CISM team
and Employee Assistance Program |
|
Narragansett |
Yes |
EAP available through the town
of Narragansett |
|
Orange Co. Fire Authority |
Yes |
On
own or referred by Management |
|
Portland |
Yes |
Extensive training upon hire and
as needed |
|
Port Moody |
Yes |
Fire Department Padre available
24 hrs/365 days
EAP Program managed by Interlock |
|
Prince George's Co. |
Yes |
EAP Program
Education in station |
|
San Diego |
Yes |
N/A |
|
Snohomish County Fire District 1 |
Yes |
Behavioral Health
Evaluation |
|
Tualatin Valley |
Yes |
EAP program managed by Reliant
Behavioral Health |
