FORT STEWART, Ga. - Circumventing personal issues before they result into work-related concerns is how the Employee Assistance Program aids Civilians on Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. Funded by the Department of the Army and a part of the Army Substance Abuse Program, EAP is designed to help employees and their Families with problems that can negatively affect their job performance.

"The EAP is a job-based program offered by the command to assist Civilian employees with personal problems that may adversely affect their work performance," said Latonya Brown, employee assistance program coordinator. "The performance can be behavior, conduct, or attendance. From a humanistic standpoint, our program helps with the well-being of the employee and their Families."

According to Brown, the voluntary and confidential program has been in existence since the early 1990's and covers four main functional areas: assessments for problem identification, short-term counseling, outside agency referrals and a follow-up tracking program. Substance abuse, financial and marital problems, depression and eating disorders are just a few of life stressors where EAP can help.

"We provide an assessment for problem identification," Brown explained. That means a client comes in for a presenting problem, an example would be stress, but through the interview we determine an underline problem causing poor work performance," Brown said. "A short-term assessment of an individual typically involves a discussion between the client and the EAP coordinator that culminates into a plan of action to address the identified challenges."

Upon problem identification, the EAP coordinator can refer employees to other professional services and resources within the community for further assistance. In addition, the follow-up program helps track the employees throughout their treatment plan. The EAP counselor also works in a consultative role with managers and supervisors to help address employee and organizational challenges according to Brown.

Rather than being seen as a punitive action, an employee referral is seen to restore satisfactory job performance. Time utilized to attend the initial EAP assessment session is considered work-time and the employee is not charged leave. EAP benefits Family Members of Civilians, active-duty Soldiers and retirees; however, active-duty Soldiers cannot utilize EAP.

According to Brown, approximately $24,000 is spent each year for loss of productivity when an employee has a personal problem, or a drug and alcohol related problem, making EAP a much needed resource for employees.

While the program is designed to help employees once a problem has surfaced, Civilians on the installation also must undergo a mandatory training that is sponsored by EAP. The existing computer-based training has included topics on suicide prevention along with drug and alcohol awareness training.

"Prevention is the key," Brown said. "We [Civilians] are here to complete the mission. "The best way to ensure a steady workforce is to ensure that they [Civilians] have steady, ready and healthy Families. Our program equips Families with the tools they need to be resilient. If the employee is doing well at work, they keep their job and livelihood."