You’re a good employee, but lately problems at home have been getting in the way of your concentration at work. That happens. In fact, the Army long ago established a program for exactly this type of situation: the Employee Assistance Program. EAP provides confidential help to Army Civilians who are facing personal problems, whether it’s relationship issues, substance misuse, emotional distress, financial problems or even legal difficulties.
“We are here to help people thrive in their job,” said RaShonda Labrador, Army Substance Abuse Program Specialist and EAP subject matter expert at Installation Management Command. “EAP is a valuable resource that benefits both the individual and the organization by providing a supportive and confidential avenue for assistance.”
Well-being at home affects employee well-being at work, which is why, when an individual is struggling outside of the workplace, an EAP coordinator can connect them with the help they need to address those life concerns, Labrador said.
EAP’s comprehensive services include a screening and assessment to identify problems and needs, short-term nonclinical counseling (up to six sessions), crisis intervention and referrals to higher levels of care, treatment or rehabilitation, as needed. EAP also offers training and education services. These services are provided at no additional cost to Army Civilians.
If the reason you are struggling is due to a workplace issue, including being overwhelmed with tasks or workplace stress, EAP also helps with that. EAP services are confidential, so your supervisor does not have to know you are receiving services.
“It is up to (the employee). They have the choice whether they want to let their supervisor know or not that they are seeking EAP services,” Labrador said. “Whatever is shared with us stays with us.”
Labrador said that the only time EAP is required to share information is if the physical safety of the employee or other persons is at risk.
All Army Civilians are eligible for EAP, as well as their adult Family members. The adult Family members of active-duty Soldiers are also eligible, as are Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers, when not on active duty. Military retirees and their Family members are also eligible.
EAP coordinators are located within installation Army Substance Abuse Program offices, both stateside and overseas. The EAP was originally established to help employees with substance misuse, said Labrador. Although in the decades since it was first established EAP has widely expanded its services, the program continues to help employees struggling with alcohol or substance addiction.
Army Civilians can call or email their installation ASAP office to be put in contact with their EAP coordinator. The Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness provides a directory that makes it easy to find your garrison’s ASAP office: www.armyresilience.army.mil/ASAP/pages/location.html. If you are unable to find contact information for your local ASAP office’s EAP coordinator, email usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-1.list.dprr-comm-and-outreach-div@army.mil for assistance.
EAP can provide services in person or virtually, whatever best fits your needs, Labrador said.
“We just want to be there to support all of the parties that support the warfighter,” she said.
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