Mission Statement
The Department of Health and Human Services Employee Assistance Program is committed to restoring, maintaining, and strengthening the health and productivity of DHHS employees. This is accomplished by providing confidential assistance to management and employees in the prevention, early identification and resolution of personal concerns that impact job performance.
What is the Employee Assistance Program?
As employees, we are the state's most valuable resource. When we are working at our best, the state is operating at its best.
Coping with a problem is a normal part of life. Most of us are able to resolve problems that arise before they have a serious impact on our lives. However, there may be times in your life when you feel that a problem is getting the best of you. It is times like these that you could use a helping hand.
Realizing this, DHHS implemented an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all DHHS employees and their immediate family members in 1982. EAP is a confidential work site based program designed to help you resolve your personal problems before they disrupt your personal or work life.
Who Can Use the EAP?
Any DHHS employee and his/her immediate family members may contact the EAP consultant for services. Employees may also be referred by a supervisor or manager when abrupt changes in job performance and/or personal conduct impact at the workplace.Problems Covered
Assistance is available for a wide variety of personal concerns. This may include any of the following:
Your visit with the EAP consultant will be CONFIDENTIAL. Most of the time, information you share with the EAP consultant is confidential and will not be disclused without your written consent. However, as required by law or State Personnel Policy, we must disclose:
No records related to counseling will be placed in your personnel file, nor will promotion or transfer opportunities be affected if you use the program.
What Happens When I Use the EAP?
The time you spend with the EAP consultant is called an assessment. The purpose of this meeting is for the EAP consultant to learn more about your concerns and help you find ways to resolve them.
Your EAP consultant is knowledgeable about the best community resources available to you and may recommend that you continue to get help by accepting a referral to the most appropriate resource.
How Much Does It Cost?
There is no cost for services provided by the Employee Assistance Program consultants. Any costs for other resources will be your responsibility. Your EAP consultant will discuss your insurance benefits with you. Every effort will be made to help you get the best service for a reasonable cost.
How Do I Use the EAP?
Simply call the EAP office for your agency or location to schedule an appointment with the EAP consultant. The call is toll-free. Your EAP Coordinator or HR Manager can also assist you in contacting your EAP consultant. The EAP consultant's name and phone number are posted at your agency's location.
Your supervisor will authorize the necessary leave time for you to use the EAP Service. You will need your supervisor's approval to schedule leave time from work. However, you do not have to discuss your personal problem with your supervisor.
Some employees perfer not to let anyone know that they intend to use the EAP service. In this case, you will need to take annual leave, sick leave, or make other arrangements.
DHHS EAP Office
For information about DHHS EAP you may call: