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Local
251 Members' Assistance Program
What
is "MAP"?
Purpose
of the Program
Scope of Services
Clinical
Administrative
Training
and Education
Other
Services
What
is the Members' Assistance Program?
Local
251's Union Members' Assistance Program (MAP) is essentially
a cost-effective humanitarian job based strategy for helping union
members whose personal problems are affecting their work performance.
Local 251's program is a work-site based program designed to assist
in the identification and resolution of productivity problems
associated with employees impaired by personal concerns, including,
but not limited to: health, marital, family, gambling, financial,
alcohol, drug, legal, emotional, stress, veteran, elder care,
death/grief counseling, Critical Incident Stress Incidents, or
other personal concerns that may adversely affect employee job
performance.
The
Director of the Members' Assistance Program is directly responsive
to the specific needs to union members, their dependents and retirees
in providing personal, confidential, and appropriate referral
and follow-up services.
IN
EFFECT, MEMBERS' ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM OF UNIONS, FOR
UNIONS AND BY UNIONS
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What
is the purpose of the Program?
The
problems of substance abuse and mental illness affect every level
of society. As pressures of everyday living have increased, so
have the numbers of people with substance abuse and mental health
problems and the cost of treatment. MAP was created to
address the needs of union members, their dependents and retirees
arising out of substance abuse; mental health issues, elder care,
financial, gambling, as well as related problems. Recognition,
treatment, education and cost containment are the areas addressed
by MAP. MAP addresses these areas in a comprehensive
program, which focuses on the following:
Quality
of Services:
The
quality of services provided by psychiatric and chemical dependency
treatment centers varies greatly from facility to facility. Even
within a treatment center, there are great variations in the quality
of care from therapist to therapist. Unfortunately, unless a careful
comparative study is made, it is impossible to know which facilities
are best for which types of problems. This problem is even further
aggravated by the impact of treatment centers' marketing efforts.
Because of media advertising and other marketing effort, treatment
selection is often not being based upon quality care considerations.
In addition, when a union member or his/her dependents or retiree
makes the decision, programs are generally being selected during
times of crisis without real guidance or information.
Cost-Effectiveness:
The
cost of psychiatric and chemical dependency services varies dramatically
from facility to facility. In addition, outpatient services are
often overlooked in favor of the more expensive inpatient treatment
programs because of the way current benefit programs are structured.
Local
251's Members' Assistance Program is designed to ensure
quality care in a cost-effective manner. The investment in a MAP
is both financially beneficial and humanitarian. The dollars
invested result in a healthier work force and the retention of
valuable union members.
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Clinical
Confidentiality:
Through
the counseling of a Members' Assistance Program it has been found
that 60-80% of individuals involved returned to fully productive
status in the workplace. It is expected that individuals affected
by a problem may be hesitant to seek support and counseling through
the workplace. It is emphasized that fundamental to a Members'
Assistance Program
design is the guarantee of complete confidentiality and the
assurance that job security or future promotional opportunities
are not jeopardized by the union members use of needed services.
Work-Site
Based:
A
work-site based program is central to the foundation and purpose
of a Members' Assistance Program (MAP). The three basic
ideals of an assistance program support the need for a work-site
based MAP.
1. Employees are valuable members of the team.
2.
It is better to offer assistance to employees experiencing personal
problems than to discipline or fire them.
3.
Rehabilitation, not punishment, is emphasized. Recovering employees
become more productive and effective.
24-Hour
Helpline:
A
24-hour telephone, pager system helpline is provided, staffed
by professionally trained and supervised counselors. In addition,
medical personnel and other human service specialists are available
for consultation on a 24-hour basis.
Telephone
Screening:
When
a union member or union representative calls, an initial assessment
is conducted over the telephone in order to determine whether
there is a need for emergency services. Based upon this initial
assessment, either an immediate referral is made or an appointment
is scheduled for a formal face-to-face evaluation and assessment.
Referral
Services:
Based
upon the initial telephone screen and /or the formal face-to-face
evaluation, individuals are referred to treatment. The selection
of treatment providers is determined by the following criteria:
- The
treatment needs of the member
- The
quality of the provider's services
- The
cost of the provider's services
In
all cases, the goal is to match the individual with the most appropriate
and least expensive level of care. MAP's counselors include
clinical social workers, certified drug and alcohol counselors,
psychologists, marriage and family counselors and licensed professional
counselors.
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Follow-up
Contacts:
Supportive
follow-up contacts are made both during and after an individual
has entered a treatment program in order to supplement and monitor
the care received. These contacts are conducted according to an
individually established schedule depending upon the needs
of the individual and his/her family and continue for not less
than six months after completion of treatment.
Consultation
Services:
The
Members' Assistance Program is available to help assess
the situation, identify options and develop a plan of action.
Step
1: Clarify the Problem
During
the first step, the MAP counselor will help the member
clarify the underlying problems that caused him/her to seek
assistance. This step insures that the real problem is addressed.
Step
2: Identify Options
Together,
the member and counselor will explore possible options and resources
to help the member resolve the problem. MAP counselors
provide an objective point of view and can offer suggestions
that most people would not be likely to consider on their own.
Step
3: Develop a Plan of Action
An
individualized plan of action is then developed for the member.
The plan may involve continued short-term counseling through
MAP, or referral to an appropriate professional resource
in the community. Family members may be included in counseling
as part of the action plan for problem resolution.
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Administrative
Provider
Network:
A
wide variety of treatment providers will be selected for inclusion
in the Members' Assistance Program Preferred Provider Network.
The selection of these providers is based on the following criteria:
- Quality
of Services
- Cost
of Services
- Geographic
proximity to worker
In
all cases, the goal is to utilize the numerical strength of our
union membership to qualify the best service providers at the
least cost. The majority of psychiatric and addiction treatment
providers in the Rhode Island/New England area will be asked to
submit their best, all inclusive, daily rates to the MAP and
we will select the providers offering these levels of care:
- Medical
Detoxification
- Non-medical
Detoxification
- Inpatient
Psychiatric Rehabilitation
- Intensive
Outpatient Rehabilitation
- Halfway
House
- Outpatient
Counseling
- Aftercare
Groups
Monitoring
of Provider Services:
The
Director of Members' Assistance Program on an ongoing basis
accumulates quality care data on the treatment providers. Data
generated is shared with treatment providers and is used to guide
future referrals. Quality care measurements includes, among other
criteria:
- Confidential
reports from members who have completed treatment
- Confidential
reports from union representatives who have contact with workers
- Inspection
of provider facilities, policies, procedures and records
Only
licensed facilities, licensed professionals and/or certified addiction
counselors are included in Local 251's Members' Assistance
Program Network. In addition, the Members' Assistance Program
is establishing additional requirements for participating programs
concerning communication with our staff.
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Training
and Education
Business
Agent and Shop Steward Trainings:
In
order that key individuals within each union understand and support
the program, a series of training sessions is held which orient
them to the purpose, policies and procedure associated with Local
251's Members' Assistance Program.
Educational
Programs:
Brief
educational programs are available for union meetings, which cover
many areas of substance abuse and mental health issues. In addition,
the Members' Assistance Program is available to design
educational programs to meet the needs of a particular union.
Payroll
Stuffers/Newsletters:
The
Members' Assistance Program will from time to time distribute
payroll stuffers or short newsletters to members and their families
and retirees.
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Other
Services
Health
Promotion Services:
Health
promotion programs can be operated through the MAP or as
separate entities. The purpose of the health promotion program
is to provide preventive health activities and incentives to promote
the adoption of healthy personal behaviors. Health promotion programs
usually include educational seminars and material distribution
on a variety of topics of interest to the health and welfare of
union members and their families, including potential health risks
in the workplace and lifestyle behaviors. Such issues, which can
be dealt with through these programs, include weight control,
nutrition, smoking cessation, fitness, stress management, hypertension
awareness, preventive medicine, substance abuse, retirement planning,
and career/vocational guidance.
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