Inside Iowa State
Feb. 20, 1998
EAP helps with personal, emotional problems
by Anne Dolan
ISU employees suffering from personal or emotional problems -- whatever the source -- that impact how they do their jobs should consider seeking help through the university's Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Since Nov. 1, Iowa State has had a contract with McFarland Clinic and The Richmond Center, Ames, for mental health services.
Representatives of the Richmond Center summarized their services during the Feb. 5 Professional and Scientific Council meeting.
Sandra McJimsey said ISU employees already have used the service to address family relationship issues, stress at work or home, mental illness in a family, emotional trauma following an accident and depression and grief.
"Any time you feel 'stuck' in your life, or if you see a co- worker who needs help, think about calling us," she said.
ISU's contract allows an employee up to three sessions with one of 14 therapists at McFarland or the Richmond Center, at no cost to the employee. If further assistance is needed, an employee's medical insurance coverage begins.
ISU Extension employees around the state also may use the service. They should call 1-800-830-7009, and center staff will refer them to a local service provider and pay the provider directly.
Any employee may call the center directly at 232-5811 to make an appointment. Managers who want to refer a staff member are asked to contact Carla Espinoza, assistant vice president for Human Resource Services, who will serve as the liaison with the center in these instances.
Other P&S Council highlights include the following:
- The annual P&S roundtable luncheon will precede the
council's (Wednesday) April 1 meeting. All P&S staff will
receive an invitation next month.
- Council President Rob Bowers announced that
administrators in Human Resource Services and the Provost
Office have determined that K-base employees are not
eligible for all P&S staff benefits. He said that about two
years ago, as names were clerked into an employee database,
many K-base employees errantly were put in the same category
as P-base employees.
- In discussion about offering temporary employees their
positions on a permanent basis, associate provost Ed Lewis
said the search process occasionally is bypassed. For
example, if a temporary employee is doing a good job, was
found through a search and a second search likely would
result in a similar pool of candidates, the process might be
bypassed. Espinoza noted that when a unit wants to offer a
temporary staff member a permanent position, Lewis "makes
them jump through all kinds of hoops."
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