The Department of Human Resources unveiled a variety of new services for all faculty and staff at Tuesday’s meeting of the Faculty Senate.
Through the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, the University has contracted Dear Oaks EAP Services to provide care such as stress and crisis counseling, along with other mental health services, to employees.
The plan went into effect on Feb. 1.
“This is a resource that a faculty member or a staff member or a manager can call and get assistance in knowing what steps to take,” Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Barbara L. Carroll said.
The program is networked to hundreds of medical providers in the local area, allowing those who require extended therapy to be linked with an appropriate physician.
“The people at Dear Oaks won’t be doing long-term counseling themselves with people, they will get them hooked up with resources in the community,” Carroll said.
Chair of the Faculty Senate Nina Allen said she is thrilled that the University has finally addressed these problems, commenting that she has seen similar issues cause conflicts in the past.
“There are times in people’s lives where they need that kind of help,” Allen said. “We haven’t had anything like this so we have always done it informally; your department head or your colleagues would help you, but that’s not always appropriate so this is a really good thing.”
Senate members, although optimistic about the premise of this program, expressed some concern about FASAP’s ability to coordinate with a state insurance coverage plan that they said they feel is less than adequate.
Carroll explained that although it is impossible to alter the state health plan, Dear Oaks EAP services is specially designed to work with that plan so those of all income levels can receive treatment.
“Our employees here at N.C. State participate in the state health plan and the state health plan provides some coverage for mental health care, but it is not unlimited,” Carroll said. “What this program will attempt to do is coordinate with the state health insurance plan to get people referred to the best services they can afford.”
The Faculty Senate was also given an update by Carroll and Provost Larry Nielsen regarding plans to provide inexpensive daycare to University employees. The Senate expressed adulation at this prospect, as it has been an issue of importance to them for many years.
“We have passed a series of resolutions over the past 15 years regarding daycare, there is no official N.C. State daycare and we have asked for it repeatedly,” Allen said.
The initial plan is to contract local daycare providers and set up a program that would allow University employees to receive subsidized rates.
“We hope to have it partially in place by next fall, but if not then by January,” Nielsen said.
To build a daycare facility on campus there is a projected cost of $5 million, but Carroll said she feels that the service this building would provide would be invaluable to all employees.
“It is something we look at not only because it’s a way to support our faculty and staff once they’re here, but as an aspect of work-life that makes it attractive to come here,” Carroll said.
