Fort Belvoir, Virginia –
Defense Logistics Agency Human Resources officials hope a new website and streamlined process will encourage employees and managers to make better use of the Employee Assistance Program. EAP is an agency-funded, confidential program available to DLA employees and their family members to help them deal with mental health concerns, financial and legal matters, substance abuse and other work-related stressors.
A new toll-free telephone number, 1-866-580-9046, and website replace the FOH4You.com site, but the transition should be seamless for users, DLA EAP Program Manager Laura Belk said.
“All the basic services will be the same and all on-site consultants remain in place,” she said, adding there will be some differences in terminology and appearance of the website.
EAP and DLA WorkLife4You Program services are now centralized, added Julie DeBruler, chief of program operations in the Enterprise Operations Office of DLA Human Resources Services.
“Employees can actually go online to the new website and click on the link for counseling services, enter their zip code and it will pull up a list of all the EAP-affiliated counselors in their area,” she said. “That’s a big benefit for employees at locations that don’t have on-site counselors.”
DeBruler noted the new website’s ease of navigation and the breakdown of specific categories such as coaching, counseling, managerial support and self-care programs. Under self-care, for example, employees can use a self-assessment tool to find programs recommended for their specific needs.
“It seems to be very user-friendly. We can begin promoting the website to increase awareness of all the additional online services,” she said.
EAP still offers legal and financial help, as well as new tips for identity-theft resolution.
DeBruler said EAP helps DLA maintain a resilient workforce.
“What we’ve tried to do is reduce the stigma in seeing a counselor for any type of mental health care issue or anything that could be a distraction to them at work,” she said.
Employees need to know there’s a resource they can access for small problems that may grow into larger problems, Belk added.
Belk also noted the program is available for family members.
“We know family members’ well-being is critical to our employees,” she said. “We want to make sure our DLA team members know these services are available to their families when needed, as well.”