From time to time, the quality of our lives can be affected by personal problems that are difficult to cope with by ourselves. Sometimes these problems can interfere with our professional lives. Because the University of Maine System is committed to helping employees maintain an optimum quality of life, we are pleased to provide our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through CIGNA Behavioral Health.
The EAP is a free, voluntary, confidential service, providing employees, retirees and their household members with access to licensed clinicians who can assist with any problems or issues they're experiencing. In addition, the Work/Life Program offers resource and referral services on such topics as childcare, senior care, financial services, and legal services at any time of the day or night. It is designed to assist you in dealing with a wide variety of personal concerns such as depression, marital difficulties, concerns with childcare, substance abuse, legal and financial issues.
EAP for Managers and Supervisors
It's called the Employee Assistance Program but it's just as relevant and useful for managers; perhaps even more so. The EAP can help you address management issues, performance problems, and all kinds of sticky situations you aren't quite sure how to handle. It can make your job easier - and less stressful.
Web Site
The Cigna Behavioral Health Website provides a wealth of reliable information advice and resources to help you manage your life. This site features self-help tools and resources you can use any time you want from any Internet-connected computer. It's completely anonymous, so your privacy is assured. Best of all, it's absolutely free, no matter how often you log in.
To log in, click on the above link. Under the members section click on "Login to access your benefits". Scroll down the left side of the page. The "Employer ID" is UMS.
Telephone
Toll free 1-877-622-4327; 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks
What happens when an employee calls the EAP
Step 1: The employee calls the EAP. The call is answered by a trained behavioral care professional who gathers information in order to provide assistance or make a referral as appropriate. (The intake specialist will ask for your SS# and campus affiliation for tracking purposes only).
Step 2: If a personal appointment is desired the specialist uses a computer database to identify a care provider who is conveniently located and has expertise that matches the caller's needs.
Step 3: The employee gets an appointment scheduled - usually within 48 hours- with the selected counselor.
Step 4: At the appointment, the counselor will assess the situation- specifically, he or she will diagnose the problem; determine how and what the employee wants to change; and together with the employee, establish a treatment plan, including goals, expectations and a possible time-frame.
Step 5: Treatment begins- possibly even in the initial appointment. Although the specific techniques will vary based on the employee, the counselor, and the problem at hand, treatment is designed to encourage clients to assume an active role in their counseling and to use their own strengths to improve the situation. This "solution-oriented" approach is often efficient and effective.
Step 6: At the end of treatment, the counselor will offer the employee an evaluation form. The form gives the client an opportunity to anonymously assess CIGNA Behavioral Health's services.
A Word About Confidentiality. From the initial phone call, throughout treatment and evaluation - all information about the situation will be kept confidential- unless the employee signs a release form or disclosure is required by law. In other words, your privacy is protected. This is mandated by federal and state laws.