When the training and orientation are done by the client company's own  employees, HelpNet loans videos to the trainers and  provides them with  lesson plans and  printed support materials.

24-Hour Hotline and Intake

A toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to  company employees and members of their immediate families.  Trained  bi-lingual (English and Spanish) Intake Specialists handle the calls and  obtain basic information about the callers and the nature of their  problems.  The Intake Specialists then help the callers make contact with a State-licensed therapist on the HelpNet panel for a face-to-face meeting.

Assessment Counseling by a State-Licensed Therapist

Following intake, the client goes to a State licensed mental health therapist. (This panel of licensed therapists consists of over 2,000 professionals  across the United States.)  The client meets   the therapist in a private office near work or home, usually during after-work hours.  The client discusses problem situations with the therapist In turn, the therapist makes an assessment and recommends a treatment plan.  If treatment requires more than two or three counseling sessions, additional services are covered by health insurance or personal resources.   Clients with limited incomes or no insurance are referred to low-cost community resources for ongoing care.

Employees and members of their families may call the EAP hotline at any  time for information and referrals.  HelpNet will assist them in any  of the many work-life issues which impact their lives - for example,  information about academic resources, referral to legal services, credit  counseling, child care facilities, support groups in the community, elder care information, etc. See the page of links to Work-Life Issues for  further information.

HelpNet provides three-fold colored brochures and wallet cards for  employees.  The brochures describe the Employee Assistance Program and how  to access services.  The wallet cards contain the toll-free phone  number so it can be accessed readily if needed.

HelpNet also has a strong onsite education program.  Each and every  month it sends posters or newsletters to its client companies.  These  are placed on bulletin boards where employees can read them, or they  are duplicated and distributed with pay checks or other mail-outs.

Companies seeking to have a "paperless workplace" receive educational  material via the internet, and distribute it  to employees by means of e-mail.   In this way employees can review the material at their own  convenience and in privacy. 

HelpNet also maintains a special web site for employees and family members, where they can access  information about EAP  services, read educational bulletins and find links to web sites with  helpful work-life information and resources. Educational topics cover issues of importance in everyday life -such as   stress, alcohol and drug abuse, relationships, etc. 

HelpNet conducts regular follow-up interviews with clients who come for services, and with therapists.  This enables it to assess client  satisfaction and to encourage clients in need of additional help to continue  with therapy or find additional community resources to meet their needs.

Consulting

Reporting and Confidentiality

HelpNet sends quarterly or bi-annual reports to its client companies.  The reports   provide information on program utilization and give a  demographic profile of users.   Names or identities of clients are not  revealed.   Confidentiality is strictly  maintained in accord with Federal  and State laws.

Critical Incident Debriefing

Occasionally a traumatic incident may occur in the workplace - e.g., a  robbery, fire, natural disaster, threat of violence, a death, etc.  At  the request of the company, HelpNet will send someone to the work site,  a licensed therapist who has been specifically trained to to deal with  such situations.  The therapist will conduct a critical incident  debriefing session and help employees deal with the emotional impact of the  trauma.

[To top of page]