Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-26-1996 - VIII-I ' 1 ORANGECOUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 26, 1996 Action Agenda Item# SUBJECT: Employee Assistance Program Contract Renewal DEPARTMENT: Personnel PUBLIC HEARING: _Yes X No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1 - 1996-97 Contract Amendment Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director 2 -Draft updated Memorandum of Agreement Extension 2550 with Town of Hillsborough TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough- 732-8181 Durham- 688-7331 Mebane- 227-2031 Chapel Hill-967-9251/968-4501 PURPOSE: To approve continuation of the Employee Assistance Program(EAP) contract with Human Affairs International(HAI) for the period July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997. BACKGROUND: The Employee Assistance Program contract was initially approved by the Board of County Commissioners in February 1990. The EAP provides Orange County employees and their dependents with confidential face- to-face assessment and counseling services, 24-hour a day emergency service, referral to community resources as needed, coverage for any personal problems and follow-up on all cases. The EAP also provides supervisory consultation for dealing with employee personal problems, and provides training and consultation on a variety of mental health topics such as stress management, depression and conflict management. The Employee Assistance Program currently serves as Orange County's referral agency for any employee problems related to substance abuse. The County's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which complies with the Federal government's drug and alcohol testing requirements, requires the County to have a referral agency for an employee who tests positive for substance abuse. The EAP is the required referral service for drug and alcohol treatment under the Drug and Alcohol Testing requirements. r "1 For the period July 1, 1995 through May 31, 1996 there was a 3.68 percent utilization rate of employees and dependents who accessed the EAP for face to face counseling sessions. In addition to the face-to-face counseling sessions provided to employees, the EAP has provided telephone consultation to the Personnel Department and various supervisors in the County on prevention/intervention strategies to use in managing situations in which employee personal problems affect the workplace. In addition to providing services to individual employees, the EAP also provides group counseling to employees and supervisors in such situations as when guidance is needed on how to interact with a co- worker experiencing problems of mental illness. In one such situation, this has been reported to be of great benefit to staff who gained confidence in how to appropriately respond to the employee. In addition, the EAP has provided two supervisory training sessions for approximately 50 Orange County supervisors on supervising employees with mental health concerns. The Attachment 1 Contract Amendment provides for continuation of the original Agreement and succeeding amendments. This includes: 1. Continuation of the Town of Hillsborough as a Sub& oup Because of its size,the Town of Hillsborough has not been able to independently identify an EAP provider. In 1993 the Board approved including the Town as a subgroup on Orange County's EAP contract. Attachment 2 is a draft updated memorandum of agreement with the Town. Under the agreement, the County invoices and collects payment from the Town for the annual Town share of the EAP cost (estimated at $1468). HAI provides an annual report to the Town on its utilization. The inclusion of the Town has no adverse impact on the County's EAP rate or level of service. 2. EAP Rate The annual EAP rate remains at $1.80 per employee per month. The annual estimated cost of the EAP is$12,312. Funds for the Employee Assistance Program are included in the 1996-97 budget. RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends the Board authorize the Board Chair to sign the contract amendment with Human Affairs International to continue the Employee Assistance Program for 1996-97. Human Affairs International,Inc. RECEIVED IN Att801/256-7300 3 P.O.Box 57986 Fax:801/256-7662 i Salt Lake City,Utah 84157-0986 APR 1 5 t L PERSONNEL April 2, 1996 Orange County 208 South Cameron Street Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 To Whom It May Concern: On behalf of Human Affairs International, Incorporated, I propose to amend our agreement with you entered on February 6, 1990 (and amended by prior amendments through June 30, 1996) (the "Agreement" ) , which established an employee assistance program for Orange County employees and their dependents, as follows : 1 . The first sentence of Exhibit C, Paragraph 1 of the Agreement is to be deleted in its entirety and the following is to be inserted in its place: ' For the period July 1, 1996 through and including June 30, 1997, Employer shall pay HAI at a rate equal to the number of permanent employees on Employer' s payroll times one dollar and eighty cents ($1 . 80) per month. 2 . Paragraph 13 of Exhibit D of the Agreement is to be deleted in its entirety and the following is to be inserted in it place: 13 . Notices . All notices or demands in connection with this Agreement given to or made upon either party shall be in writing and sent to that party at the following address, as modified from time to time by written notice: HAI : Human Affairs International, Incorporated 10150 South Centennial Parkway Sandy, Utah 84070 ATTN: Legal/Contracts Department EMPLOYER: ATTN: 3 . The term of the Agreement is hereby extended through and including June 30, 1997 . � H "N � -- �, F641RS Behavioral Healthcare Solutims- 4 � r ' Orange County April 2 , 1996 Page 2 I would further propose that this Amendment be deemed effective as of July 1,' 1996 . If the foregoing is acceptable, please sign both of the originals of this letter and return them to me for signature. Very truly yours, HUMAN AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL, INCORPORATED By Jack Williams President/Chief Executive Officer Date: Witness : AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY: ORANGE COUNTY By: Title: Date: Witness : 1 5 Attachment 2 --DRAFT-- June 26, 1996 Memorandum To: Eric Swanson, Hillsborough Town Manager From: John Link, Orange County Manager Subject: Memorandum of Agreement for Employee Assistance Program This memorandum outlines the approved agreement between the Town of Hillsborough and Orange County to include the Town of Hillsborough as a subgroup under Orange County's contract with Human Affairs International(HAI) for an Employee Assistance Program(EAP). 1. General The Town of Hillsborough accepts and will abide by the terms and conditions of Orange County's contract with HAI. 2. Coverage The Town of Hillsborough's permanent employees and their eligible dependents. 3. Period Covered The coverage will extend from July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997 unless the County should terminate its EAP contract with HAI prior to this date. 4. Costs The annual EAP rate will remain at $1.80 per employee per month. The estimated annual cost for Hillsborough's 68 employees is about $1,468. As agreed, the Town of Hillsborough will pay Orange County in full for EAP participation at the beginning of the 1996-97 fiscal year. For additional information, please refer to the original contract and amendments. r 5. EAP Utilization Information HAI will provide Hillsborough with a separate utilization report at the end of the fiscal year(i.e., July 1, 1997). If the foregoing agreement is acceptable, please sign the original of this letter and return it to me for signature. TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH ORANGE COUNTY By: By: Eric Swanson John M. Link, Jr. Town Manager County Manager cc: Elaine Holmes FAELEANOREAPMEMO.W PD