Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Carranza, and Commissioner Campion Announce Mental Health and Social Services for Department of Education Employees

February 21, 2020

Expanded NYC Employee Assistance Program will increase access to mental health and quality of life services for DOE employees and their families

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza and Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion today announced expanded access of New York City Employee Assistance Program services to Department of Education (DOE) employees and their families. The expanded program will benefit approximately 170,000 DOE employees and their families and will take effect today.

“The employees who help over one million public school kids reach their full potential every day deserve the City’s support,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Expanding the Employee Assistance Program to Department of Education employees and their families will ensure that we are taking care of the health and well-being of everyone that makes our public schools great.”

“Our employees give so much to the students, staff and families of New York City’s public schools, and this expansion allows us to increase the ways in which the City gives back,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “Thanks to the leadership of Mayor de Blasio and our labor partners, 170,000 employees and their families will have access to mental health and quality of life services, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this incredible program.”

“I am really excited that the NYC EAP is expanding to assist an additional 170,000 DOE employees. Every single day, our EAP employees provide professional counselling and guidance to city employees and their families, making positive impacts in city workers’ lives. Our programs allow city employees to return to their jobs and provide the essential services to New Yorkers in the most productive and healthy way possible,” said Commissioner Renee Campion, NYC Office of Labor Relations.

“We are pleased that all DOE employees will now have access to the NYC Employee Assistance Program,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “We recognized the importance of mental health counseling services when the UFT began the union’s own Member Assistance Program (MAP) in 2009. MAP will continue to provide the same variety of services to UFT members. In addition, UFT members will also have access to the NYC Employee Assistance Program.” 

"I applaud the Mayor and Chancellor for recognizing that in order to best support our students, staff wellness is key. Stressors at home, and in the workplace, can leave our members less than whole when they head out to serve our most precious and sometimes vulnerable children. Expanding mental health and social service programs for our DOE members and their families will not only help them to exceed personally but also allow them to better support our children," said Henry Garrido, Executive Director of District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO.

“Our school leaders dedicate their lives to serving families throughout the city, and their daily work can be incredibly demanding and stressful,” said CSA President Mark Cannizzaro. “Educators must remain at their best to create optimum learning conditions for their students. These services will allow our members to take better care of themselves so they can continue to care for those in their charge. We commend Mayor de Blasio and his administration for expanding the focus on mental health and quality of life to Department of Education employees, and we look forward to our continuing collaboration to ensure that school leaders and their staff have all the support necessary to continue their noble work.”

The New York City Employee Assistance Program (NYC EAP) delivers comprehensive services to all employees to help overcome problems that affect quality of life and interfere with effectiveness on the job. This includes:

• Confidential interviews to assess and evaluate the nature and scope of challenges; employees and/or their families may be facing;
• Clinical counseling, where appropriate;
• Referrals to treatment and/or other problem-solving resources in the community;
• Support with alcohol and chemical dependency;
• Assistance with finding financial and housing supports;
• Worksite visits to support employees who have been affected by a traumatic loss or event at work;
• Help with such issues as child care, eldercare, domestic violence, sleep, abuse, suicide ideations, sexual assault, bullying, teen issues, anxiety, depression, PTSD and stress.

All NYC EAP services are free, confidential and voluntary to all employees and their families. Services are delivered by a fully credentialed staff of licensed mental health providers. This expansion will add 26 new employees to service DOE employees and their families.

The NYC EAP can be reached by calling 212-306-7660 or emailing eap@olr.nyc.gov.

“I applaud the Administration for extending the Employee Assistance Program to Department of Education employees. Teachers, administrators, and school staff work tirelessly to support our city’s students, and this new benefit will help provide critical resources and supports to them and their families,” said Council Member Mark Treyger, Chair of the Committee on Education.

"We applaud the DOE's expanded investment in the mental health and well being of their workforce and families," said Council Member I. Daneek Miller, Chair of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor. "As a former union president I can attest to the value of access to services, and this is a particularly important investment and program that will help protect a prized, but vunerable population. Let us never forget that all labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance!"