Collective agreements
Your collective agreement sets out your rights and responsibilities at work. If you have any questions about your treatment under the agreement, please talk to your steward or a member of the executive.
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
What is an EFAP?
Everybody faces difficult or stressful events in their lives. Most of the time, we handle these personal issues fairly well. Other times, life events can become challenging enough to interfere with our effectiveness and happiness both at home and at work.
Your EFAP is a confidential, professional counselling and wellness service that is there to provide support for those times when a little extra help is needed. The program provides access to masters’ level counsellors, a full suite of lifestyle and specialty services, plus an online health library.
The program is available to permanent and probationary employees (and their eligible dependents) of the Thames Valley District School Board. The Board has selected Homewood Human Solutions™as your EFAP provider.
What services does the EFAP offer?
Together, you and your dependents can receive short-term counselling from a professional counsellor either in person, over the phone or through our internet site http://www.homeweb.ca. You are also able to receive a full suite of Homewood Health Life Smart Coaching Services.
The EFAP offers counselling, coaching, information, and support for all types of issues relating to mental health, health management, and achieving greater personal and workplace well-being.
What kinds of counselling services are offered?
Counselling services are confidential and professional. Assessments, guidance (and referrals when required) are offered that may help with many personal challenges including, but not limited to:
? Relationship concerns: communication/separation/divorce
? Family issues: parenting support/communication/aging parents
? Workplace concerns: conflict/stress/change/ balance/career
? Financial and legal difficulties
? Alcohol and drug dependency
? Gambling and other addictions
? Depression and anxiety
? Bereavement and grief
? Anger management
? Sexual harassment and abuse
? Child/eldercare resources
? Life transitions: retirement/menopause/divorce
How does the counselling program work?
When you need to speak with someone, simply call the Homewood Health™hotline number listed below. Homewood Health™staff will ask you for some basic information (to establish your eligibility for this benefit) and will help set up an initial face-to-face counselling appointment at a time and office location that is convenient for you. If you prefer, telephonic or e-counselling (online) can also be arranged. In all cases, an experienced counsellor will help assess your concerns and aid you in developing practical solutions. All Homewood Health™ counsellors have a minimum of a master’s level degree, and extensive experience in helping individuals with their personal challenges. If longer term counselling or specialized services are required, such as hospital treatment, your counsellor will arrange an appropriate referral and follow up with you.
What are Life Smart Coaching Services?
Whether one needs to find a nursing home for an aging parent on the other side of the country, obtain help getting finances under control, receive advice on how to raise a gifted child, or help stop bullying at school, Homewood Health™ can help!
Clients utilizing Life Smart are provided with an overview of the service at intake by the counsellor initiating support with the specialist. Clients have access to the specialist within 24 hours, and depending on client availability, specialists can provide an assessment of the client’s needs upon first contact. Assessment outcomes, including additional support and resources, are customized for each client.
For the most part, these services are delivered by phone or online and often include a personalized package of information and useful tools, such as software programs that have been selected with the client’s best interests in mind.
Life Smart Coaching Services include:
Life Balance Solutions
? Childcare/Parenting Services
? New Parent Outreach Services
? Elder and Family Care Services
? Legal Advisory Services
? Financial Consultation
? Relationship Solutions
? Grief and Loss
Career Smart Counselling Services
? Career Development Services
? Pre-retirement Planning Services
? Conflict Counselling and Resolution
? Shift-worker Support
Health Smart Coaching Services
? Nutritional Counselling
? Smoking Cessation Program
? Jumpstart your wellness
What is available online?
In addition to core EFAP services, you have access to a comprehensive online health library by simply registering for the EFAP Member Services Area at http://www.homeweb.ca. The EFAP library offers an extensive collection of educational resources organized into a Health Library – rich content, relevant topics, and easy navigation. It’s a comprehensive and reliable source of educational tools exploring issues which are subject categorized into topics such as: addictions; aging, caregiving independent living; financial health; healthy living and self-improvement; mental and emotional health; relationship and social connections; and e-courses.
What does the EFAP cost?
The initial session for all services is available at no cost to you. After the initial session, the employee or family member will be billed directly for the services they have been provided, on the basis of $20.00 for professional staff and $10.00 for administrative staff for each of the following sessions.
Is the EFAP confidential?
Confidentiality is the cornerstone of the EFAP. The program allows all EFAP clients to discuss any life-issue in complete confidence, whether speaking with a masters’ level counsellor or another professional for one of the Plan Smart specialty services (e.g. Lawyer or Registered Dietician).
Homewood Health™ standards of confidentiality are the same as those used by medical doctors in Canada. You and your family may rest assured that all conversations and dealings with the EFAP will remain strictly confidential within the limits of the law*.
*Homewood Health is required by law to disclose what would otherwise be confidential information when there is a risk of serious injury to oneself or others, there is suspicion of child abuse as defined by provincial legislation, or when served with a properly executed court order (i.e. subpoena).
How do I contact the EFAP?
Whether in concern or in crisis, you and your family members are encouraged to take the first step, and access support through your Employee and Family Assistance Program. To speak to someone in confidence, for crisis services (24 hours a day) or to book an appointment, call one of the Homewood Health™ numbers below:
English: 1.800.663.1142
Numéro sans frais – en français : 1.866.398.9505
TTY: 1.888.384.1152
In times of crisis and emotional distress, Homewood Health™ staff are prepared to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Help is always available.
Take good care of yourself and your family
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Bylaws
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Benefits
For your benefit information, Click CUPE EWBT benefits guide
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For enrolment, eligibility, life coverage & premiums questions contact
OTIP: 1-866-783-6847
For Health & Dental coverage & claims questions contact
Great West Life: 1-866-800-8050
Other updates from CUPE can be found on their website: www.cupe-ewbt.ca
Pensions
Pensions for CUPE 4222 members are provided through the OMERS pension plan. If you have questions about your eligibility or about the plan, please talk to the Chief Steward or a member of the executive.
Member discounts
Learn how OTIP is committed to proudly meeting the insurance needs of CUPE 4222 members.
What is Edvantage?
Edvantage offers great rewards and discounts to education employees and their families through partnerships with retailers and businesses throughout Ontario.
OTIP administers Edvantage on behalf of your association. Through continued support from our partners, Edvantage is able to offer great discounts, special offers and contests to you, our valued 4222 members.
(Membership number required to view discounts which is located on your membership card)