Have you heard about the new, enhanced Employee Assistance Program available to all Forest Service employees and their families? Now might be a good time to learn about it. The new EAP program has numerous tools, resources and support for many of the challenges we all face. And I can attest that the new EAP program is top notch and worthy of your attention.

In August 2021, I served as the National Federation of Federal Employees Forest Service Council representative on the Employee Assistance Program—Technical Evaluation Board. There were nine individuals with varying degrees of knowledge and expertise who served on the board, but we all had the same goal: to ensure the contractor that was selected would meet and/or exceed the increased services the agency was seeking to ensure comprehensive health, safety and well-being of our employees. We focused on physical, social and psychological safety, as well as enhancing the program with the purposeful intent to provide an all-inclusive, robust service to 40,000 Forest Service employees and their families.

The board members were tactical in their review: Considering each of us have a different level of knowledge and expertise, we individually and methodically reviewed every contractor proposal. Each member provided recommendations and interests, requested clarifications, and worked with lead Shelly Pacheco to obtain specific details on services that would become part of the new contract. Every aspect was discussed in depth with the board. As we came to the end of the process after about two months of meetings, we felt proud to have played an important part in what would become the most effective, efficient and robust Employee Assistance Program that has been introduced to employees to date.

Espyr is our new EAP provider. And while most units will transition to Espyr immediately, Regions 4 and 6 and the Pacific Northwest Research Station will transition to Espyr as their contracts end. Espyr will provide employees the opportunity to use a multitude of new services being offered, including in-person, video, telephone, chat/text or online messaging counseling services.

The release of the new program will likely reach most of us in some way during our careers, whether it be tapping into life skills, financial planning, legal forms, community services, crisis counseling or another of the many services offered. The contract includes services for you, your family, temporary 1039 employees, administratively determined appointments, permanent full-time, permanent part-time, permanent seasonal, Resource Assistant, and Pathways employees. And EAP is available to employees and their families up to six months after separation from service.

To learn more about our new EAP program, check out the FAQs and a brochure of services (internal link). To access the multitude of services provided by the EAP, visit https://forestserviceeap.com/ and enter password USFS. To download the Espyr app, search Espyr Connect and download on your work or personal phone.

As the NFFE Forest Service Council member on the board, representing all bargaining employees in the Forest Service, I can report that your interests and suggestions were considered and have been implemented with this extensive new EAP contract. On behalf of the Forest Service Council, we look forward to your participation in the new program.