Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program is here to provide resources for you and your family during our current global health crisis. As many of us transition to working at home and find ourselves more socially isolated, we are discovering many ways to connect digitally that may be helpful for our mental health and well being. These resources are provided for the user's convenience. The inclusion of these resources is not intended to reflect their particular importance, nor are they intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered.

Return to Work

• Webinar: Towards a New Workplace Normal in the Age of COVID-19 (FEI)
• Communication: A Vital Tool for Managing the Post-COVID-19 Workplace
• EAPs Can Ease the Transition Back to Work

Resources for Employees

• Building Resiliency Course

  Resiliency is our ability to bounce back from adversity. During these uncertain times, it is important to actively work towards being more resilient by learning to thrive within the stress. It is important to be conscious of how you are feeling, to be compassionate with yourself, and to be aware of how you have been impacted by COVID-19. Join us for one or all 6 sessions, to discuss how we can build skills of being happy and building resiliency: mindfulness, human connection, gratitude, positive outlook, purpose, and generosity. This is a welcoming space for anyone in any department to share ideas, find support, and explore how resiliency can prepare us for whatever comes next.  Presented by HR and EAP.

• Wellness Resources for City Employees and Family Members

• Working Remotely during COVID-19 (APA)

• Responding to Another's Hardship and Loss
  Tips on how employees can respond to consumers of city services, as well as to coworkers who are facing hardship and loss.
• Business, Community and Mental Health Resources
  Mental health resources that an employee could provide to consumers of city services.
• Tips for Working at Home (Gundersen Health)
• FEI Behavioral Health
  The City’s external EAP offers additional articles, videos, and webinars related to work-life balance. Type username: madison

Managers & Supervisors

• Guidelines for Demonstrating Leadership during Crisis for City Managers and Supervisors

First Responders

• Compassion fatigue: The hidden danger of concurrent national public health emergencies (PoliceOne.com)
• Building Mental Resilience During a Crisis (USC School of Social Work)
• Stress Awareness & Management in the COVID-19 World (Officer.com)
• Helping Your Family Cope with COVID-19 (IAFF)
• Wisconsin Injured Law Enforcement Officers Resource Council Crisis Counseling Corps (WILEORC)
• Warrior's Rest Foundation
• Staying Sober During COVID-19: Challenges to Recovery During a Pandemic Outbreak (IAFF)
• Guide to Managing Coronavirus Anxiety (IAFF)
• Checking in with Quarantined and Isolated Members (IAFF)
• What to Expect During Quarantine or Isolation (IAFF)
• Officer Wellness and Resiliency During the COVID-19 Pandemic (COPS) 

Caregivers

• Support for Caregivers
• Area Agency on Aging/Family Caregiver Support
• Caregiver SOS

Parents & Guardians

• Assistance for locating options for child care (4-C)

  • Ayuda para localizar opciones de cuidado infantil (4-C)

• Virtual School Activities
  A collection of sites to live webcams, virtual tours/trips, and other miscellaneous fun educational sites.
• ECDC Parent Resources
  Early Childhood Development Center's "at home ideas" for you and your child as you navigate the Coronavirus closures.
• Madison Children's Museum at Home
  Though the Madison Children’s Museum is closed to the public, staff continue to care for the animals and plants at the museum and are posting videos at the museum and great tips for you and your family during COVID-19.
• Madison Public Library at Home
  While the City's public library branches are closed, there are several online options for all ages to access materials digitally, participate in story times, and connect through Bubbler.
• Henry Vilas Zoo at Home
  Henry Vilas Zoo knows a lot of parents are looking for activities for their kiddos these days, so they came up with a few things you can do at home to teach your kids about some of the animals at the zoo!
  They will be adding new videos or activities to one of these pages each weekday afternoon.
• Center for Healthy Minds Well-Being Toolkit for Children, Educators, and Parents (UW-Madison)
• Talking to Kids about COVID-19 (UW News)
• Parent Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19 (NCTSN)
  See pages 4-5 for Self-Care Coping and Helping Children Cope.
• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies (CDC)

Grief and Loss

• Grieving from a Distance: Grief & Loss in the Time of COVID-19

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Finding Hope in Challenging Times (Psychology Today)
• Journey Mental Health
  All Journey buildings are closed and Journey staff will be checking their voicemail messages and emails to keep in contact with their consumers.
• Center for Healthy Minds Well-Being Toolkit (UW-Madison) 
• The Healthy Minds Program
  Healthy Minds Innovations is offering the  Healthy Minds Program App for free to individuals. This includes scientifically-backed tools to support you. There is no subscription fee, and there are no requirements. It is available on iOS and Android.
• Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation (SAMHSA)
• Mental Health & Coping During COVID-19 (CDC)
• Stigma and Resilience During COVID-19 (CDC)
• Taking Care of Your Emotional Health; Coping with Disaster or Trauma (CDC)
• COVID-19 INFORMACION Y RECURSOS (NAMI)
• COVID-19 Info and Resources for Mental Health Concerns (NAMI)
  See page 3 “I’m quarantined or working from home – lonely and isolated – what can I do?”
  See page 4 for online support groups.
• Helpline Resources Directory Listing (NAMI, 79 pages)
• 5 Questions to Ask if Your Loved One Is in a Quarantined Facility (AARP)
• How to Fight the Social Isolation of Coronavirus (AARP)

Stress and Anxiety

• Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook (The Wellness Society)

  • Available in several languages.

• Do You Have Anxiety or COVID-19? (UW Medicine)
• 7 Ways to Cope with Anxiety During the Coronavirus Outbreak (AARP)
• Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety (Shine)
• Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (SAMHSA)
• Coping During the COVID-19 Outbreak
• Understand and Manage Your Stress Response
• Managing Fears and Anxiety Around Covid-19

Community Resources

• Financial Navigators are available now at no cost to provide guidance, over the phone, to help residents access available programs and services to manage income loss and other financial concerns they may be experiencing. With one-on-one discussions, they will help to address personal financial issues, identify immediate steps to manage expenses and maximize income, and make referrals to other services such as bill paying assistance, government benefits and other programs that may come from future stimulus packages.
• COVID-19 Wisconsin Connect is a free desktop and mobile app that provides accurate information, social support and helpful resources for people in Wisconsin.
• Wellbeing Resources from Wellness Council of Wisconsin
• Financial Resources to Help Get Through COVID-19
• COVID-19 Food Access Resources for Dane County
• 211 Wisconsin
  211 connects you with thousands of nonprofit and government services in your area. Now has a Coronavirus specific web page that links to related community services.
• Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS)
  Beginning Tuesday, March 17th, the DAIS business offices will be closed to the public. DAIS will not be able to provide any walk-in services for the foreseeable future. Those needing services should contact the 24-hour Help Line at (608) 251-4445.
• UNIDOS
  UNIDOS exists to empower the community to break the cycle of domestic violence, end sexual assault, and promote healthy family systems. UNIDOS LA RED 24/7 Help Line: 1-800-510-9195 (en español).
• Madison Area Intergroup Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous
  Most online AA meetings are taking place over Zoom, which is free to download, and you do not need to have your camera on or have a picture if you don’t want to. A few may still be taking place in person within the guidelines of social distancing. M.A.I.C.O. continues to work with a list of volunteers who will speak with people 24/7 who call their number of 608-222-8989.
• Agrace Hospice 
  Agrace is screening patients and families before each home visit. Also screening all visitors before they are permitted to enter their inpatient units, and the number of visitors per patient may be limited. Call (800) 553-4289 with any questions before visiting Agrace. See the web site for changes in services.