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Teamsters' Assistance Program

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Program Information

Scope of Services

• Alcohol and Drug Problem Assistance
• Stress and Anger Management Information & Referral
• Critical Incident Debriefing
• Information & Referral for Other Personal Problems
• Trainings
• Health & Welfare Trust Fund Services

Alcohol and Drug Problem Assistance

Telephone Information and Referral – TAP Counselors provide substance abuse and mental health resource information by telephone during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Face-to-Face Substance Abuse (Alcohol and/or Drug) Assessment and Referral

Eligible participants and dependents with substance abuse questions or related problems are provided a face-to-face assessment appointment with a TAP counselor. Eligible participants and their dependents can receive up to three visits per calendar year per identified problem with a TAP counselor. The counselor will help the individual identify their primary problem(s). If the counselor determines that the individual has a substance abuse related problem, he or she will be referred according to the terms and conditions of the benefit plan. In cases where the individual has the TAP benefit, referrals will be made to the TAP Chemical Dependency Preferred Provider Network. If psychological issues are the primary problem, the counselor will refer the individual to the appropriate resource available through their benefit plan. In cases when urgent admission for an alcohol or drug problem is required, the TAP assessment will be conducted at the treatment site.

Face-to-Face SAP Assessments for DOT Violations

Eligible participants and their dependents who are referred following a DOT positive test or other rule violation will be assessed and referred to the appropriate level of care. DOT required reporting to the employer will take place and appropriate union officials (only with client authorization) will be kept up to date with the member’s participation and progress. Following completion of the SAP recommended treatment plan there will be a face-to-face follow-up assessment during which time the SAP will review the members relapse prevention plan. Continuing care recommendations will be communicated to the employer, a return-to-duty test for alcohol and drugs, as well as the type, frequency, and duration of follow-up testing as required by the regulations.

Regional Aftercare

Continuing care meetings for TAP clients who have completed a substance abuse treatment program are conducted in key geographic areas. Continuing care meetings are facilitated on a weekly basis by preferred provider staff and paid facilitators. Meetings with facilitators and TAP staff are conducted to review the quality of the continuing care meetings and to provide ongoing monitoring and communication.

Monitored Aftercare and Return-to-Work Agreements

For individuals who have completed treatment for substance abuse, TAP counselors will develop a continuing-care plan to support on-going abstinence and recovery and will work in a collaborative manner with business agents and employers in regard to any required return-to-work agreements. It is TAP’s standard practice to monitor clients for up to two years, whenever possible, after they have completed treatment.

Fellowship Activities

Special events, including a Holiday Party for families, a Summer Picnic at the Oakland Zoo, and a monthly sobriety celebration and barbecue lunch are sponsored by TAP in order to foster support for on-going fellowship and recovery.

Stress and Anger Management

TAP counselors provide assessment, information and referral services for clients voluntarily seeking assistance or who are referred by their employer for stress and/or anger management issues.

Critical Incident Debriefing

Upon request by the Employer and Union, TAP counselors provide information to workers who have experienced or observed a traumatic event while working, that is outside the range of normal human experience and that would be markedly distressing to anyone. For example, a serious injury or death as a result of an accident or physical violence. Assessment and referral to appropriate resources is made for persons experiencing post traumatic stress symptoms.

Information and Referral

TAP Counselors conduct face-to-face or telephonic assessments and provide information and referral for the following kinds of problems:

• Anger Management
• Stress Management
• Depression and Anxiety
• Physical Abuse
• Disability Adjustment
• Career Change
• Financial Pressures
• Sexual Problems
• Parent-Child Conflicts
• Marital /Relationship Problems
• Divorce
• Problems of Adolescence
• Single Parenting
• Aging Parents
• Death and Dying
• Job “Burnout”
• Interpersonal Communication
• Other Personal Problems

Workplace Trainings

TAP offers a variety of training courses on several different topics. The cost of training courses is free of charge for members and employers who participate in a health and welfare plan with TAP coverage. TAP counselors conduct these trainings at the workplace or at the TAP office in Oakland.

General TAP Services Training

Involves a description of TAP services and procedures in accessing TAP services and trust fund chemical dependency benefits. The training can be modified to fit the specific time request and can cover 20 minutes to 1 hour.

DOT and Non-Commercial Driver Training

Provides information on both the Department of Transportation regulations and drug/alcohol use to ‘safety sensitive employees’ covered by federal regulations. Provides general information regarding DMV regulations and the impact of drug and/or alcohol use in the workplace, on health, and in other areas of life.

Supervisor / Shop Steward Training

Offers a description of TAP Services, education on chemical dependency, skills for recognizing signs and symptoms of substance abuse/intoxication, and information on how supervisors and shop stewards should refer a troubled employee to TAP to get them the help they need.

DOT Supervisor / Shop Steward Training

Satisfy the DOT’s requirement for supervisors of employees in safety sensitive positions to be trained in recognizing the signs and symptoms of illegal drug use and alcohol misuse. This training requires a minimum of 2 hours per DOT requirements.

Stress, Anger & Substance Abuse Training

Training Educates trainees about the symptoms of stress; long term effects of stress on physical, emotional, and family health; and ways in which different people respond to stress. Healthy coping strategies for dealing with stress and anger are presented. The relationship between stress, anger and substance abuse is also highlighted.

Health & Welfare Trust Fund Services

TAP Chemical Dependency Preferred Provider Network

TAP contracts with appropriate treatment resources to provide services to TAP clients at a pre-negotiated rate. TAP staff evaluates all Preferred Providers. Site visits are performed and TAP expectations are clearly outlined. When an insured substance abuse client is outside of the geographic area normally covered by TAP, an out-of-panel contract may be negotiated. TAP attempts to negotiate for all services to be bundled and covered under an all-inclusive rate for the full episode of care.

Pre-authorization and Concurrent Review

All substance abuse treatment will be monitored by a TAP care manager in order to ensure that plan participants are receiving care appropriate to their level of dependency and in conformance with the terms of the plan. For complicated cases such review will be conducted by a licensed physician who specializes in substance abuse treatment.

Utilization Reports

TAP will develop and provide reports concerning utilization of TAP services upon request. These reports address days of treatment authorized and cost-per-treatment episode data.