The EFAP/ARS MODEL

The Employee and Family Assistance program is a mutual employer and employee effort from design right through implementation and maintenance. Each workplace that is a supporting member of the CVCCS develops its own EFAP compatible with the model, but tailored to that particular work setting.

At present, there are 24 participating worksites that subscribe to our model.

The Board of Directors is created from the funders so they have a say in how the program works for their employees.

The ARS counselling office is where employees go for help and is overseen by the Board of Directors. 

We have an Executive Director, Sara Clarke, B.A.(Psych)  and we also have 2 Counsellors, Bill Fehr, , M.S.C., B.S.W., R.S.W. and Gloria Manning-Smee, B.S.W., M.Ed.

The Administrative Assistant is Frances Rhodes. 

They are employees of the society, not any one funding organization.

The client is the person, or couple or family that goes to the ARS for help. The entire structure is built to support them.

The program is administered by a joint EFAP Committee, which oversees implementation and

ensures ongoing planning, education, awareness and annual evaluation. There is a direct

relationship between an active committee and a high rate of earlier program use.

EFAP representatives are employees, retirees, spouses and dependents who have been selected and trained as peer resources. They do not have a counselling function -- their role is providing

program information and education with a focus on early intervention, prevention and wellness.

There should be no thought that an EFAP can ever solve all of the workplace problems, or take

responsibility for an individual's conscience or behavior. There will be challenges which are

difficult to overcome despite the combined efforts of those involved. But we can make progress toward meaningful social responsibility, which after all is really no more than the old-fashioned notion of helping each other. Respect for the individual is more than a statement -- it is a working solution for most of our problems.

The service providers are helping professionals like doctors, psychologists, psychiatrist, drug and alcohol centres who may need to become involved in providing care needed for a client.