Members of the Southcoast Worksite Health & Wellness Collaborative enjoyed a presentation on the Family Service Association Employer Support Program by Development Director Michael Moran on January 14, 2016. The program is an example of worksite employee assistance programs (EAP) that can help employers provide counseling and other services to employees who are experiencing a range of challenges. "If an employee is having an issue that is impeding their ability to work productively, then ... we tend to look the other way with that employee," stated Moran. "The most forward-thinking organizations and companies are ones that say we need to put something in place some sort of safety net so that our employees can have a place to go if those issues arise."  The Family Service Association Employee Support Program provides a comprehensive package of staff training, case management services, and on-going consultation that includes direct access to the agency's behavioral health treatment services. The monthly Collaborative meetings, often held at the Sylvia Insurance Company headquarters on Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth, offer presentations on a number of topics related to worksite wellness. Click here  for a 34-minute video of Mr. Moran's' presentation and here for previous presentations. Anyone planning to attend future Collaborative meetings is asked to RSVP Chairperson Angela Bras at 774-400-4466

(Top row) Collaborative Chairperson Angela Bras welcomes the group, including RIC Community Health and Wellness intern Kara Strang, Stephanie Boulay of Coastline Elderly Services, Barbara Tripp of BayCoast Bank, and Susan Shepardson of WellCommunity, Inc. (Middle row) Linda Schick of the Town of Fairhaven joins the discussion along with Dara Midwood of the YMCA Southcoast Diabetes Prevention Program,  Kristi Aimone of Southcoast Health and Ms. Tripp. (Bottom row) Development Director and Employer Assistance Program Manager  Michael Moran talks about the Family Service Association Employer Support Program.