University Times

The Staff Association Council (SAC) heard a presentation yesterday, Oct. 10, on free counseling services available to Pitt employees, their families and members of their households.

Linda Neuenschwander, of the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP), a division of EAP Solutions, spoke on "Staying Resilient in Tough Times."

"You can call us — sometimes you can get information about a problem with just a phone call — or you can set up an appointment," Neuenschwander said.

"Our services are free. Employees are eligible for up to six sessions for each particular problem; FSAP offers referral services that are covered by the UPMC Health Plan for longer-term counseling needs."

The three most common categories of problems are job-related issues, family issues and anxiety and depression, Neuenschwander said. But she added that FSAP is a full-service counseling organization that handles personal and family concerns of all kinds, including grief counseling, adapting to a new job, co-worker conflicts, stress, alcohol or drug abuse and relationship problems.

"The national average for university personnel who seek counseling services, including both faculty and staff, is 3-5 percent. Pitt is within that range," Neuenschwander said.

"We offer flexible hours — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — for counseling appointments at our two nearby locations," she said. FSAP has offices in room 504 Medical Arts Building (3708 Fifth Ave.) and on the mezzanine floor of the University Center (120 Lytton Ave.).

Counselors also are available at other Pittsburgh and suburban locations and near Pitt's regional campuses. All FSAP counselors are master's level clinicians.

FSAP services are confidential, except when a client waives the right to confidentiality or when required by law, such as in the case of admitted child abuse or homicidal threats.

FSAP periodically offers workshops through the Human Resources Faculty and Staff Development Program, Neuen-schwander said.

For more information about FSAP, call 412/647-3327 or, for regional campus employees: 1-800/647-3327. Telephones are answered 24 hours a day.

In other SAC developments:

* SAC President Barbara Mowery reported that the first SAC-sponsored flea market, held Sept. 29, netted close to $500 for the Book Fund for Children of Staff. Beginning next fall, the fund will provide financial assistance toward the purchase of books for eligible undergraduate students on any of the five campuses.

Gwen Watkins, co-chair of SAC's planning and programming committee, said that SAC is planning a holiday flower sale fund-raiser to benefit the book fund in early December. SAC is coordinating the flower sale with Alex's Flowers.

Applications for the book fund are available at the SAC office, 925 WPU.

* Watkins also reported that SAC is hoping to organize a staff picnic in Schenley Park for the late spring, in addition to the annual Pitt Kennywood Day.

* The annual SAC fall assembly will be held Nov. 14 in the William Pitt Union Ballroom from noon to 1:30 p.m. The assembly will be a marketplace featuring information tables of several units offering services to staff, including FSAP, Human Resources, TIAA-CREF, How-ard Hanna Real Estate, the College of General Studies and others.

* SAC Vice President for steering Richard Colwell reported that SAC officers will meet with University Police interim chief Tim Delaney to discuss campus security issues. "We will be reporting back to SAC, but I hope you'll understand we won't tell you everything, because we don't want to tell everybody everything the University is doing with regard to security," Colwell said.

* Colwell and Mowery urged Pitt staff to participate in the Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award for Staff by nominating a staff member. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 31. More information is available at the SAC office, 4-4236.

* Mowery said the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid will sponsor a college fair for staff and faculty whose children are applying to Pitt. The fair will be held Nov. 1 in the Masonic Temple Ballroom in two sessions, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.

* Human Resources Associate Vice Chancellor Ron Frisch disseminated information on a new program for Pitt supervisors. The five-module information workshop series, dubbed the Human Resources Development Track for Supervisors, offers training on performance management, creating a respectful workplace environment, salary issues, the interviewing and hiring process, and Pitt employee benefits.

Those who complete the modules will receive a certificate. For more information on the voluntary program, call 412/624-8046.

–Peter Hart