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Employee & Family Assistance Program

The Employee & Family Assistance Program is a Voluntary, Confidential Counselling Service for all eligible employees and their eligible family members.

The program was established on January 1, 1993, in response to the recognition that almost any human problem may be overcome, provided it is identified, and access is available for appropriate counselling when necessary.

Counselling sessions are available off-campus at convenient Winnipeg locations. Access to counselling services may also be obtained by you or a family member while traveling elsewhere in Canada.

To access the EFAP, Call Toll-Free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

1.800.387.4765

Or go to:

www.warrenshepell.com

For detailed information on eligibility of family members please go to the Health Benefits Home Page.


What is the purpose of the EFAP?

The Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is a voluntary confidential short term counselling and referral service.

This service has been developed to help you and your family members with personal problems, tensions and stress before they lead to more serious difficulties. The service provider chosen for the Employee & Family Assistance Program is Shepell∙fgi (formerly Warren Shepell Consultants).


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Is the service confidential?

Confidentiality is the cornerstone of our EFAP. It is a program that allows you to discuss your personal problems and concerns in complete confidence in an understanding and professional environment away from the University.

You and your family may rest assured that all conversation and dealings with Shepell∙fgi counsellors will be strictly confidential. No information on any individual case will come back to the University of Winnipeg, or any employee group.


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Can someone contact the EFAP on my behalf?

The program is voluntary and is not meant to interfere with the private lives of employees, nor to accept responsibility for their personal problems.

Only you can make a counselling appointment for yourself. Contact is made directly by you or a family member to Shepell∙fgi.


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How much will it cost?

The focus of the counselling program is short-term problem solving counselling, which is provided at no cost to you.

In cases where longer-term or specialized services are required, the EFAP counsellor will assist you through a referral to an appropriate professional or agency in the community. The fees for such referred services are the responsibility of the employee or family members. However, some of these services may be covered by the Manitoba Health Services Commission or your Blue Cross Extended Health Plan. In any event your financial situation will be considered by the counsellor when making such a referral and the costs discussed in advance with you.


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Counselling Services and Options

The EFAP counsellor network at Shepell∙fgi is a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who have master's degrees or PhDs in the fields of psychology, clinical social work or educational psychology.  They will assess your needs and together with you, will determine a goal to achieve through counselling in order to address any personal and/or work-related concerns that may be affecting your physical or emotional well-being.

These can include such concerns as:

  • Personal and Emotional
  • Marital/Other Relationships
  • Family
  • Bereavement
  • Violence
  • Single Parenting
  • Aging Parents
  • Stress
  • Interpersonal Conflict
  • Career

When it is determined that long term or very specialized care is required, the EFAP counsellor may make an appropriate referral.

The referral resources include:

  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Social Workers
  • Family & Marital Counsellors
  • Alcohol & Substance abuse Counsellors
  • Financial Counsellors
  • Personal & Emotional crises Counsellors
  • Lawyers
  • Psychiatrists
  • Medical Professionals
  • Self-help groups

Your counselling service options include the following.

  1. In-Person
    • Most traditional method of counselling.
    • You meet with a counsellor in an office at a pre-determined appointment time.
  2. Telephonic
    • Can be easier and more efficient than in-person counselling.
    • Works well if you are reluctant, or find it inconvenient, to access face-to-face services.
    • Good for remote locations.
    • Suitability for telephonic counselling is identified when you first contact the EFAP
  3. Online (E-Counselling)
    • Professional counselling service delivered over the Internet.
    • Includes many of the interventions used in other forms of counselling.
    • Works well if you are reluctant, or find it inconvenient, to access face-to-face services.
    • Access from anywhere, at any time of the day or night.
    • Secure
  4. Text-Based Self-Help (Health & Wellness Resource Packages)
    • Text-based, solution-focused collection of resources and information, currently address seven parenting, relationship, nutrition or work-related topics.
    • Each package contains an integrated set of easy-to-use, practical articles, tip sheets and reference materials.

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Specialized Counselling Services

Career Counselling

Career counsellors help you address a wide range of personal and workplace issues. They offer a fresh perspective and help work with you to assess your interests and skill sets. The program can help develop strategies that may lead to enhanced work satisfaction and performance.

Family Support Services

This program helps with issues faced throughout your family and personal life, including family planning, pregnancy, parenting, life transitions and aging. You would be referred to a Family Support Specialist who would research your needs and offer possible solutions.

The program includes telephone assessment, consultation, resources, support and advice on a full range of family issues. Shepell.fgi researches service provider locations, current availability of services, fees and when appropriate, recommends a community resource and prepares a package with options that may include: parenting classes, daycare, schools, after-school programs, palliative care, seniors accommodations/nursing homes and caregiver support.

Financial Support Services

The Financial Support Service provides information and options to help you take control of your financial life. When required, Shepell.fgi also facilitates referrals to licensed professionals for more extensive services such as financial planning or debt repayment planning.

The service is designed to provide consultation and general advice. This advice may be crucial to help you make informed decisions about financial matters, especially during major life events such as marriage, divorce, retirement or the transition from school to work. The program also provides financial advice and support if there is as a history of poor financial habits, gambling and addictions, or the breakdown of a relationship.

Financial professionals provide information and recommendations primarily over the telephone (or in-person if required).  Areas of focus include:

  • Debt and credit (general overview, preparing a budget)
  • Tax issues
  • Budgeting
  • Retirement/Life transitions
  • Divorce (financial issues)
  • Investments (general - no investment advice)
  • Real estate/mortgages

This services does not provide advice about specific investment products, authorize loans or prepare tax returns.

Legal Support Services

The Legal Support Service provides information and clarification concerning how the law applies to a specific situation. It will recommend options on possible courses of action and where necessary, refer callers to qualified lawyers for ongoing legal advice. Most employees requiring legal assistance do not want or need to retain a lawyer. Their concerns can be resolved using the Shpell.fgi program. The service provides general advice on topics such as the ones below:

  • Real estate
  • Separation and divorce
  • Bankruptcy
  • Contracts
  • Landlord and tenant issues
  • Summons, warrants and subpoenas
  • Consumer protection

This service will not assist with work-related or employer-directed issues. Also excluded is legal consultation addressing immigration and tax law. Costs for services provided by referrals are the responsibility of the employee.

Naturopathic Services

The Shepell.fgi Naturophathic Service provides another option to help you make better choices through a natural and holistic approach to the maintenance of good health. You are seen as a whole person (physical, mental and emotional aspects) and symptoms of disease are seen as warning sighs of the improper functioning of body and lifestyle habits.

You consult with a Naturopathic Doctor and receive customized health and wellness information and materials on choices related to physiology, diet, lifestyle, and mental-emotional well-being, including illness prevention strategies. The Shepell.fgi program encompasses four key themes:  Sleeping Health, Aging Well, Stress-Free Living and Workplace Wellness.  The program uses a naturopathic approach to address some of the most common health concerns that lead to significant lost productivity.  Help is offered to:

  • Address sleep difficulties
  • Take steps to age well
  • Improve digestion
  • Boost energy levels
  • Recognize mind-body connections
  • Make good food choices
  • Understand midlife changes
  • Manage stress
  • Balance work and personal life
  • Learn how the workplace affects health
  • Live well as a shift worker
  • Deal with jet lag
  • Build the immune system

Nutrition Support Services

Maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet can be a challenge. Shepell.fgi nutritional consultation is designed to assist in improving your overall health. The program is delivered by Registered Dieticians using a short-term model designed to provide solutions to non-complex problems. For example, if you are diagnosed with a medical condition that requires management of your diet, you may call and discuss with a dietician your food preferences and work with the RD to ensure a plan is put in place that not only satisfies your health requirements but also satisfies your taste needs. The program is delivered using a five-step consultation model that can take between 2-3 hours (not delivered all at once, requires a few telephone appointments).

Smoking Cessation Services

In addition to a smoking cessation program that is offered telephonically, Shepell.fgi also offers an online program designed to more you through the cessation process. The interactive and personalized online program is designed with six major milestones to help you quit. It includes a Nicotine Dependency Test and Quit Meter that tracks quit date, smoke-free days, money saved and life gained. It also provides access to an online support group moderated by health professionals.

Stress Management Program (Online)

The program measures six areas of stressful experiences, a grouping of the most substantial causes, effects, and other symptoms of stress. The stress management program also offers and action plan and resources to help target the highest contributors to your current level of stress.


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Newsletters & Web Links

Balancing Act

Healthy Living

Healthy Working

Traumatic Event


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EFAP Committee

An EFAP Committee was established for the purpose of developing and promoting the Employee & Family Assistance Program and has continuing responsibility for ongoing review of the Program.

If you have any concerns or require further information, you may contact one of the representatives on the EFAP Committee.

Michele Del Rizzo (AESES) 786-9709

Harald Weigeldt (IUOE) 786-9770

Randy Kroeker (UWFA-Main) 789-1466

Karen Tarr (UWFA-Collegiate) 786-9080

Ronda Perinot (Exluded) 258-3805

Laurel Repski (University) 789-1451

Mary Anne Walls (University) 786-9280

The people that make up the University of Winnipeg are its single, most valuable asset. The Employee & Family Assistance Program is designed to help employees achieve success, both in their careers and in their level of personal satisfaction.



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