Supporting Mental Health and Addiction Recovery in the Workplace

ARLINGTON, VA (February 24, 2022) – Substance use and mental health challenges can, and often do, affect all aspects of life, including work. Employers are in a good position to help. But stigma and a lack of education and comfort addressing these health conditions often stand in the way.

Two organizations committed to confronting stigma with education are the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA), the global leader in the certification, support, development and networking of Employee Assistance professionals, and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of comprehensive inpatient and outpatient addiction and mental health care for adults and youth. In 2022, Hazelden Betty Ford will be the lead sponsor of several EAPA events, including its Annual Institute and EXPO, its Virtual Conference, its online trainings for Department of Transportation (DOT)/Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP), and a month of Friday webinars attended by the association’s members.

"This is an exciting development, as the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has long been the gold standard in providing help and hope to those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions, which aligns with EAPA’s training for DOT/SAP professionals," said Julie Fabsik-Swarts, EAPA CEO. EAPA provides online SAP training and certification for SAPs providing services to organizations that are subject to DOT rules and regulations.

Hazelden Betty Ford's EAPA sponsorships will include the following:

1. Presenting Sponsor for the EAPA online SAP training in June and August 2022.
2. Presenting Sponsor at EAPA's Virtual Conference on March 24, 2022. The event will be entitled "EAPA Virtual Conference Presented by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation."
3. SAP Sponsor at the Denver EAPA Regional Training.
4. Presidential Presenting Sponsor of EAPA's Annual Institute and EXPO.
5. Official Sponsor for four "EAPA Friday Webinars for Members" in the month of March.

"Contrary to stereotypes, most people with substance use and mental health conditions have jobs, which is why employee assistance programs are such a smart investment for companies and a crucial resource for employees," said Joseph Lee, MD, president and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. "We are thrilled to join forces with the EAPA. Together, we can create safe, stigma-free environments for people to access resources that may prove vital to their health, life and livelihood."

About the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA)

EAPA is the global leader in the certification, support, development and networking of Employee Assistance (EA) professionals with members in over 40 countries around the globe. EAPA is the global leader of information and support for and about the EA profession. EAPA publishes the Journal of Employee Assistance, EAP NewsBrief, hosts the annual EAPA Institute and EXPO, and offers training and other resources to fulfill its mission: to promote the highest standards of Employee Assistance practice and the continuing development of EA professionals, programs and services. 

The first organizing meeting for the Association of Labor and Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism (ALMACA) was held in April 1971, and it was incorporated sometime later that year. The association name was officially changed to Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) in 1989. EAPA is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, USA. For more, visit www.eapassn.org.