	Employee Assistance Program Services

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

PA-EAP 6: Assessment

Clients participate in a comprehensive, individualized, strengths-based, culturally responsive assessment.

Note: Refer to the Assessment Matrix for additional assessment criteria under the Comprehensive Psychosocial Assessment relevant for EAPs that provide Clinical Assessments. The elements of the matrix can be tailored according to the needs of specific individuals or service design.

PA-EAP 6.01

The information gathered for assessments is directed at concerns identified in initial screenings and limited to material pertinent for providing services.

PA-EAP 6.02

At the intake interview or initial assessment, EAP counselors obtain relevant assessment information including:

demographic information;
the nature of the request or presenting problem; and
any work-related issues.

PA-EAP 6.03

Clinical assessments contain, at a minimum, the following information, as appropriate:

environment and home situation;
financial status and health insurance;
social and peer groups;
interests, skills, and aptitudes;
work history and military service;
date of last medical exam;
physical illness/somatic variables/medical treatment;
the use of alcohol or other drugs;
depression screening;
behavioral/cognitive patterns that cause health risks, based on physical, emotional, behavioral, or social conditions; and
when appropriate, legal, vocational, and/or nutritional needs of the client.

Note: The term “clinical” in these standards may be used interchangeably with the term “biopsychosocial.”

NA The EAP does not provide clinical assessments.

PA-EAP 6.04

Assessments are conducted in a strengths-based, culturally responsive manner, and identify resources that can increase service participation and support the achievement of agreed upon goals.

Interpretation: Culturally responsive assessments can include attention to geographic location, language of choice, and the person’s religious, racial, ethnic, and cultural background. Other important factors that contribute to a responsive assessment include attention to age, sexual orientation, developmental level, and disability status.

QUICK JUMP TO


	PURPOSE: Employee Assistance Programs help agencies support employees working to maintain or improve their productivity, functioning, and pro-social behavior and remain at or return to the workplace.

RELATED FILES


	EMPLOYEE Paid member of an organization. Foster parents are not considered employees and are specifically referenced in relevant standards.


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	ASSESSMENT An evaluation, which utilizes professional expertise and skills in the collection and analysis of data to understand and describe the nature of service needs of an individual, family, or group. Assessment, as in needs assessment, is also used to determine priorities of program planning and service development for the organization as a whole. See also DIAGNOSIS.


	CRITERIA Systematically developed, objective, and quantifiable statements used to assess the appropriateness of specific decisions, services, and outcomes.


	PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT A type of professional assessment that describes the summary judgment derived from a multidimensional evaluation of psychological, sociocultural, and environmental factors that are components of a presenting problem. It includes results of tests and evaluations, brief expressive descriptions of the problem, an inventory of actual and potential assets and resources, the prognosis, and analysis of what is needed or planned to resolve the problem. A psychosocial assessment is also called a psychosocial diagnosis


	CLINICAL The study, assessment, and diagnosis of the client situation followed by direct treatment to help the client achieve prescribed goals.


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	INTAKE The client's entry point for services at which eligibility is assessed against established criteria and a preliminary evaluation of the presenting problem occurs.


	BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL The consideration of biological, psychological, and social factors in working with individuals and families. Typically, a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment is undertaken to gather relevant facts and arrive at a complete understanding of a client's problem, situation, or circumstances.


	CLIENT See service recipient.