eap news - university at albany, sunytoothpaste and toothbrushes like last february’s meet and...
TRANSCRIPT
EAP NEWS
UAlbany Employees’ Link to Resources for Health & Well-Being
It’s time to get together! EAP will hold a “Meet and
Greet” event along with conducting a community service
project called the “Kindness Project” on Tuesday,
February 27 from 11:30 am—1:30 pm in the Campus
Center West Multi-Purpose Room.
The EAP Committee, along with EAP Coordinator
Brenda Seckerson, will be on hand to chat and make
available health and wellness information. Approxi-
mately 14 community and campus resource providers
will be in attendance, too.
Like last February’s Meet and Greet, the EAP Com-
mittee will hold a non-food item collection called the
“Kindness Project” which will support the University’s
partnership with St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry.
When attending the event, we invite faculty and staff to
bring a personal care item(s) to add to the collection.
Since the food pantry can buy food at a low cost, the
most pressing need is for donations of personal care
items or monetary contributions.
We hope you will take time during your lunch or mid-
day break to join us for this gathering. Snack on light
refreshments, participate in the EAP “kindness card”
activity, meet other members of the University commu-
nity, enjoy some EAP giveaways, and show some kind-
ness by supporting the food pantry. If you have
co-workers who have never attended an EAP event , be
sure to invite them to join you. Take advantage of your
EAP benefit and help us spread some kindness. (See
pages 7 and 11 for more event details.)
baby wipes
laundry detergent
feminine hygiene items
disposable razors
shaving cream
deodorant
toothpaste and toothbrushes
toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, tissues
For questions regarding the Meet and Greet event and
Kindness Project, contact EAP Coordinator, Brenda
Seckerson. [email protected] 518.442.5483
EAP Kindness Project
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
EAP Meet and Greet Set for February 27 Personal Care Item Donation List
Kindness is a gift everyone
can afford to give.
~Unknown
Page 2 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Resource for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
Don’t Fear Conflict Resolution Many employees resist conflict resolution for fear it might not work out
in their favor. Unfortunately, the fear is based on the belief that conflict
resolution is win-lose—that it seeks to discover who is right. The art of
conflict resolution, however, is anything but win-lose. Conflict resolution is
about producing satisfaction for both parties. Fifty percent of successful
conflict resolutions entail two things: listening to the perspective of the conflict partner and acknowledging it. What
follows is the art of compromise. You can find do-it-yourself conflict resolution outlines online, contact UAlbany EAP,
or borrow a book on the topic from the EAP Lending Library. Simmering and unresolved conflict is like a drain on a car
battery—but in this case, it’s draining your ability to be happy on the job.
Getting Help With Anxiety If worries feel excessive and out of your control, it’s time to call EAP or a mental health
professional and get relief. Anxiety is a common complaint among employees of all ages,
particularly younger workers. You know it’s time to get help if you feel worries consume too
much of your waking hours, interfere with sleep, affect your happiness and ability to relax,
and perpetuate feelings of general dissatisfaction. Don’t be fooled; disruptive anxiety can
still affect you despite your life accomplishments, IQ, or financial security—even if everything
is going great in your life. Feeling you should not be worrying because your life is “just fine”
can prevent you from getting help, while you also feel guilty for not being happier. Anxiety is
not in your imagination, and resolving it is not about “snapping out of it.” Reach out for support.
Emotional Intelligence with Customers Research shows stress for those in customer service often results from dealing with the adverse emotional reactions
of customers. You can influence reactions for the better and reduce your stress. Try this emotional intelligence (EI)-
boosting exercise to observe this dynamic up close. For the next couple of days, observe the emotions of your custom-
ers. Notice how and when these emotional reactions change and whether they are positive, negative, or neutral. Con-
sider your role in influencing these changes. Spend another three days attempting to influence your customers’ emo-
tional states so they remain positive. Then analyze: Did you experience less stress over those three days? If yes, you
have increased your EI because you have discovered and consciously used your ability to identify emotional states in
others, and you can determine how to improve the quality of relationships with this information.
Visit the Library page on the EAP website for a full list of topics, books, and DVDs/CDs that the EAP Lending
Library has available. Contact EAP if you would like to borrow any materials. [email protected]
Page 3 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Family Meals Make for Healthier Kids
Resource for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
There has always been the assumption that family meals are a good
thing for everyone, especially kids, but research with 1,492 children
conducted by the University of Montreal documented high returns from
the practice. Children were studied over a four-year period, starting at
age 6. Those who participated in more family meals had higher levels of
general fitness and lower levels of soft drink consumption, less physical
aggression, reduced oppositional behavior, fewer incidents of nonag-
gressive delinquency, and less reactive aggression at age 10. Information
was gathered from parents, teachers, and the children themselves on
academic achievement, social adjustment, and lifestyle habits. So
despite being busy, don’t give up on family meals.
Exercise and Your Memory Exercise can improve your memory. Scientists found that six weeks of intense exercise—
short bouts of interval training over the course of 20 minutes—produced significant im-
provements in memory, specifically something called “high-interference memory.” That’s
the type of memory that allows you to identify your car and distinguish it among others that
look just like it and to remember its location. (Talk to your doctor about exercise. But now
you have another reason to get moving!)
Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse
As the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) states, “Addiction can happen to
anyone, any family, at any time.” The OASAS website has important information regarding prevention as well as how
to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid drug abuse.
To access the OASAS resources, click here.
Call the OASAS helpline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (I-877-846-7369).
Contact UAlbany EAP for a confidential conversation if you have concerns about
heroin or prescription drug abuse. Support and help is available!
[email protected] 518-442-5483
Source: http://journals.lww.com [search “family meals”]
Source: www.dailynews.mcmaster.ca [search: “memory exercise”]
Page 4 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Are you finding yourself struggling with any of
the following?
Family, parenting, and relationship issues
Work stress and conflict
Substance abuse or dependency
Elder care
Mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety)
Legal and/or financial concerns
Grief and loss
Or anything else related to work or home that is
causing you undue stress and affecting your ability to be as productive as you once were?
You don’t have to deal with it alone. Support is available through UAlbany’s Employee Assistance
Program (EAP). The mission of UAlbany EAP is to provide services to support a healthy, productive work-
force. Available to all employees is the voluntary, confidential Information, Assessment, and
Referral Service provided by UAlbany EAP Coordinator, Brenda Seckerson. Take advantage of this
confidential assistance available to you as an employee benefit.
Confidential support, information, and
referrals are available through EAP to assist
you in finding a way to address your concerns.
To schedule an appointment for a confidential Information, Assessment & Referral session,
contact:
Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
518-442-5483
EAP Website: http://www.albany.edu/eap
Early intervention is the key! Contact EAP.
Employee Assistance Program-sponsored events and
services are open to UAlbany and Research Foundation
faculty, staff, family members, UAS employees, GSEU
members, and retirees.
"Strength shows, not only in the ability to persist, but the ability to start over.”
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
Page 5 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Register online: http://www.worklife.ny.gov/wellNYSeveryday/
Brenda Seckerson, UAlbany EAP Coordinator
Page 6 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Attention UAlbany and Research Foundation employees who are not in need of purchasing a faculty/staff parking decal because their work location is not on the Uptown and/or Downtown campuses: Here are some options for free transportation and free parking on campus to be able to use your EAP benefit.
When registering for an EAP program, mention that you need to access visitor parking on campus. EAP will be able to sponsor parking at the Collins Circle visitor lot. At least a two-day notice is needed to secure this visitor park-ing option.
Use your UAlbany ID to ride one of the CDTA buses for FREE to get to campus. http://www.albany.edu/pmts/mass_transit.php
Use your UAlbany ID to ride one of the campus shuttles.
Don’t Let Campus Parking Prevent You From Using Your EAP Benefit
Last call for 2018 calendar! There are a handful of EAP wellness calendars available. This
colorful calendar offers an array of tips for your health and well-being that will help you
throughout the new year and beyond. To request a copy be sent to you via campus mail, call
the EAP Office at 518-442-5483 or click on the “Special Promotions” icon on the EAP web-
site’s home page. One calendar available per employee while the supply lasts.
2018 EAP Wellness Calendars
The Value of Attending EAP Lunchtime Wellness Programs... Linda Gallagher, Administrative Manager for the Department of Economics and
former EAP Committee member, submitted this comment about how her attendance at
the fall semester EAP-sponsored program titled “Budgeting for the Holidays” impacted
her spending habits this past holiday season.
Holiday shopping was a different experience for me this year thanks to what I learned at the EAP “Budgeting for the
Holidays” program in September. I became much more mindful of my money and my purchasing habits.
One tip that I implemented was to write down everything that I spent money on. Just knowing in advance that I was
going to do this made me change my mind about some purchases, prompting me to decide against taking out my wal-
let. By keeping a spending log, I realized the little things (e.g., coffee, pizza) add up quickly and become BIG expenses.
Another suggestion I took from the EAP lunchtime financial wellness program was to use cash instead of using my
credit card. As a result, I was much more careful with my money, spent less, and felt less stress about the holidays.
I find that by attending EAP events I come away with concrete resources and suggestions that I can use to improve
my way of doing things—both personally and professionally. I encourage University employees to attend EAP
programs and use our EAP benefit. I think you’ll find it a worthwhile experience, too.
Page 7 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, 10-session course for adults living with mental health challenges. NAMI Peer-to-Peer provides an educational setting focused on recovery that offers respect, understanding, encouragement and hope. The NAMI Peer-to-Peer education program is:
Free and confidential
Held {once} a week for two hours
Taught by trained Peer Mentors living in recovery themselves
A great resource for information on mental health and recovery
Contact NAMI to register for the Peer-to-Peer class.
Mary Beth Honsinger
(518) 491-3743 [email protected]
Christine Rickeman
(518) 462-2000 [email protected]
NAMI Rensselaer County
(518) 588-6949 [email protected]
NAMI Rensselaer County the local organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will offer its NAMI Peer-to-Peer Education Program beginning Monday, February 26, 2018. It will be held on Mondays from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at NAMI-NYS 99 Pine Street, Suite 105, Albany NY 12207.
About NAMI
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI Rensselaer County is an affiliate of NAMI-NYS. NAMI Rensselaer County and dedicated volun-teer members and leaders work tirelessly to raise awareness and provide essential education, advocacy and support group programs for people in our community living with mental illness and their loved ones.
“NAMI Peer-to-Peer gave me a better understanding of the mental illness I have and how to manage it.” - Past Participant
When attending the EAP Meet and Greet, you’ll be able to speak to the following community and campus resources
to gain helpful information to support you and your family’s well-being.
February 27 EAP Meet and Greet Community and Campus Resources to Share Information
TIAA
UAlbany Sustainability
United Way/CA$H Program
VALIC
VOYA
AHP Homeownership Center
Albany Guardian Society (elder care)
Albany Community Action Partnership (CAP)
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Campus Recreation
Community Hospice
Office of Children and Family Services Division of Child Care Services
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)
St. Peter’s Health Partners Cancer Care Center (Smoking Cessation)
And participate in EAP’s “Kindness Card”
activity to express your gratitude for
someone’s kindness!
Page 8 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Health Sciences Campus EAP Lunchtime Wellness Program
Fraud Prevention Isolating Your Personal Information
and Side-stepping Scams
Get smart and learn the ways to prevent yourself from being one of the
many people who have experienced financial fraud. Join us as a SEFCU
financial educator identifies ways to protect ourselves and our personal
financial information from scam artists and identity thieves. Recognize
the tactics used to steal an individual’s identity, information, and
money. We’ll practice resolving identity theft issues and become familiar
with the steps it takes to report a scam. Take this time to become savvy
about fraud prevention. Bring your questions.
To Register Contact: Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
Call 442-5483 or register online
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
Friday, February 2
Noon—1:00 pm
Room 110A
School of Public
Health
Page 9 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
E A P L U N C H T I M E W E L L N E S S P R O G R A M
Sit and Get Fit Chair Yoga Class
Join us for this 8 week class where we will gently breathe and stretch our way to a comfortable body and more relaxed mind. No previous yoga experience needed to gain the benefits of this centuries-old practice. All movements are done seated or standing with the chair for support. Learn techniques that you can use at your desk!
Comments from a past class:
“Judi was an excellent instructor. Her
tone of voice, joyous attitude, and
expertise made it a very zen-like
experience! “
“Can’t wait to take the class again!”
Class Fee: $60.00
Make check out to Judi England.
Make arrangements to submit payment
to EAP Office—MSC Room 200.
Registration deadline—February 5
Wednesdays*
12:00 noon–12:45 pm
February 7—
April 4, 2018
University Library
Staff Lounge, Room B05
* No class on March 14
*Minimum of 10 participants
needed to conduct the class.
To Register Contact: Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
Call 442-5483 or register online
Instructor: Judi England, RN, licensed massage therapist, and professionally certified Kripalu
yoga instructor. Judi has offered programs in wellness, yoga, and meditation for over 20 years
in the Capital Region. Her blog “Holistic Health” appeared in the Times Union for ten years.
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
Page 10 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
To Register Contact: Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
Call 442-5483 or register online
The NYSHIP retiree benefits are for
state/SUNY employees not
Research Foundation employees.
EAP Lunchtime Financial Wellness Program
Understanding Your NY Health Insurance
Program (NYSHIP) Retiree Benefit*
If you missed this presentation last year, here’s your 2nd chance to attend!
Did you know that to meet the current NYSHIP eligibility requirements at the time of retirement employees must have the following:
Have at least 10 years of NYSHIP eligible service,
Be at least 55 years old, and
Be enrolled in a NYSHIP plan at the time of retirement.
*To attend this seminar employees
must be within 5 years of retirement.
UAlbany Health Benefits Administrator Kathy Zazarine will outline a framework for under-standing how your NYSHIP benefits work within your retirement package as well as offer you a snapshot of the current benefits. You’ll walk away with a general knowledge of the NYSHIP basics to help you understand the steps you need to take when preparing for retirement. A brief Q & A period will be included. NOTE: Dental and vision benefits and individual health benefit estimates will not be included in the program.
Friday, February 16
Noon—1:00 pm
Assembly Hall
Campus Center
Registration Deadline
Thursday, February 15
Page 11 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
February 27th
Save the Date!
EAP Meet & Greet
AND
Kindness Project
Meet your EAP Coordinator and EAP Committee Members.
Discover 12 community and campus resources.
Donate a non-food item to the EAP Kindness Project to support the UAlbany community and community-at-large.
Show gratitude to someone for their kindness by sending a “kindness card.”
Take a mid-day break, enjoy light refreshments, and pick up an EAP giveaway!
Tuesday, February 27 11:30 am—1:30 pm
Campus Center West Multi-Purpose Room
The EAP Committee invites you to donate to the EAP Kindness Project to support UAlbany’s partnership
with St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry.
baby wipes
laundry detergent
feminine hygiene items
disposable razors
shaving cream
deodorant
toothpaste and toothbrushes
toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, tissues
Bring a personal care item(s) to the
Meet & Greet to support the food pantry!
For More Information:
Brenda Seckerson
EAP Coordinator
518.442.5483
Page 12 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
EAP Lunchtime Financial Wellness Program
To Register Contact:
Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
Call 442-5483 or register online
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
Noon—1:00 pm
Health Sciences Campus
Thursday, March 1
A Wing Café Conference
Room
Uptown Campus
Friday, March 2
Board Room
Campus Center West
Understanding
Social Security
Beneficial for all ages, not just those close to retiring!
Do you understand what full retirement age, early retirement, or delayed retire-
ment mean? Have you set up a “MySSA” account to protect your SS #? Do you
know about the on-line retirement estimator? Deciding on when to retire and
understanding the benefits you can receive are important aspects of financial well
-being. Join us as a Social Security Administration representative answers your
questions about retirement benefits for you and survivors and discusses disability
insurance. Be in-the-know about Social Security!
Page 13 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
TED Talks
Ideas Worth Spreading
TED is a nonprofit devoted to
Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in
1984) as a conference bringing together
people from three worlds:
Technology, Entertainment, Design.
There’s More to Life than Being Happy
“In her book The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith rounds up the latest research — and the stories of fascinating people she interviewed — to argue that the search for meaning is far more fulfilling than the
pursuit of personal happiness.”
12:19 minutes
Get Your Day Off to a Good Start Have you noticed the first thoughts you have when you wake up and
prepare to get out of bed? Is it something like, “ I didn’t get enough
sleep”? Or, how about, “I don’t have enough time”? In her article, “Two
Toxic Thoughts You Accidently Think Every Day (and how to stop doing
that),” NYC-based psychologist Katherine Schafler points out these two
classic statements when making reference to Lynne Twist’s book titled
The Soul of Money. According to Twist, before we even get up out of
bed, we are “already inadequate, already behind, already losing, already
lacking something.” Is this how we really want to start each day—
feeling a sense of scarcity? There’s got to be a better way to set a more
positive tone to the day. There is!
Schafler outlines a new morning ritual that focuses on gratitude. She states that when we come from the perspec-
tive of having “enough,” we can begin to shed the underlying sense of scarcity which keeps us “chronically feeling as if
you have nothing but problems. Considering we have about 60,000 thoughts per day, that’s quite a barrage of negativi-
ty.” Click on the article title to read the full article and discover a way to get your day off to a better start.
Article Research: Merissa Mabee, EAP Committee Member, M/C Representative
Happiness. It seems our culture is a bit obsessed
with striving to be happy. If we think about it though,
happiness, like so many feelings, comes and goes. In
this TED Talk, journalist and author Emily Esfahani
Smith eloquently outlines what she’s discovered in
her research about happiness. Her discovery is that
finding meaning is really what we are striving for.
Describing what she defines as “four pillars of a
meaningful life,” Esfahani Smith provides us with a
foundation on which to build and enhance our lives.
Just over 12 minutes, this talk would fit into your
lunch time or 15 minute break if you decide to stay at
your computer. Find out what those four pillars are
and see if they are a part of your life right now!
Page 14 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
Group Exercise Classes Available to Faculty and Staff Yoga. Pilates. Spin. Barre.
These are just a few types
of group exercise classes
available to students, facul-
ty, and staff by Campus
Recreation. A group exer-
cise class pass for faculty/
staff is only $50 for the
semester. Such a deal!
Information regarding
how to purchase a pass, or
other services we have can
be found on our website:
www.albany.edu/rec
Click here for class
descriptions and the sched-
ule for the spring semester.
For any questions, contact
Jessica Blasioli:
Free Tai-Chi Class on Campus Have you been interested in trying Tai-Chi? Or, maybe you’ve taken Tai-Chi in the
past and would like the opportunity to enjoy the experience again? If you attended
classes in the fall, you’ll be happy to see they’ll be offered again this semester! The
UAlbany Confucius Institute is offering a FREE Tai-chi class Mondays on campus.
When: Monday Jan. 29 to June 25
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Where: UAlbany Campus Center Studio West
Instructor: Vera Childers - A Master of Tai-chi who has been teaching Tai-chi for 27 years in the Capital District.
If you have any questions about the Tai-chi class, contact Ling Li. [email protected]
EAP-sponsored events and services are
open to UAlbany & Research Foundation
faculty, staff, family members, UAS
employees, retirees and GSEU members.
UAlbany EAP E-News
February 2018
Publisher/Contributor
Brenda Seckerson
Contributor
Jessica Blasioli
Confucius Institute
Linda Gallagher
Merissa Mabee
Copy Editors
Joanne Bocchino
Kathy Gurney
Merissa Mabee
Clipart/Photos
Frontline Newsletter
Openclipart.org
Publicdomainpictures.net
pxhere.com
EAP website:
http://www.albany.edu/eap
Page 15 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Disclaimer: Material presented
in this newsletter is intended for
educational or informational
purposes only. It is not intended
to replace the advice of a quali-
fied health professional.
EAP is a joint labor/management program and is part of the NYS Employee Assistance Program - Contact Info: 10B Airline Drive, Albany, NY 12235 ~ 518.486.9769
“Love is like a precious
plant. You can't just
accept it and leave it in
the cupboard or just
think it's going to get
on by itself. You've got to keep on watering it. You've got to really
look after it and nurture it.” ~ John Lennon