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Assistance Programs

Whether you’re dealing with stress, mental health concerns, a child with a learning disability, a parent who needs in home care or a difficult colleague, the university offers resources to help.

The assistance programs provide resources for life’s issues — no matter how big or small. You and your immediate family members can use the assistance programs for confidential, no-cost individual and family counseling.

There are two options: the university of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Member Assistance Program (MAP). Learn more about what each offers below.

Whether you’re dealing with stress, mental health concerns, a child with a learning disability, a parent who needs in home care or a difficult colleague, the university offers resources to help.

The UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Member Assistance Program (MAP) provides resources for life’s issues — no matter how big or small. You and your immediate family members can use the MAP for confidential, no-cost individual and family counseling.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a high priority. The assistance programs retain all confidential records and notes; those records and notes do not become a part of your personnel file or other university records. Professional standards and state and federal laws protect your and your eligible dependents’ privacy.*

The assistance programs will not disclose any information to another university employee about your use of assistance program services, unless you have explicitly authorization a release. Only in certain work-related circumstances, when referred by your supervisor, will the assistance programs confirm that you kept an appointment and the length of that appointment.

*There are exceptions when mandatory state or federal reporting is required, such as matters involving potential threats and matters of safety.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a high priority. The assistance program retains all confidential records and notes; those records and notes do not become a part of your personnel file or other university records. Professional standards and state and federal laws protect your and your eligible dependents’ privacy.*

The assistance program will not disclose any information to another university employee about your use of assistance program services, unless you have explicitly authorization a release. Only in certain work-related circumstances, when referred by your supervisor, will the assistance program confirm that you kept an appointment and the length of that appointment.

*There are exceptions when mandatory state or federal reporting is required, such as matters involving potential threats and matters of safety.

The assistance programs are available 24/7/365—holidays included. Call any time.

The assistance program is available 24/7/365—holidays included. Call any time.

UAMS EAP

The university of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) EAP offers a library of online resources and counseling with on-site professional staff. Visit with a counselor over the phone, through video chat or in person.

For confidential sessions during work hours, you will need to use accrued sick leave or annual leave benefits. If you prefer not to use your leave time, you must notify your supervisor of your EAP appointment. To schedule an appointment, call 800-542-6021 or 479-973-9072, or visit the EAP website.

Referrals

When an assessment by the EAP identifies a need for services beyond those provided by UAMS EAP professionals, you may be referred to a specialist in the community or directed to your health benefits. If you choose to receive services from a community resource, you will be responsible for the costs of using that resource. Some discounts may apply. EAP counselors will work with you to provide a full range of referral options within your financial means. Counselors will help you locate appropriate specialists within the university’s benefits provider network (in-network providers) whenever possible.

UHC MAP

The MAP through UHC is available to all benefits-eligible employees and offers:

Unlimited 24/7 phone access to master’s degree-level specialists; the national network includes 144,000+ clinicians.
Up to three sessions of counseling per issue.
A legal consultation of 30 minutes per issue. You can choose to meet with an attorney by telephone or in person to discuss legal concerns. If you need to retain an attorney for ongoing services, you’ll pay a 25% discounted rate.
A 30- to 60-minute financial consultation per issue. One of many credentialed financial professionals can help you with estate taxes and other financial matters.

Explore Your MAP Benefits

Call 877-660-3806 (TTY: 711) for personal and confidential assistance. Translators are available for non-English speakers.

How the Assistance Programs Compare

The UAMS EAP and UHC MAP both offer free, confidential counseling as well as other resources, including webinars, guides, and helpful links. Use this table to learn how the programs differ, and decide which is the right fit for you right now.

Service	UAMS EAP	UHC MAP
How to get counseling services	Call or register on the online portal to request an appointment	Call
Telephone counseling	5-10 phone sessions	Unlimited phone calls
In-person and video counseling	5-10 phone, video, or in person counseling sessions In person counseling available at one of the five statewide locations	Up to 3 visits per issue
Financial counseling	Links to community resources; personalized counseling not included	Yes, personalized counseling with a financial planning expert
Legal/mediation counseling	Links to community resources; personalized counseling not included	Yes, personalized counseling with a legal professional
Wellness resources	Links to community resources, education, screening tools, mobile apps, and peer groups	Topic-based articles and tools, including weight calculators, screening tools, online health risk assessment, wellbeing education by topic
Work group services	Management consultations, workshops tailored to your work team’s needs, supervisor trainings and EAP orientation available at no extra charge	N/A

Important Documents

UAMS EAP COVID And The EAP
Employee Assistance Program
UHC MAP Overview