Employee & Volunteer Assistance Programs (General Order 08-06)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Employee & Volunteer Assistance Programs policy (General Order 08-06).

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Departmental program that offers assessment and navigation services for career employees, coordinating counseling resources to support mental and physical well-being.

Volunteer Assistance Program (VAP)

Parallel program for volunteer members that provides assessment, navigation, and counseling support options.

Administrative Leave

Leave status, granted by the Appointing Authority, allowing County employees time to consult about counseling under Personnel Law §16-222(a)(10).

Client

Any employee or volunteer who meets with an EAP/VAP Counselor through self-referral or supervisory referral.

Clinical Assessment

Evaluation process used to diagnose issues and plan treatment; a core service provided by EAP/VAP counselors.

Counselor

Authorized individual who provides advice or counseling within the EAP/VAP framework.

Family Medical Leave (FML)

Up to 15 weeks of job-protected leave for an employee’s or family member’s serious health condition, per General Order 11-18 and the FMLA.

Navigation

The method counselors use to determine direction or a course of action, linking clients to appropriate resources.

Stabilization

Process of making a client’s situation stable, steadfast, or firm.

Confidentiality Exceptions

Circumstances allowing release of client information: child abuse, written consent, court order, danger to self/others, or bona fide medical emergency.

Self-Referral

Voluntary action by personnel to seek EAP/VAP assistance before issues affect health, conduct, or performance.

Supervisory Referral

Mandatory referral initiated by a supervisor when conduct or performance issues jeopardize assignments or team integrity.

Supervisory Referral Form

Document supervisors complete and transmit to EAP/VAP outlining concerns and initiating a mandated counseling session.

Light Duty

Temporary non-operational assignment for personnel deemed unfit for full duty, governed by General Order 08-09.

Full Duty

Status indicating an employee or volunteer is fit to resume normal operational assignments.

Fitness for Duty Evaluation

Assessment arranged by Health & Wellness to determine a member’s ability to safely perform job functions after EAP/VAP review.

Health & Wellness Office

Division that changes duty status or orders fitness-for-duty exams based on recommendations from EAP/VAP counselors.

Confidential Documentation Rule

Supervisory referral records may not be placed in personnel files, PPAs, or disciplinary records.

Program Operations

Section detailing how employees and volunteers access EAP/VAP through self or supervisory referral, including timelines and duty-status procedures.

Follow-Up

Phase where clients submit proof of treatment completion; counselor then issues duty-status recommendations to Health & Wellness.

Departmental Therapist/Counselor Contacts

Official phone numbers and address for EAP/VAP counselors Latif Rasheed and Dr. Demetri Kornegay, 1400 McCormick Dr., Suite 310, Largo MD.

General Order 08-06

Fire/EMS Department policy, effective February 18 2021, establishing the Employee & Volunteer Assistance Programs.

General Order 08-09

Policy governing Non-Service Connected Temporary Disability, Light Duty Requests, and Light Duty Assignments referenced by EAP/VAP procedures.