Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Sub-Specialization at the University of Maryland School of Social Work Chair: Jodi Jacobson, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP
Contact Information: (410) 706-3607 or jjacobson@ssw.umaryland.edu Latest EAP Newsletter & Archive | EAP Alumni & Networking Group | EAP in the News Overview
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) curriculum is nationally and internationally recognized. In recent years, there has been rapid growth in the demand for human services in the workplace. EAP social workers provide preventative services and intervention services for employees and employers, including, but not limited to assessment and short-term counseling for mental health and substance abuse problems, health and wellness support, work/life issues including child and older adult care, legal and financial assistance, much more. EAP social workers support managers and other organizational leaders while simultaneously supporting employees and their family members to live healthy and productive lives. The EAP sub-specialization, available within the broader Mental Health specialization at the School of Social Work, has a special emphasis in EAPs, work/life programs and managed behavioral health care. Faculty members at the School of Social Work are recognized experts in EAP and related fields. EAP social workers collaborate with managers, program administrators and other workplace leaders to administer and manage EAPs in addition to helping develop and implement workplace policies. Graduates of the EAP sub-specialization join a rapidly expanding field and are well qualified to implement or staff an EAP in a private business or public organization. Employment opportunities also exist at all corporate and government levels, as well as internationally. Coursework
Students must complete all coursework required for the Mental Health specialization for their chosen concentration (MACO or CLINICAL) and three courses required for the EAP sub-specialization. Coursework can be completed within the advanced year and does not require additional time in school. Instead of taking Mental Health Policy, EAP students will take SOWK 725 “Industrial Social Services and Social Policy” as their approved advanced policy course. All EAP students will also take SWOA 736 “Administering Employee Assistance Programs” as an advanced methods course. EAP students who pursue a primary or secondary CLINICAL concentration (CLINICAL, CLINICAL/maco, or MACO/clinical) must take SWCL 705 (Clinical Social Work with Addictive Behavior Patterns). For MACO students, SWCL 705 is strongly recommended as an elective course. PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR ADVANCED FIELD PLACEMENT APPLICATION, STUDENTS PURSUING THE EAP SUB-SPECIALIZATION MUST SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH DR. JACOBSON TO DISCUSS THEIR LEARNING GOALS AND INTEREST IN EAP. This can be done by phone or email and should be scheduled during the fall semester or winter break, prior to submitting the advanced field application Additional Information about the EAP Field
- The Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) website: www.eapassn.org and
- The Employee Assistance Society of North American (EASNA) website: www.easna.org
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