LIFELINE is the State of Kansas' Employee Assistance Program. It is designed to help any state employee who has a personal problem that may be affecting their job performance.
LIFELINE can be accessed through a 24-hour, toll-free telephone number that can be called when help is needed in coping with a personal or family problem. The phone number, 1-800-284-7575, puts callers in contact with trained professional counselors who are associated with EAP SYSTEM, a private, not-for-profit corporation. The counselor listens to the caller's problem and then suggests an appointment with an EAP counselor in their area.
LIFELINE counselors are not State employees. They are professional counselors working for EAP SYSTEMS under contract to the State.
What is the goal of LIFELINE?
The goal of LIFELINE is to offer help to troubled employees by providing self-referral opportunities to appropriate professional resources. Self referral opportunities are also available to any employee's immediate family members.
Who can use LIFELINE?
All employees of the State of Kansas and their immediate families may call the toll-free LIFELINE number. Immediate family members are those individuals who are dependent upon you or live in the home with you. There is no limit to the number of calls that can be made to LIFELINE.
What problems will LIFELINE address?
Who pays the bill?
There is no fee for the LIFELINE counselor's time. Referrals for mental health counseling may be paid in whole or part by the employee's health insurance. Referrals to other community resources may or may not be free depending upon the resource provider. If there is a fee, it is the employee's responsibility to pick up the costs. Every effort is made to match referrals with the employee's/family member's finances.
Who has access to LIFELINE information?
LIFELINE is a confidential service. Only the LIFELINE user and the LIFELINE counselor know what has been discussed. No one else will have access to information regarding your call.
All information about the caller is completely confidential. It is not necessary for the employee or family member to identify himself or herself unless a referral is made.
The only exception to this confidentiality is if child abuse is suspected. State law requires such instances or suspected instances to be reported.
What type of records are kept?
The LIFELINE counselors maintain records of types of referrals made (e.g. financial, material, emotional.) A monthly composite of types and numbers of calls is sent to the State LIFELINE coordinator for program evaluation purposes. These records contain no reference to individual callers.
Do callers have to follow LIFELINE recommendations?
Individuals who use LIFELINE are free to decide for themselves whether to follow the recommendations given by a LIFELINE counselor.
Are employees experiencing job performance or work conduct problems required to use LIFELINE?
LIFELINE is voluntary for employees and their immediate families. The only exception is an employee in a "safety sensitive" position who receives a confirmed "positive" drug screen result or the equivalent.
Supervisors are encouraged to recommend LIFELINE as one of several action options an employee may take to help improve job performance or work conduct problems. However, with the above exception, supervisors cannot require an employee to utilize the LIFELINE program.
As a supervisor, what steps should I take before calling LIFELINE regarding an employee referral?
You should first discuss the situation with the Director of Human Resource Services before calling LIFELINE about an employee referral.
What is the relationship between LIFELINE and the State's disciplinary action procedures?
Use or non-use of LIFELINE will not result in any special privileges or exemptions from the State's disciplinary action procedures.
What is the relationship between LIFELINE and the State of Kansas Drug Screening Program?
Employees in "safety sensitive" positions who have received a confirmed "positive" result on a drug screen test will be referred to LIFELINE. These employees are required to contact and follow the recommendations of LIFELINE.
How is LIFELINE funded?
LIFELINE is one component of HealthQuest, the State of Kansas health promotion program. HealthQuest is funded through monthly employee contributions and matching funds from the state.
