Employee Assistance Services Unit

The Employee Assistance Services Unit helps Department of Correction's employees, retirees, and their families.

Employee Assistance

We all experience ups and downs in life. It’s impossible to avoid the many stresses, conflicts, and challenges that occur in our daily lives. We often resolve these situations on our own, or with the help of family and friends. Sometimes however, it helps to talk to a peer counselor.

Any kind of concern imaginable can be brought to the Employee Assistance Service Unit (EASU) and maybe simple to complex; such as:

• Alcohol & other drug dependencies
• Bereavement & other problems
• Budget & debt problems
• Compulsive gambling
• Critical & traumatic incidents
• Family, children and elder care • Fitness for duty
• Job stressors & changes in the workplace
• Marital & divorce
• Military support
• Staff wellness
• Stress, anxiety & depression

We offer flexible meeting times that fit your schedule. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, you may contact us through the Duty Station at 508-422-3481 and request an EASU Duty Counselor be paged. The EASU peer counselors help you sort things out and get to the heart of the issue. It is a “here and now,” problem-solving approach to resolve the situation. If ongoing or specialized services are needed, the peer counselor will refer you to resources, follow-up with you to ensure that you’re satisfied and making progress.

You can call as many times as you would like. Our role is to provide peer counseling to help you sort things out, develop an action plan, and provide targeted referrals for ongoing or specialized services if needed. Many people find it helpful to talk things out with an objective, experienced professional.

Any employee and/or their extended family members can utilize the EASU. Either the employee or family member may initiate the process by calling the Unit to speak to a peer counselor. There is no cost to you or your family members for the direct peer counseling you receive. If you are referred to a treatment or resource beyond the EASU peer counseling, there generally will be a cost associated with the service. Many of these cost will be covered by your medical insurance plan.

Confidentiality

The EASU service is strictly confidential. The EASU is bound by the strictest legal and ethical guidelines and cannot release any information without your permission. State and federal laws however, mandate that in cases of child, elder or disable abuse; or where a person may be a threat to themselves or someone else’s safety, the peer counselor must notify the proper authorities.

Military Peer Support Program

The Military Peer Support Program (MPSP) was established to support and assist our military personnel and their families while they undertake their military obligations. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment, supportive atmosphere and a smooth transition back to work.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction and the Military Peer Support Program recognizes returning service member’s for their dedicated service during their deployment. The MPSP co-facilitates Welcome Home presentations at the returning veteran’s facility. The returning veteran is recognized by his facility for his personal sacrifice by awarding him a DOC Challenge Coin and a “Thank you for your Military Service” certificate signed by the Commissioner and the facility Superintendent.

Domestic Violence Office

The primary mission of this unit is to provide services to employees and their family members who are confronted with issues of domestic violence. The Commonwealth has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assault, domestic violence and harassment occurring within or outside the workplace. It is the Department’s policy that all employees work in an environment free from all forms of sexual assault, domestic violence and harassment. These acts undermine the integrity of the work place and the personal safety of the individual.