Employee and Family Assistance Program

We all need a little help from time to time. As a UBC staff or faculty member, you can find support through the UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

Employee and Family Assistant Program (EFAP) is a confidential counseling service that can help you or your family members with any personal problem, big or small, that affects your family life, your work life or your general well being.

UBC’s EFAP provider is Homewood Human Solutions.

Learn about:

• EFAP Eligibility & Coverage
• EFAP Counseling Services
• EFAP Plan Smart Services

Provided for UBC staff and faculty and their eligible dependents, EFAP is self-referred, so no one need know that you are seeking help. EFAP is also available to UBC retirees and surviving family of UBC members if elected at the time of enrollment in the Retirement and Survivor Benefits Program.

EFAP can provide you with counseling, advice or information. Their staff includes psychologists, social workers, addictions counselors and family and relationship specialists. You can also access online self-help resources, such as an online Wellness Library, online database of child care and elder care providers and interactive e-learning courses on the Homewood Human Solutions website. When registering for online services, enter the University of British Columbia as the company name and select your campus (either Okanagan or Vancouver) from the pull-down menu.

How Does It Work?

Referrals. You can refer yourself by simply calling Homewood Human Solutions at 1-800-663-1142, or by signing up online at the Homewood Human Solutions website. Because you refer yourself, no one need know that you are seeking assistance. However, colleagues, friends or others interested in your welfare may also encourage or even assist you in making an appointment.

Confidentiality. The information you share with UBC’s EFAP provider is confidential, and will not be shared with UBC. The University is not told the identity of those using EFAP services, including online services. For more information on our EFAP provider’s privacy policy click here.

Coverage. EFAP coverage is mandatory for all UBC staff and faculty who are eligible to participate in UBC’s medical plan, and their families. EFAP is also available to UBC retirees and survivors at their own cost, if elected at the time of enrollment in the RSB.

Voluntary Involvement. Whether or not you use EFAP services is entirely up to you. Job status or any other condition of employment will not be jeopardized by this choice.

Accessibility. You can access EFAP services on work time, or on personal time, if you prefer. Offices providing EFAP services are located in many parts of the world.

Cost. The EFAP benefit covers the cost of short-term counseling sessions. If longer term or more specialized counseling is required, you will be referred to a community resource that you can afford.

The EFAP belongs to all of us. Representatives of every UBC employee group on campus have shared in its development and continue to share in it as it grows and matures.