GROSSE POINTE PARK — Grosse Pointe Park enacted an employee assistance program, effective Nov. 1, allowing all city employees, from full time to part time to seasonal, up to five confidential counseling sessions through CARE of Southeastern Michigan.
The employee assistance program was introduced due to the public safety department’s pursuit of certification through the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation program, which requires such a program to be in place in the organization.
“It’s something that probably every organization in the country has except Grosse Pointe,” Park Public Safety Director Bryan Jarrell said. “I’ve personally never worked anywhere, certainly in government, that didn’t have an employee assistance program.”
With the program, all city employees or their immediate family members have access to up to five counseling sessions, where they can discuss anything from depression or anxiety to divorce, life changes and more.
The program also allows for critical incident debriefings. In the event of traumatic accidents, officials with CARE of Southeastern Michigan will arrive at the scene and debrief officers involved.
“There’s a lot of tremendous advantages to it,” Jarrell said.
Presented at the Park’s November council meeting, the program will cost the city $2,800 to cover all its employees for the year, Jarrell said.