Title:
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing a three-year interlocal agreement with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for employee assistance program services through UTEAP for an amount not to exceed $59,184 (Director of Human Resources)
Background:
Approval of this item will authorize the City Manager to execute an interlocal agreement with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for employee assistance program services provided through UTEAP for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, at an anticipated cost of approximately $59,184 over the three-year term based on current covered participant counts.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential assessment, referral, short-term counseling, and work/life resources for City employees, volunteer firefighters, and eligible dependents. The proposed UTEAP agreement covers the City’s full-time and part-time employees and includes volunteer firefighters with the Fire Department and their dependents. For purposes of the agreement, covered participants include employees and volunteer firefighters and are used for the per-participant-per-month cost calculation. The proposed UTEAP agreement provides assessment, referral, and short-term counseling of up to six sessions per participant per issue; legal, financial, identity theft, and WorkLife services; program promotion; training; and quarterly utilization reporting. The agreement also includes four hours of onsite training and education per year, participation in the annual Health/Benefits Fair, two hours per year of Psychological First Aid training, and three and one-half hours per year of Mental Health Safety training for managers, leaders, and supervisors.
The City reviewed EAP provider options, including UTEAP, Cigna, Deer Oaks, and Interface Behavioral Health. The comparison identified lower-cost proposals; however, the cost difference between UTEAP and the lower-cost proposals is modes...
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