RESEARCH PRESENTATION JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC

RESEARCH PRESENTATION: JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Keshia Pollack Assistant Professor Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Through the Workplace: Understanding and Strengthening Employee Assistance Programs Keshia M. Pollack, Ph. D. , MPH Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health November 7, 2008

Introduction • Overview • Goals for session

Background and Purpose • EAPs are a workplace resource for the prevention of IPV. • Little is known about IPV services provided by EAPs and the experiences of women when they access these services.

EAP Inventory

Methods • RTI International is collecting detailed information from 2530 external EAPs. • Information gathered via a detailed template, filled out during phone calls with key staff. • Templates completed only for companies who offer some level of IPV services. • Information complete for 12 EAPs to date.

Preliminary Key Findings IPV Service Availability Services commonly available to the workplace include: • manager trainings on workplace violence in general. • assistance in developing workplace violence policies. • management consultation about workplace safety (and specific IPV cases).

Preliminary Key Findings (cont’d) IPV Service Availability Services commonly available to IPV victims include: • crisis counseling and safety plan development (for those in immediate harm). • referrals to affiliates for short-term counseling. • referrals to community IPV resources (and related services). • follow-up on referrals and limited case management.

Preliminary Key Findings (cont’d) Documentation of IPV cases/services • Substantial variability across EAPs in how IPV is assessed (often no standardized assessment). • Most EAPs do not have a specific code for IPV (typical code of either family/relationship or emotional/mental health) and therefore cannot adequately report on the extent of IPV prevalence or service utilization.

Preliminary Key Findings (cont’d) Challenges associated with IPV service delivery • Low awareness of IPV among employers. • Confidentiality issues (particularly with batterers and/or companies that have zero-tolerance violence policies).

Implications for Practice Services for IPV victims appear comprehensive; however, there is a need for: • standardized assessments of IPV (particularly for situations in which IPV is not the presenting problem). • standardized coding and reporting of IPV service utilization.

Implications for Practice Workplace-delivered IPV services could be enhanced by EAPs: • educating employers on importance of IPV. • delivering trainings, consultations, etc. , focused specifically on IPV (not just workplace violence). • encouraging companies to customize IPV workplace-delivered services.

Survey of Women’s Experiences with EAPs

Methods • Online survey within the U. S. by Harris Interactive • Between August 21 and September 22, 2008 • 1, 765 employed adult women in the U. S. who have experienced IPV and who have access to an EAP • The data have been weighted by age, race, education, income and region to reflect the composition of women aged 18+ who are employed full-time or part-time.

Terminology • Definition of IPV • Conditions resulting from IPV • Lifetime (access to EAP or experienced IPV)

Preliminary Key Findings Background and Outcomes of EAP Contacts: • Among EAP users, nearly half (46%) of women contacted their EAP after being encouraged by someone they know; 20% were encouraged by a manager or supervisor. • The vast majority of EAP users (89%) used the help they received. • 71% of EAP users report that their work performance improved after contacting their EAP.

Preliminary Key Findings (cont’d) Satisfaction with EAPs and Areas for Improvement • Nearly all EAP users (93%) say that they would recommend that other women who have had similar experiences contact their EAPs for help.

Preliminary Key Findings (cont’d) Barriers to EAP Use for Intimate Partner Violence • Among women who did not contact their EAP about IPV experiences, the most common reasons given were they did not think of it (32%) and were not comfortable talking about it (24%). • Among EAP users, confidentiality was the most common concern reported with two-thirds (67%) saying they were worried that their employer would find out.

Use of EAP Help Did you use the help you received when you contacted your EAP? What actions did you take as a result of contacting your EAP? BASE: CONTACTED EAP AS A RESULT OF IPV OR SIDE EFFECT (n=760) Q 1000 Did you use any of the help you received when you contacted your EAP about…? Q 1005 Which of the following actions, if any, did you take as a result of contacting your EAP about …? Please select all that apply.

Change in Work Performance BASE: CONTACTED EAP AS A RESULT OF IPV OR SIDE EFFECT (n=760) Q 1000 Did you use any of the help you received when you contacted your EAP about…? Q 1005 Which of the following actions, if any, did you take as a result of contacting your EAP about …? Please select all that apply.

Concerns Among Women BASE: CONTACTED EAP AS A RESULT OF IPV OR SIDE EFFECT (n=760) Q 900 Did you have any concerns about using your EAP before you contacted them? BASE: CONCERNED AND CONTACTED EAP AS A RESULT OF IPV OR SIDE EFFECT (n=273) Q 905 Which of the following, if any, were you concerned about when you contacted your EAP about…?

Implications for Practice Awareness of EAP services “Advertise better. Leave your pamphlets in high employee traffic areas or have HR hand out and explain better. I wasn't aware of all the benefits of EAP, I thought it was just counseling for troubled relationships. ” Location of referrals “I would have liked more referrals to mental health care professionals in my area. I was given several names, but only a couple were local. ” Timeliness of appointments “More timely referrals to a counselor. I was in crisis and offered appointments 3 weeks away. ”

Next Steps • EAP Inventory • Survey • Implications for policy and practice • Dissemination of findings

Acknowledgments • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation • RTI International: Monique Clinton-Sherrod, Christine Lindquist, Tasseli Mc. Kay, Beth Lasater • Harris Interactive: Michele Solomon, Allison Dickin • JA Grisso • Kim Wells • Douglas Leach • Whitney Austin • EAP Advisory Group and other experts

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