More and more we are faced with the reality that “wellness” is not just about eating right, going to the doctor or working out at the gym. While physical wellness is a very important part of the puzzle, mental wellness is a new piece that Crest Foods is going to focus on for employees. The quest for a program that was confidential, convenient, and free for employees brought us to Sinnissippi Centers and KSB Hospital in Dixon. By partnering with these two companies, we can now provide a free counseling service with office hours right here in Ashton. New Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at Crest Foods by Erika Meiners
Madeline Schulze, EAP Counselor
Madeline is our EAP Counselor and will be available for 4 hours on Tuesdays for Crest employees. To help with confidentiality, we have set up an office for her at the Ashton Clinic (on Rte. 38) instead of having her on-site. Em- ployees can either call ahead and set up an appointment, or are welcome to stop by between 12:30pm and 4:30pm. While participation in the EAP is voluntary, we hope that many employees might benefit from having this new re- source available. Typically people access an EAP due to needing some help in these areas: -Feeling stressed -Marital concerns -Trying to cope with work or family life -Conflict resolution -Looking for some guidance in making a big decision -Substance use -Experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety -Support -Panic attacks We are fortunate to have some great resources in our area who could help this idea become a reality! Thank you to Sinnissippi Centers for finding us a wonderful EAP Counselor, and thank you to KSB for providing a space that can be utilized for this program. Sinnissippi Centers has been meeting the behavioral health care needs of the resi- dents of Carroll, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counties since 1966. Here’s a little more about Madeline: What is your professional background? I received my Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Aurora University. I have been privileged to work in this field for over six years and have worked with all age groups. Thankfully, I have had experience in a few types of facilities, whether that be a private practice, a community mental health facility or a hospital. I have been a mental health counselor for three years. My general specialties are in grief/loss, anxiety, anger management, relationship therapy, and depression. I also enjoy working with people who are experiencing some life adjustments that could use some extra support in order to navigate some unfamiliar territory in their life. Additionally, I am currently working on becoming more specialized in trauma work. Where are you from? I grew up in Dixon, IL and attended Dixon High School. I even worked at Crest Foods briefly while in High School during the summers! I truly love the Sauk Valley Region for all the good people that live here and the sense of community that comes with growing up in this area. In the past I thought I wanted to live in Chicago, but after trying that out for a while, I realized that home is truly where the heart is. There can be some struggles with living in a more rural area, but I think the pros definitely outweigh the cons. How long have you been working at Sinnissippi Centers? I have only been with Sinnissippi as a counselor for six months, but I worked for them for three years in the past as a Care Coordinator. I am grateful that they chose me to be the EAP counselor for Crest Foods because I have been able to see the work that is done here and highly respect the staff.
4 Crest Ink April, May & June 2017
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