University of Michigan. Faculty and Staff Assistance Program

The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) at the University of Michigan traces its origins back to 1973, when Staff and Union Relations (a sub-unit of Personnel, now Human Resources and Affirmative Action) appointed the Troubled Employee Research and Study Committee. Chaired by Carol Surles, the committee worked for a year studying the various behavioral-medical problems that interfere with job performance and drafted a proposal for a troubled employee program. In response to the recommendations of the committee, Staff and Union Relations assigned a half-time personnel representative in July 1975 to implement and coordinate an employee referral program. Despite the fact that this early attempt was informal and unpublicized, the response was great enough to indicate the need for an official, highly publicized program. As a result, FASAP was formed in 1977 and designated as the internal, university employee assistance program.

FASAP assists individuals who have or may potentially have problems associated with alcohol, drug abuse, family or child-related concerns, financial or legal difficulties, emotional concerns, medical behavioral problems, and job dissatisfaction or career concerns. Services are available to all university faculty, staff, retirees, family members, and/or their operating units and supervisory personnel. Program services include confidential consultation and diagnosis, referral, and follow-up. Additionally FASAP provides crisis intervention services, and training or consultation to administrators and supervisors in identifying and referring individuals whose personal problems are affecting work performance and unit morale. Individuals may go to FASAP at any time or be suggested to seek FASAP assistance by a friend, co-worker, or supervisor.

The Ann Arbor campus has a central campus office and a medical center office. The medical campus office opened in September 1986. FASAP counselors are available to assess and refer individuals to the variety of services both within the university community and to private agencies outside of it. Dearborn and Flint campuses have on-site offices. Designated persons within the counseling services departments have responsibility for providing the range of FASAP services at these locations.

The FASAP office was critical to the Task Force on Alcohol and Other Drugs which was appointed by President Duderstadt in 1989. Keith Bruhnsen, manager of FASAP, was called upon to coordinate the project. The task force was charged with developing a university-wide plan for dealing with the problems caused by alcohol and other drugs. In May 1991 it published its report, "A University Community Approach to Alcohol and Other Drugs Phase One Report of the University of Michigan Task Force on Alcohol and Other Drugs: The Rollicking Crew" Revisited," and in 1992 the University of Michigan Initiative on Alcohol and Other Drugs was established to implement its recommendations. Dr. Frederick Glaser, co-chair of the task force, was selected to head the Initiative, and Keith Bruhnsen was deeply involved in the new organization's work.

Originally, FASAP was administered by the Office of Staff Benefits. In 1990, it was moved to the Personnel Support and Development Office of Personnel Administration, now a part of the reconfigured Human Resources and Affirmative Action Office.