UW SUPPORT RESOURCES

The COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping our economy and has created financial hardship for many individuals and families. In June 2020, the UW community came together to show its support for one another by establishing the UW COVID-19 Employee Emergency Fund (EEF) to help eligible employees who are experiencing a critical, temporary and unforeseen financial hardship due to COVID-19.

UW employees who meet the following criteria are eligible for the UW COVID-19 Employee Emergency Fund:

• Currently employed by UW in a Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) benefits-eligible position of .5 FTE or greater. Individuals who are furloughed due to COVID-19 remain UW employees.
• Continuous service at the UW of six (6) months or longer.
• Current total base salary is less than $75,000.
• You may re-apply after 3 months if you have a new financial hardship, even if you got the maximum EEF amount in the past.

For more information and to apply or reapply for support, click here.

Following a high-risk COVID-19 exposure, some staff or faculty members may not be able to effectively quarantine in their homes. Similarly, if individuals become infected with COVID-19, they may not be able to safely isolate themselves from other members of their household. The UW Special Housing Program or the UW Guest Housing Program provide housing for UW staff and faculty who need to either quarantine or to isolate away from their homes. These may also be used by physicians who are on service. There is a different option available to the faculty or staff member depending on whether they are the infected person (with or without symptoms and requiring isolation) or whether they are trying to avoid exposure when someone in their house is sick.

Learn about the self-isolation options available.

For emergent mental health concerns for a colleague, encourage the employee or escort to the Emergency Department (per regular practice).

For an on-demand counselor or critical incident response, use the CareLink Call Line 24/7 @ 866-598-3978.

UW Medical Center, Montlake only: Contact Spiritual Care On-Call 24/7 @ 206-559-6764 (text) 206-598-9174 (voicemail) or through the paging operator.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health and wellbeing of individuals around the world, and at UW Medicine, we are no exception. Many of us are not only dealing with the critical work of UW Medicine but we are also coping with the daily stresses of home-schooling and caring for our families. We are deeply touched by the amazing dedication of our workforce to both UW Medicine and their families and we recognize the toll that this sustained state of stress and uncertainty can take on our team members.

While vaccines are a bright light at the end of what seems to be an endless tunnel, we still have a long trek ahead of us. Just as we have provided you with the PPE to protect you from COVID-19, we’d like to offer you an additional tool to help you and your families who may be struggling with the emotional toll of COVID-19. UW Medicine leadership in partnership with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has launched the UW Medicine Employee Mental Health Support (EMHS) program.

Through EMHS, UW Medicine employees and their household members who live in Washington State may receive help navigating a variety of mental health resource options.

Physician Support Line is a national, free, and confidential support line service made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists, joined together in the determined hope to provide peer support for our physician colleagues and American medical students as we all navigate the COVID-19 epidemic.

No appointment necessary. Call the national support line at 1-888-409-0141.

The peer to peer program is designed to provide a supportive listener after a stressful event or when your job feels overwhelming.  Any care team member can access one on one support from a colleague in their field – a trained peer supporter.

Find out more and schedule a conversation for you or a colleague here.

For providers and family members who would like immediate help, please contact our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program CareLink which provides consultation and triage support.

Call 866-598-3978 to get FREE counseling or set up a Critical Incident Counselor for your area (available within 24 hours). When you call, ask CareLink to set up in-person or over-the-phone counseling at the date/time that works for you.

UW CareLink parenting resources

Visit the UW CareLink website for details about how to access these confidential services that are free to UW employees and their family members, or register today for these upcoming webinars to learn ways that UW CareLink can support you.

Child care and tutoring locator services

UW CareLink specialists will listen to your family’s needs and provide a list of options for child care that aligns with your preferences. They will consult on needs for children of all ages, and can even help locate care while your family is traveling to visit relatives or for vacation.

Confidential Counseling

You, and each of your your family members, are eligible for five free in-person counseling sessions.

Financial guidance
Most families had not budgeted for the extra cost of school-day child care, or for tutoring or academic supports that children may need during remote instruction. UW CareLink can help you review your family’s budget and identify changes that may help with the financial impacts of COVID-19.

Legal advice

If you are hiring a caregiver during the pandemic you may have questions about your liability related to taxes or personal safety. A UW CareLink legal consultation can help.

UW CareLink webinars

UW CareLink webinars address timely topics and are advertised through the UW Insider and this listserv. For example, UW CareLink has recently featured a back to school resource guides and a webinar about coping with pandemic anxiety as kids return to school.

Visit the CARE4U UW Medicine webpage for resources, contact information, and programs designed around support for staff at UW Medical Center Montlake and Northwest (UW NetID required).

CARE4U can work with you to create individual and team support plans and events for your work area. Reach out to schedule a quality improvement or moral distress debrief, join group chats, or find a booster buddy for support.

For questions about the CARE4U program, email Marie Cockerham at marie678@uw.edu.

Mindful Self-Compassion Practice: Giving and Receiving Compassion
View the April 22nd recording. Password: 8S^!.b62

Recovery Room: Stop for an Infusion of Renewal
In this 20 min session you will try out and learn 3 different micro practices that improve well-being, curb anxiety, and regulate emotions so that you can sustain your ability to do your best work while not burning out.
View the April 24th recording. Password: 4D!@2*t6
View the April 29th recording. Password: 6i*JT9&b

Several webinars are listed below. These 5-10 minute self care sessions can be beneficial as a friendly pick-me-up, or to provide ways of reframing our thinking.

Connecting Mind & Body for Healthy Living
Physical things you do with your body can affect the way you feel mentally. Thoughts going through your mind can affect the way you feel physically. In this module, you will learn ways to harness this mind-body connection to improve many aspects of your life.

Laughter, Humor & Play To Reduce Stress & Solve Problems
You don’t have to be a professional comedian to use humor to lower stress levels. This training offers practical ways to incorporate humor and play into everyday situations.

Learning To Relax
The training will allow you to learn and experience several simple relaxation tools such as progressive muscle relaxation, abdominal relaxation, breathing and visualization.

Spiritual Care Providers attend to the well-being of the whole person: Mind, Body, and Spirit with deep cultural and spiritual humility. We invite patients and caregivers to engage their emotional and spiritual resources of strength in the midst of both celebration and struggle. We are available to everyone, whether they consider themselves spiritual or not. We assess and attend to a patient’s existential, spiritual and/or religious distress.

We are here to help patients and staff discover ways to navigate suffering and uncertainty while building on their current strengths and practices. We support  patients, families, caregivers and staff.

UW Medical Center, Northwest

1:1 support  (i.e. moral distress, secondary trauma, grief, existential /spiritual distress and overwhelm, resilience and grounding practices)

Tea for the Soul/Drop In Debriefs

Reflection Space: D-Wing (1 person at a time)

Contact Info:  Link to Spiritual Care and Wellbeing intranet site

Harborview Medical Center

Harborview Medical Center Managers/Charges please reach out to Jill Rasmussen-Baker if your unit/department has urgent needs 744-5768 jlrb@uw.edu

• Please contact spiritual care for any urgent staff needs. 206-989-4946 (pager; can send text message to this number) 206-744-3155 (leaving voicemail will page Spiritual Care Provider between 8am and 8pm), or through paging operator (206-744-3000)
• Debriefs are available for any group or individual of any shift by reaching out to Jill Rasmussen-Baker or a unit’s Spiritual Care Provider
• Meditation Room: 4WH-74 open 8am to 8pm
  • For one-time after-hours access, call Public Safety at 206-744-3193
  • For ongoing after-hours access, email chaplain@uw.edu from your UW email; include your name, employee ID number and unit/department
• Spiritual Care is on-site 24/7 and is actively rounding on day and evening shifts.  Staff Care is a priority for Spiritual Care.
• Link to HMC Spiritual Care Intranet site

UW Medical Center, Montlake

UW Medical Center Managers/Charges please reach out to Mia Baumgartner if your floor/department has urgent needs or should be listed as a priority 598-1112 mbaumgar@uw.edu

Please page spiritual care for any urgent staff needs. 206-559-6764 (text) 206-598-9174 (voicemail),  or through paging operator.  Spiritual Care is actively rounding on day and evening shifts.  Staff Care is a priority for Spiritual Care.

Oncology floors

• (7SE, 7NE, 8NE, 8SA): SCCA Spiritual Health provider can be paged directly during Weekday
  • MONDAY: 206.626.4555
  • TUES-FRIDAY:  206.541-8379.
  • EVE/WEEKEND: Page 206-559-6764 (text)

1:1 support (in person or phone) 24/7  (i.e. moral distress, secondary trauma, grief, existential /spiritual distress and overwhelm, resilience and grounding practices)  See contact info below.

Tea for the Soul/Drop In Debriefs:  see contact information below to arrange. Conducted in partnership with Palliative Care Social Work Staff

Reflection Space:  3rd floor skybridge

Quiet Room:  4SE (4109) near cascade elevators

Contact Info:  24/7 on-call # 206-598-9174;  Link to Spiritual Care and Wellbeing intranet site

Occupational Health

• Monday – Friday from 08:00am – 3:30pm phone 206-277-4444
• Any calls outside of the hours of operation list above need to go to the COVID after hours number:  206-714-6983
• Need to talk?  Want someone who listens? VA Puget Sound has confidential resources you can utilize during these stressful times:
  • Chaplain Service: 206-764-2023
  • Critical Incident Response Team (Pager): 206-416-6573
  • Employee Assistance Program (24/7): 1-800-869-0276; www.espyr.com, Password: VAPSHCS
  • Mindfulness practice through Zoom meetings. Don’t have the invite in your calendar? Contact your supervisor to get more information.
  • Employee Whole Health Wellness Links

Covid-19 Peer Support Team at Occupation Health Services:
Available 24/7, from work or home! Brief counseling and support for staff members coping with stress related to COVID-19 issues, such as:

• Coping with quarantine
• Distress related to increased isolation
• Managing stressors related to providing care to COVID-19 positive patients
• Skills for improving sleep
• Dealing with grief or anxiety reactions related to COVID-19
• How to deal with anxiety about family members’ health
• Relaxation skills

To schedule an appointment, please email PUGMHSUPPORTCOVID@va.gov

You will get a response by the next business day. For urgent needs and for triage, please page a staff member 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.

M-F 830a-430p: pager number 253-280-3002; After Hours: 206-797-0627

Community resources:

• Social Work Services Share Point has information on Community Resources. These resources are not necessarily limited to Veterans: Social Work Service SharePoint

Several mental health professionals have expressed an interest in working with healthcare workers dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. You can find the list of Seattle area mental health resources and therapists who are available to work with new clients, initially via telehealth.

This Google doc was not created by or behalf of UW Medicine and is being offered as a personal resource tool only; it is not intended to supplement or replace any employment benefits provided by UW Medicine.  This is not intended to be a recommendation, referral, or endorsement of any providers or services included in this resource.  UW Medicine disclaims any liability that may arise of out use of the resource, any relationship entered into with the listed providers, or for any care that is provided thereof.  You can contact these providers directly for additional information.  There are external resources available to assist in selecting a mental health provider that may be helpful to you, such as ensuring the provider has a license in our state WA Department of Health Credential Search and this site has Tips for contacting a community provider. Any questions about this Google doc should be directed to Andrew Bryant: andrew@northseattletherapy.com.  For information or questions on mental health benefits available to you as a UW employee, go to the UW Human Resources benefits page where there is also a link to the Employee Assistance Program, CareLink.