About EASNA

What is EASNA?

As the employee assistance industry’s trade association, EASNA advances the competitive excellence
of its members by fostering best practices, research, education, and advocacy in behavioral health and
wellness that impacts workplace performance.

When Was EASNA Founded?

EASNA was founded in 1985 with an original charter to develop standards of excellence for providers of Employee Assistance Programs. In 2001, the successfully developed accreditation function was divested to the Council on Accreditation and while EASNA continues to actively support accreditation, its new charter has a broader focus on encompassing a diverse community of professionals and organizations who are all interested in healthy and productive workplaces.

Who Belongs to EASNA?

The diverse membership includes the following categories of individuals and organizations: EAP providers,

  • Benefits consultants
  • Employers
  • Wellness providers
  • EAP vendors
  • employee assistance and work/life professionals
  • behavioral health and addiction treatment practitioners
  • human resource and benefits professionals

Members come from Canada and the United States, working in both the private and public sectors.

Who Oversees EASNA?

The Board of Directors, whose members come from Canada, Mexico, and the United States:

  • Nicole Doucet, NDC–Nutrition at Work
  • Phil Evans, ProtoCall Services (board immediate past president)
  • Rita Fridella, Shepell.fgi
  • Patrick Gagne, CBC/Radio-Canada
  • Jeff Gorter, Crisis Care Network
  • Kathy Garner Greco, ValueOptions
  • David Goehner, Empathia, Inc.
  • Keith Harding, FSEAP
  • Chris Hylton, CG Hylton & Associates Inc.
  • Francois Legault, EAS of Health Canada (board president)
  • Ana Laritza Leon Marquez, Touching Life
  • George Martin, CorpCare Associates, Inc. (board vice president)
  • Julie McClatchey, Employee & Family Resources (board secretary)
  • Tracy McPherson, NORC at the University of Chicago
  • Sharon O’Brien, MSW, Ceridian Life Works
  • Judith Plotkin, Homewood Human Solutions (board treasurer)
  • Jim Printup, The Oasis Group
  • Diane Stephenson, Federal Occupational Health
  • Debra Wolinsky, PPC Worldwide Canada EAP Services Ltd.

What Events Does EASNA Sponsor?

Every spring EASNA hosts its annual conference, the Institute. The three-day event typically includes the following educational sessions:

  • one full day Pre-Institute professional development session
  • four plenary (general) sessions
  • 8 peer presentation workshops

What Is EAP Accreditation?

EASNA members are eligible for a discount on accreditation fees for the industry’s only organizational accreditation which is managed by the Council on Accreditation (COA). Accreditation is a unique distinction among EAPs and attests that the organization has met the highest possible international standards for quality management and service delivery.

COA accreditation has many benefits for EAPs, its customer organizations, end users, and the field. Chief among them is its impact on improving consumer confidence and demonstrating that the EAP has met the standards of the field, particularly those related to the employee such as confidentiality and privacy, legal compliance, safety and security, and quality of service delivery. Additionally, accreditation ensures that an EAP is utilizing sound financial management to provide the most cost-effective and efficient service to customer organizations.

What is the Value of an Employee Assistance Program

For more information on the value of EAPs and how to select one, visit the Publications page of this website.